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The Plaza Grande was walking distance from our hotel. It is nice and we felt safe to walk in that area. Surrounded as well of nice restaurants.
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This is a very vibrant space and ideal for people-watching. We spent an hour in the sunshine here and were thoroughly entertained, especially by the female police officer guarding the central statue from people wanting to have their photos taken too close to it!
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We went to the Plaza on a Monday morning when there is a ceremonial Changing of the Guard at 11 am. It lasts about 1/2 hour, with guards in traditional costume and horses parading round the plaza. The President of Ecuador also came out onto the balcony to watch the performance, and waved and smiled to the crowd.
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Again, a typical national Plaza with the obligatory kiosks and buildings. Takes a lot to impress me after so many years of travel. This place was OK and a bit boring.
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Plaza Grande is a large square surrounded by important buildings, which you can admire. But the best thing is just to sit and watch around. Locals gather there, old men resting and talking, families playing with children. Shadowed by palms and other trees, with a fountain and flowers, it is a pleasant place for a little respite.
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Nice square with lots of hussle and bussle and yet there's a seat where everyone can chill. Nicest square we found. Also if you walk down the left hand side ( with the government building behind you and the church to your right ) there's a small walk through to a good number of eateries and a 3 floored glass roofed area with nice gift shops and cheap restaurants that done fleece you.
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Much is made of this being first Unesco city --- you can see why Unesco deemed this city needed saving by looking around this square. On 3 sides are really old beautiful buildings from the Spanish conquest era; and on the last side is a 1950's municipal building with all of the character and appearance of a concrete slab with square cutouts for windows -- truly appalling.
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We were with an Ecuadoran guide who explained the significance of the buildings and statues in the square (the lion at the base with a wound from a spear sporting condor feathers),It is home of the president (their version of the White House is there), the Congress building, and other colonial style buildings. The architecture is beautiful and buildings are accessible from within. Lots of shops, churches, and restaurants surround the square.
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it was a nice place to visit, however nothing to write home about. It looks like any other typical square in South America. Its very heavily patrolled by the police.
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The Plaza Grande is a fun and lively place. Excellent people watching - close to major sights and churches. Presidential palace and museums within walking distance. Interesting little shops surround the square. If you have the time, walk from the Bacilica down the Avenue of the 7 Crosses to the Plaza Grande. A wonderule and interesting experience.
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A bustling square in the colonial city surrounded by the Presidential Palace, Archbishop's Palace and the Municipal Building, this an area that one can see many of the locals meeting one another. On weekends you may see people dancing, people playing music, or people rallying for a cause. This is a beautiful square that is very lively, but always be aware of your surroundings and take care of your belongings, as this is a busy place. You can find several small restaurants in this area and its an easy walk to many great must visits.
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You can't actually miss the Plaza Grande. It isn't that it is very big but it is central to the colonial capitol. With the Municipal building to the East, Old Archbishop's Palace to the North,Cathedral to the South and the Presidential Palace to the West it always full of life, especially on the weekends when locals outnumber tourists.
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After walking the sometimes steep streets of the old town we found this plaza a nice place to relax and take in the entertainment provided by some street performers.
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Surrounded on 3 sides by wonderful colonial architecture and on the fourth by an ugly modern block, it's a wonderful square at the heart of the old city and full of locals socialising and going about their business. All the major historical sites are nearby and there are plenty of cheap cafes in surrounding streets. The street sellers are interesting without being bothersome. Quito abounds with armed police and private security guards so feels very safe.
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We were staying in a hotel a few blocks from Plaza de la Independencia, so we spent a little time in this beautiful park. It's a great place to get a feel for historical Quito and has a lot of beautiful statues and monuments. The only thing I didn't like about the park is being approached by locals who want to help you find things there (for a fee of course). Some of them are a little shady and others don't like to take no thank you for an answer... even if you say it in Spanish. We live in Ecuador currently, and Quito is the only place where we've had this happen. I suppose they get a lot of Gringo tourists there, so it makes sense, but it can also make your time in Plaza de la Independencia a little uncomfortable if the local hustlers are too pushy.
