A pedestal with no statue
In the 19th century a monument to independence was planned for the center of the square, but only its base, the zócalo, was ever built. The name stuck, and today squares all over Mexico are called zócalos.
Urban Tales › Mexico City › Zócalo (Plaza de la Constitución)
Zócalo: the history, and the square named after a pedestal
One of the largest squares in the world sits on top of the Aztec capital, framed by the cathedral and the National Palace. Here's what you're looking at, and what to listen for when you get there.
Size≈ 240 × 240 m
Built overTenochtitlan
Cathedral1573–1813
Official namesince 1813
Hear the Zócalo (Plaza de la Constitución) story, in the app's voice
A short preview. The full story plays on its own when you walk up to it with Urban Tales.
Three stories most visitors miss
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A cathedral built over 250 years
The Metropolitan Cathedral took from 1573 to 1813 to finish, which is why it mixes Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical styles. It's the largest cathedral in the Americas.
3
The cry from the balcony
Every 15 September at night, the president rings the bell from the National Palace balcony and leads the "Grito" of independence to a square packed with people.
TipWalk into the National Palace to see Diego Rivera's murals of Mexican history along the main staircase; entry is free with an ID. With Urban Tales running, the square's story plays as you step into the Zócalo.
Nearby landmarks
Zócalo (Plaza de la Constitución): common questions
Why is it called the Zócalo?
Zócalo means pedestal: a monument planned for the center in the 19th century never got beyond its base.
Why is it called Plaza de la Constitución?
It was named in 1813 after the Spanish Constitution of Cádiz of 1812, which was sworn here.
Can you see Diego Rivera's murals at the Zócalo?
Yes, inside the National Palace on the east side of the square; entry is free with an ID.