Alonso García Bravo Statue

In the heart of Mexico City’s bustling Centro Histórico, stands the Alonso García Bravo Statue. It’s not just a statue. It’s a tribute to the man who shaped this very city. Alonso García Bravo, the Spanish alarife, or city planner, was tasked by Hernán Cortés himself to lay out the new city upon the ruins of Tenochtitlán in 1522. Imagine the scene: a bustling plaza, now named in his honor, Plaza Alonso García Bravo. This very spot was once part of the atrium of the main temple of the former La Merced monastery. It even served as a cemetery. This plaza has seen centuries of history unfold, from the rise and fall of the monastery to the vibrant marketplace that once thrived here. The original Merced market, built in the mid-19th century, was a marvel of architecture. It featured stone columns supporting a metal framework and roof. The market thrived until the mid-20th century, when the current Mercado de la Merced was built. The old market was demolished, and the resulting open space was named for Alonso García Bravo. The statue itself, erected in 1976, captures a pivotal moment. It depicts García Bravo on a barge with two indigenous people, meticulously charting the city’s new layout. He’s not just drawing lines on a map. He’s shaping the destiny of a city, a blend of old and new. This area, still considered the heart of the Barrio La Merced, is steeped in history. The Casa de la Manita and the Pasaje de las Papas stand as testaments to the past. The passageway is on the site of a former foundlings hospital.