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as we neared the plaza, the crowds increased... there was music...there were speeches being given...police were everywhere - a good thing -...what on earth? it turns out that ecuador had just qualified for the world cup and the team was to lunch with the president...what a wonderful thing to be in a culture where it felt as though all were on the same team...
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We stayed at a hotel only a few blocks away (Hotel Patio Andaluz) and found the Plaza Grande to be the safest, cleanest place in Quito. It was always bustling with people and we had good meals in and around the square--particularly la Ronda. Enjoy!
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This is a great Square in the heart of Old Town Quito. You can see the Presidential Palace, the Independence monument and enjoy very nice old world architecture. There are many people always in the square, some political marches but when we were there it was actually in praise of the president. This square should be on every itinerary in Old Town Quito.
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A definite must see. Spacious, well laid out and, like most of Ecuador, kept spotlessly clean by armies of street cleaners. The tourist office is on one corner and is a very good one of its kind. The Presidential palace is opposite the Bishop's Palace which has one part given over to restaurants which are also open on Sundays when many others are not. Be warned that alcohol is forbidden in restaurants on Sundays. It doesn't seem to stop people drinking though.
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Our ride into town dropped us off at this plaza. It's a nice space in the center of town with a mix of tourists, locals, officers, pink-flowered trees, and a statue in the center. If you'd like to rest for a bit and people watch, then this is your spot.
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We were here during mid morning on a Friday. It was busy with workers and tourists hurrying about their business. Interesting to see but not anything really special.
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We stayed in Old Town, and enjoyed easily walking up to the Plaza de la Independencia on several occasions. Several shops and restaurants line the square, and one block over, you can find some more local fare.. Many street vendors to grab your attention (be careful), fountains, statues, locals gather, and just very interesting activity constantly. Each direction contains important historical sites, and the Presidential Palace has guards posted. Change of guard occurs once per week, but also congests the area.
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Great venue lots of activity and important social and politcal area great architecture lots of shops near other historcial sites which are concentrated here.
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This square blew me away on my visit that was made at the best of times and the worst of times. The day was Tuesday and the time was 12 noon. At that hour on that day, the President makes an appearance on the long balcony of his official residence, the Palacio de Carondelet, at which he never stays. The balcony is crowded with city and national dignitaries, security personnel wearing military costumes so ancient as to be theatrical, and some hacks from the press who scribble like mad when he opens his mouth and speaks into a loud microphone. When he is not speaking, a large military band, similarly attired and lined up under the balcony, thumps out rousing patriotic melodies to the great applause of the citizens who fill the square to overflowing. On its 4 sides, the square is flanked by the Cathedral and its Archbishop's Palace, The Municipality, and of course the Presidential Palace. The 4 corners are occupied by a Bank, a Church, a Museum, and the house of a wealthy aristocrat. The central lawns contain an attractive fountain, and a monument celebrating the Heros of the Country that was originally imported from France. All of this was great fun, but it came at a price. It was impossible during that ceremony to visit any of the buildings in the square, and we never returned.
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We were on Plaza Grande on a Sunday afternoon. There was carnival atmosphere. We heard Andean music from the street performers, saw a man on stilts, and a show of the buffoons in the square. We relaxed on a bench while watching the show and hearing the music. The cars and buses were not allowed on Sunday through the Plaza.
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This has the feel of being the heart of the city, its surrounded by churches and of course the old Presidential Palace which has a free tour. A must stop for all.
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Visited the plaza three times during our stay, all at different times of the day. In the morning it was perfect, not too busy, lots going on, watching humming birds was great as was new to us. The afternoon was busier, but just act like the locals and sit and watch the world go by, the evening was just as interesting. It is well worth a visit. Go up the different steps and see it from all angles.
