Plaza Bolívar, Caracas

Plaza Bolívar is the historic and symbolic heart of Caracas, laid out as the main square of the colonial city and surrounded by the cathedral, the city council and government buildings. At its centre stands a bronze equestrian statue of Simón Bolívar, installed in the nineteenth century and ringed by tall trees and formal walkways. The square has hosted independence proclamations, political rallies and daily civic life for centuries. It remains a shaded gathering place and the reference point from which the old town is organised.