Formerly the Plaza the Armas ( Arms Square ), this plaza is located in the very heart of Santiago de Cuba.
To its north is the Ayuntamiento Aguilera (town hall) , formerly headquarters of the Spanish colonial governor. Dominating the plaza is the Cathedral Santa Efigenia Basílica Metropolitana also known as the “Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción”. On the west side of the park is Don Diego de Velázquez’s house, Cuba’s first colonizer. It dates from 1516 and is claimed to be the oldest house in Cuba.