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A wonderful place to visit on Sundays, when the streets are closed for bicyclists and the plaza & surrounding area are filled with artists, musicians, dancers and food vendors.On Monday mornings at 11am, you can watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony, and President Correa comes out onto the balcony of the Presidential Palace to watch, too! Don't miss the Centro Cultural Metropolitano, a totally free & wonderful art museum on the corner of the plaza between the church and the Presidential Palace. Tours of the palace are also available. Wonderful sandwiches & ice cream are available right under the church, and across the plaza are lots of nice mid-priced restaurants.
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Worth a trip -- lots of people around; a group of performers there as well. We felt perfectly safe (two adults, two teens, mid-day) There were helpful maps around to guide you to the various sites nearby.
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When I walk around, I feel like I am in a time warp of some sort. People sitting around on park benches talking, children playing, cute little coffe shops and bread stands. Generally nice weather. I love this place and have been there several times.
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We visited this site on Sunday, when the old town district is closed to cars. There was music and dancing, which I attributed to it being sunday. Very fun.
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As a serious hobby photographer, I found the plaza to be a great place for photography. There are a lot of people who hang out here. Many beautiful buildings and scenes.
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Didn't get to see the entire exhibition, as we were just heading up to El Pnnecillo. But we saw the start during breakfast at the hotel's rooftop restaurant. Then walked over to the Plaza. Typical of many in Ecuador, it was an example of another one of Quito's gorgeous sights.
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The plaza was beautiful, but frankly, nothing special. There were a lot of people there, which was nice. Nice people to talk to...if you understand Spanish.
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Plaza Grande is ironically quite small as far as plazas go. And there isn't much going on. But it makes for some great people watching. From the west side of the plaza you can go up in front of the Government Palace and survey the scene in the plaza. The crowd grows in the early evening as people get off work and go for a stroll. It's a great perch from which to take photos of people being people. Also, across the street on the south-east corner is a Tourist Information Bureau where you can get maps or buy some of Ecuador's best gourmet chocolate, which costs little more than a Hershey's bar.
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This is the centre of Quito with its presidential palace, ceremonial guards and fountain in the middle of the square.But its the hustle and bustle of local Ecuadorans and tourists that give it character.
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This is a nice large plaza in the old town of Quito. There is seating and a decent amount of green space that makes it a nice place to sit and relax for a while. It is surrounded by large old buildings - the Presidential Palace, church, government buildings, restaurants, hotel, etc. Across the street in one corner (opposite the Presidential Palace) is a tourist office where you can get maps and information and purchase tickets for the hop on - hop off bus and other attractions.
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Only spend a fraction of the time I would of liked due to the torrential rain. I managed to watch locals standing around the outer court yard undercover passing the time playing cards out of the rain but still out in the cold! When the sun is shining take to the seats in the middle, relax and enjoy the life beavering away around you
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This is one of the sites in Quito that is a must see. The Plaza is the center of Old Town and is very lovely. Great place for pictures of the building, and traveling companions. There are a variety of shops and places to eat in the immediate area and on the connecting streets. Good starting point for seeing the other sites in Old Town. Be sure to keep a tight grip on all valuables. I noticed multiple people eyeing my camera, and a gentlemen in our group had a small camera taken out of his pants pocket inside a nearby church. This is a stop on the Quito Bus Tour (Hop On/Hop Off). You will need the hour between buses to just see the immediate Plaza area. If you explore off the Plaza to see the various sites, two hours is a minimum.
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Clean, green, colorful and peaceful in a busy city, located in the colonial historical center. Don't miss some of the little shops and restaurants beneath the archways. A nice place for a break while zig zagging the streets of Centro Historico.
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We stumbled upon this Plaza when we were trying to get across town but the roads were blocked so we hopped out of the taxi and strolled around this very attractive plaza. There are small but quality shops housed within the impressive architecture. It was so crowded, beware the little light fingers ! The reason for the crowds is that the President or Vice President of Argentina was visiting. He did the usual presidential waving and smiling at babies and we had some bonus photo opportunities.
