EL ZOCALO

Customers at Zócalo have questions about the restaurant in general. Questions like: How old is the building? What kind of cuisine it is? Where does the décor come from? Etc. But there is a specific question that is asked quite often and that question is what does Zócalo mean? I would like to share some information about the meaning of Zócalo.
Zócalo is a Spanish-Arabic term derived from socle that means plinth or pedestal, as in the base of a statue.
El Zócalo Square, or Plaza de la Constitucion, is the main square in Mexico City and forms the heart of the city ever since the Aztec ruled. Today it’s the largest public square in the Western Hemisphere and the third largest in the world (after the Tiananmen Square in the center of Beijing and the Red Square in Moscow). It measures over 240 m by 240 m (800 ft x 800 ft).

During the 19th century, Mexican President, Santa Ana ordered the removal of the statue of Spanish King Carlos IV from Mexico City’s main plaza and planned to build a Monument of Independence in its place. For many years, only a base (el zócalo) was at the center of the main plaza and the square was known soon enough as El Zócalo, name that eventually spread throughout Mexico. Many other Mexican towns and cities, such as Oaxaca and Guadalajara, have adopted the word ” Zócalo ” to refer to their main plazas.
El Zócalo is used for government/political rallies, protest marches, sit-ins, concerts and other festive events as well. Also every day at either 6:00 am or 6:00 pm the Mexican Army has the ceremony of the rising and lowering of the Mexican flag in the center of the square.
The Zócalo square, or Plaza de la Constitution, is lined by the Metropolitan Cathedral, Temple Mayor Museum, Palacio Nacional, Mexico City Government Offices and commercial buildings.
I’m hoping this information is of your interest.