Plaza 31 de Marzo is San Cristóbal de las Casas’ main city square. It provides a perfect starting point from which to explore the historic center and is an easy landmark for daily meetings. Yet it’s more than that. The square is the hub of local life. Take a seat on one of the wrought iron benches and view the beautiful colonial buildings flanking the square as you watch people go by.
Expect to find everyone and anyone in Plaza 31 de Marzo. Street vendors, shoe shiners and newspaper sellers vie for trade while businessmen mingle with tourists in this leafy open space in the middle of the city. It has functioned as the main city hub since colonial times, when it was home to the central market and the main water source. It was also the setting for many indigenous festivals, a tradition which has continued through to the present. Visit during one of the festivals to get wonderful insights into the passion and exuberance of Chiapas’ residents.
Look around the square to appreciate the grand colonial buildings. Here you will find the impressive Cathedral of Saint Christopher and Los Portales. Casa Mazariegos, today the Hotel Santa Clara, was built by the Spanish conqueror of Chiapas, Diego de Mazariegos. You can still spot his coat of arms engraved above the main entrance.
In the middle of the square is an ornate iron bandstand, which hosts concerts and festivals throughout the year. Every evening marimba music wafts across the square. Join locals and other foreign visitors under the leafy trees and feel the special atmosphere that prevails.
Find Plaza 31 de Marzo in the downtown area or Central Zone of San Cristóbal de las Casas. It is impossible to miss and is certain to be an important part of any trip to this city.