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This is a very small park located central to most of the historical buildings you'd want to see within Quito's Old Town. You won't need a long time to visit but doing so will give you a good glimpse of how people live within the area. I found it a great spot to take some interesting photos.
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once of the best days to go there would be on monday as i was told since that they have the change of gards so you can see the president, hihihihihihih,
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Nice large area to view some classic architecture. Nice spot for a walk, just be normally cautious when it is crowded.
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This was the nicest area in Old Town to seat and spend some time watching the locals, have an ice cream or just chat with friends. Many locals hang out here. It is surrounded by many nice buildings such as The Cathedral, President's Palace, Bishop's Palace, City Hall and the official Tourist Office. The Plaza has many historical statues, fountains as well as pretty landscaping. You can even watch the Cambio de Guardia de Palacio from here every Monday from 11:00AM-12:00PM. It is one of the greatest moments I've experienced in my life.
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This was probably the nicest area in Old Town. Many locals hang out here (as well as tourists). It is surrounded by many nice buildings such as The Cathedral, Presidents Palace, Bishops Palace, and official Tourist Office The Plaza has many historical figures (statues) as well as pretty landscaping. A good place to people watch, eat some ice cream or biuy something in the local shops.
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It was my first visit to Quito and I am really impressed with it. The historic District is very well preserved, clean, impecable, safe and worth the visit both at night and during the day. I just really loved it. The view at night is just awesome and since the plaza is empty you are able to appreciate every building, walk around, take pictures feeling completely safe. When we got to the plaza that night, I just got off the car with my camera without realizing that the window was left open with my purse inside. What a surprise when my friends realized that even though the window was open, my purse was still there. Next day we came back in the morning and visited the Presidential Carondelet Palace, it is a beautiful old palace. We got the picture taken and they gave it to us as a gift at the end of the visit.It is the best place to start your tour around Old Quito.p
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Make sure to visit on monday for the changing of the guard ceremonies....I've been lucky enough to see the President on his balcony a couple of times during this ceremony. take a tour of the presidential palace and also check out the shops on the street level of the palace facing the park. If you speak spanish, some of the shopkeepers will have some great stories for you. I spoke to one shopkeeper who has had her shop in the palace for more than 20 years...she said Rafael Corea - the current president - is the only one who has ever visited any of the shops.
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Another review dated 2/13/13 describes the ceremony pretty well. Here's some additional information: It's worth getting there at 10:30 to get a position up front where you can see well. Also, the pre-event bustling about is fairly enjoyable to see. The whole ceremony lasted 30 minutes when we were there. It's fun not only to see the military band, horses, etc., but also to watch the crowd -- a number of whom were vocally enthusiastic supporters of President Correa (who the earlier review refers to as the President of Quito, which I'm sure was a typo of sorts).
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This wonderful square come to life on Sunday morning when all the locals parade and musicians share in the atmosphere. The square is surrounded by the Presidential Palace, the City Hall (ugly but has a good gift shop), the Cathedral (worth a visit) and the Archbishop's Palace - under the palace you will find an arcade with a number of shops and restaurants.
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This place was packed with locals and tourists when we were here. Is easy enough to get to and is definitely worth a look. Official and religious buildings around the square and plenty of police to keep the unpleasant element at bay.
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Very clean and impressive city square surrounded by many historical buildings. Be sure to visit the Palacio Presidential palace while you are there.
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This little area of Old Town may just be the most well taken care of historical district in all of South America...or at least the ones I've seen. What impressed me was the free tour of the Palacio Presidencial and just when I thought they were taking one of those photos they want to hawk you at the end of the tour. Free gift just for seeing where President Correa lives and works.
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This is a beautiful square surrounded by palaces, churches, government buildings and Catholic residences. It is fun to tour the presidential palace and get your picture taken with the stern-faced, uniform clad, flag bearing guards at the front door, like Buckingham Place, Ecuardorian style!
