Plaza Santo Domingo, Murcia
This central plaza is in the heart of the city of Murcia
The Plaza Santo Domingo in Murcia is one of the most important open-air spaces in the centre of the capital city of the Region of Murcia.
The plaza is located in the heart of the old quarter and is a central point from which some of the most important streets in the city fan out.
Major shopping streets are all clustered around the plaza, so this is a good place to aim for if looking for an atmospheric coffee in a bustling shopping area, the most notable streets leading from this plaza being la Trapería, La Merced, Arco de Santo Domingo, Santa Ana, Basabé and Avenida Alfonso X el Sabio.
The Plaza Santo Domingo was formerly known as the Plaza del Mercado, due to the fact that it was formerly dedicated to the activities of buying and selling, the first documents relating to such commercial activities dating back to 1272. As well as commercial activities, the square was used for public events including bullfights and public executions, as well as being the location for more festive occasions.
In 1893 the vast ficus tree which still occupies the centre of the plaza was planted, enduring throughout the years of Civil War when an air raid shelter was constructed, although this was dismantled following the war.
The plaza has undergone a number of remodellings although the core buildings which surround the plaza remain unchanged: the Iglesia de Santo Domingo, the Palacio Almodóvar and the Casa Cerdá.
Within the square are monuments to Ricardo Codorniu (by artist José Planes), the man responsible for re-foresting the Sierra Espuña and the sand dunes in Guardamar de Segura, and a sculpture honouring human rights, the Monumento al Derechos Humanos.
The nearest easy parking is beneath the old university square (Plaza de la Universidad) where there is a paying underground car park.
For more information about Murcia itself, go to the city of Murcia section of Murcia Today, which contains detailed information about places to visit, cultural agenda, resident information and local news.