DF-47
The square, occupying a traditional downtown block, is next to Liceo Andrés Bello, with Avenida México to the north and Parque Vargas to the south. It was originally called Plaza La Misericordia, being located on the corner with the same name. By order of Antonio Guzmán Blanco, it was converted into an ornamental square commemorating the sixtieth anniversary of the Battle of Carabobo. The initial design integrated eight gardens with diagonals and a central circle, and six busts cast in Paris (of which only two remain), by Venezuelans Andrés Pérez Mujica (1873-1920) and Lorenzo González (1876-1948). This civic space was transformed in 1911 and 1924, until, in 1934, Villanueva, in charge of the Department of Public Works and Ornamentation of the Ministry of Public Works, redesigned the square, placing a circular fountain, where a sculpture by Francisco Narváez (1905-1982), formed by five groups of human figures, exalts the beauty of the mestizo. This work created strong bonds between Villanueva and Narváez, which would lead them to work together on many public monuments, demonstrating their affinity and talent. The shady plaza, with large canopied trees, addresses the topographical differences between one end and the other, and is organized into different areas. In 1983 it underwent a modification in the northwest quadrant, eliminating gardens to locate the Metro station named after it.
AMU