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I simply loved watching the local people here in all the traditional garb. This is a great spot to just sit in the park and watch the people go by.
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This plaza has many important old buildings set around it including the President's Palace, shops and the beautiful and highly rated Hotel Plaza Grande and the Cathedral of Quito and views of the El Panecillo with the Winged Virgin.
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I especially liked viewing the very well kept historical buildings at this site as well as the monument to the heroes of independence of 1809. We bought a beer and sat on one of the benches and mingled with the locals. We watched hummingbirds in the trees. A memorable experience.
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This is one of the highlights of our visit to Quito. There are a lot of sights in close proximity and to get a full appreciation we booked a guided your from the official tourist bureau which is located on one of the buildings surrounding the square. It was walking tour over about an hour and a half and my wife and I were the only 2 in the group-excellent value for money and highly recommended.If you choose to visit the presidential palace, make sure you take Identification such as a passport as they won't let you in without ID!
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This is a ceremony well worth taking in if you are in Quito on a Monday morning at eleven a.m. For budgeted travelers the good news is it is free. This is a unique chance to see the President of Quito who stands on the balcony and watches the changing of the palace guard. The ceremony briefly tells the history of Ecuador's birth as a nation and the presence of the elected President is a reminder to him and to the nation that he is there to serve Ecuador. If you like horses you will be pleased and the National Anthem of Ecuador is mercifully short, unlike some ceremonies where it seems they just can't stop telling you how wonderful they are regardless of how many stanzas it might take! Check it out!
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A very active place, but one where you can nevertheless also more often than not, find a place to sit and relax for a moment. Be prepared though to have numerous offers to have your shoes shined.The plaza is wonderfully framed on one side by the Catedral Metropolitana de Quito and Presidential Palace on another.
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If you want a place to sit quietly and people watch this is for you. Very clean, lots of places to sit and very relaxing.
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Plaza de la Independencia is in the heart of the Historic Old Town. It is frequented by not only travelers but by the locals as well, especially the indigenous Ecuadorians from the highlands. This is a pleasant plaza with plenty of shaded seating to stop, take a breather, and take in the people of Quito.
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A massive plaza with many people. Has great atmosphere. Also has free wifi which is great for travelling. Lots of beautiful fountains.
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Many people sat, sang, walked around -- bands gathered to play, children dressed to the nines were with their parents.
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Nice place to sit in one the benches. In December there was a street show going on near the cathedral and my daughter was entertained by it. The church, presidential mansion, archbishop palace and government buildings surrounding the square are impressive.
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It was too crowded, and nothing fancy... no cafe's to sit around and do people watching as you would in any other plaza..
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Plenty of locals were out and about the square, enjoying a nice, sunny day. This is an easy landmark for meeting up with people or to give to a taxi and from here you can walk around all the main Old Town sites.
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Easy access from here to a lot of the other attractions, and the real sense of old-town, downtown quito complete with colonial architecture and winding, steep, narrow streets. Lots of pigeons, fun to watch small children running through them.
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In old colonial section with stunning murals and statues, grassy and benches for people watching...and surrounded by historic buildings. Unfortunately I stepped into a hole in the walkway to a courtyard under one of the buildings and badly sprained my ankle.
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Why not sit and watch a cumbia band playing for tips, see the politicians on the soap boxes making speeches, the clowns, the Indian ladies selling scarfs and the families having a Sunday excursion? The people watching is fantastic. Do be mindful of pickpockets and don't stray to far from the center.
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This is a great place to people watch. If you're lucky a political rally will be going on. Make sure you have a guide book to describe the buildings and events that happened around the square.
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You can't go to Quito without visiting this plaza. Be sure to take your passport or photo id so you can visit the Governor's mansion. Also, go at night to see the buildings lit up.
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We were in Quito during a national holiday, the Day of the Dead. The plaza was very crowded and the atmosphere was great. There were local entertainers, a musical group and a theatrical group. The plaza is cleaned in the evening. We were concerned about pick pockets and other scammers, however, had no problems. I recommend always being aware. There is a building off the plaza with great restaurants. We had lunch and dinner at Hasta la Yuelta, Senor. On the main floor to the left as you enter is a very good breakfast place for eggs and omelettes.
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Interesting site with lots of history. Place was crowded with music presentations and street artists. Free wifi around the plaza.
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Just another plaza but a nice enough one. If you are here on a Monday there is a changing of the guard ceremony that goes from 11am to 11.30am. Well worth making an effort for. President on th balcony and band and soldiers on foot and horse etc. Anthem sung and flag raised. Try and get a spot next to the first set of side barriers on the church side and then move around to get a different perspective. Something different and an interesting 30 minutes.
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Nice Plaza that reminds me of a Plaza in Spain. My only complaint is that it isn't that clean and it wasn't a Plaza I would like to sit in for a while. It is a nice Plaza though and definitely a just see to stroll through and take pictures.
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Don't miss the monument, showing the condor breaking the chains and the lion (Spain) leaving with its weapons. On Mondays you can seee the change of the presidential guard (and the president himself). The other days you can visit the palace.
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The President of Ecuador addresses the people every Monday morning after the changing of the guard. This is a very colourful ceremony and helps demonstrate the level of democracy in Ecuador. People are free to bring protest signs and demonstrate and they do so in a very orderly manner. While praising their president, they also make public requests for improvements to his government. We felt very safe although there was a crush of people. The square itself is worth a visit to see the architecture of the buildings that surround it.
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Bustling with activity on a Sunday morning when we visited as part of a tour of the city. This was our first day and the square really set the scene for us with traditional music being performed and a good mix of locals and tourists enjoying the space.
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There is a nice statue and fountain at the plaza. It's definitely the centre of the town's happenings. You can see music performance on weekends, etc, which makes it more lively.
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The plaza is a pleasant place, filled with people, stores around the edges. Good people watching - but they mainly will be watching you.
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Plaza Grande, Plaza San Francisco and all of the museums are a must see. However, as a tourist, especially a solo one like me, be very careful with your possessions. Take as little valuables with you as possible. Unless you have zippered or interior pockets, don´t keep things in your pockets. The scam that I was confronted with the most was an Ecuadorian speaking passable English wanting to practice their English, take you to their store, show you around, etc. I was polite, but never accepted them taking my photo for me, etc. However, the third time, it was sheer dumb luck that I didn´t lose anything. From Thurs. to Sun., you can tour the Presidential Palace and it is worth seeing. You need a piece of identification to get in, but a driver's licence is sufficient (don't take your passport). A teenager behind me started chatting with me in English, telling me he was in Quito to study for exams to get into university. Being a retired teacher, I was taken in by his sincerity and charm. What I´m about to tell you is looking at the situation with hindsight. I did not clue in at all until I got home. He asked me in line if I had headphones for his camera(I said no, sizing up what I had?), to save his place, made sure to get into the same group of 20 to tour (if someone is eager to be in your group, be aware). He went ahead of me through the detection, now I believe to figure out what I was carrying. Stayed with me, exchanged taking photos. I think our guide might have suspected something as when we go our identification returned at the end of the tour, he left this teenager until last. Unfortunately, I was not paying close enough attention, still looking around. I think he called out Fernando, whereas this ¨student¨ called himself Paul Melgar. So, blithely I take him to lunch, let him pick the restaurant (he pretends that he doesn't like a few and leads me to the one he wants). Through the distraction of chatting, he must have gotten my glasses (at least, by chance my back was to the restaurant wall, if it happened to be a pickpocket area). When I went to pay with $20 for a $5 lunch, my glasses ¨fell¨, but fortunately I was paying attention to the payment and so when I was handed only $5, I knew it wasn't enough. The lady of the restaurant quickly told the man that I had paid $20 (a family scam?), so I got the correct change. ¨Paul¨escorted me to the taxi, negotiated my fare, gave me a ¨hug¨, luckily, I kept my hand across my body and camera. I am not trying to scaremonger because Centro Historica is a must see, just take cabs and only as much money as you want to spend. Leave valuable electronics at the hotel and be very careful with your camera.
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We loved watching the public speakers, the families socializing and vendors selling their wares to the standing cars waiting for the light to change.
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By chance I was there during the changing of the Presidential Guard and President Correa attended, per usual standing on the government palace balcony. It was enlightening and interesting and quite a different political experience for an American to witness and be a part of on all levels and for many reasons. Try to find out if this will occur during your visit and if so make plans to attend.
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Lovely architecture with several great photo possibilties. Many top restaurants have dinning rooms on the second floor that over look the square
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You have to take the Palace tour!! be prepared to leave your passport at the entrance and to go thru the metal detection process but it's really worth it. It's free and they even give you a free cool picture of you and your group.
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Nice views of the surrounding churces and the presidential palace. Also fun to see everyone walking around the square and enjoying their strolls, especially nice on Sundays when the streets are closed to cars and the street performers come out.
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This was the first place we visited in Quito. It was a Sunday morning and it seemed like this was the place to be.
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The square is an excellent example of Spanish colonial architecture and a great tip is to use it as a location against which to set out and explore.Look beyoond the facades as there are patios just beyond (traditional courtyards with fountains) and a number of excellent restaurants to suit all tastes - fast food to, bar food to dining. Shopping is limited if you feel the need though the Tourist Centre does have a great range of items from across Ecuador. You will be approached regularly by children offering to clean your shoes - they will be persistant but not agressive.
| 1 |
Strong police presence but I would be very careful. My husband and I were the only gringos. There are many street vendors selling ice cream and scarves.
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Go on a sunday. You can tour the president's house if you bring your passport. So many activities and live music everywhere. Sundays are the best.
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It is a very big park and very pretty with lots of businesses and shops around.
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Enjoyed the square and the tour of the Equadorian White House. A good place to watch the townspeople come and go.
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A great square for taking a break and watching the people go by. Gave us a real feel for Quito
| 0 |
A great place to take photos and see. Places to shop, tiny stores, make sure you keep your eyes open and see all the shop names, centros comerciales that are just off the Plaza.
| 0 |
The Plaza de la Independencia is a great place to people watch and see locals going about their daily lives.
| 1 |
People watching. There are parades of the locals in the cultural attire and you will not want to miss the expereince of the the music, dancing and celebration
| 0 |
Lively plaza during the day & weekends, many historic attractions to visit. Ensure you do free one hour tour of Presidents Palace but you need passport for security entrance - you receive a free photo of yourselves (security based) in the internal courtyard; stay to watch the guards changing. Found a small entry to good eateries in a courtyard. Enjoyed cheap beers & snacks at little bar watching locals. we visited several times.Downside - watchout for suspecious people bumping into you or begging when its crowded - had camera stolen : (
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When I arrived to the Plaza Grande, I immediately thought about all the events that have occured in that plaza such as several coup d'etat in the last 10 years as well as the history that the walls of the Palacio de Carondelet hide. The architecture in the Plaza transports the tourist to the past and allows them to uncover the history. All the buildings are colonial except for the Municio's building which was rebuilt after the fire. This plaza has excellent places to eat and hae fun. Is recommended for going with the family and with your girlfriend!
| 0 |
A photographer's paradise. Fabulous buildings, lots of people, lots of musicians and other street acts. Buy a music CD directly from the musicians to support them. Lots of food - all the restaurants are open and lots of street vendors with carts and ice cream. We saw no panhandling, but lots of security and police presence. It felt safe. We were only approached by suspicious people once. A lively and fun vibe.
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