MEMORIES

Hello steemians friends, the Plaza de San Jacinto better known as Plaza El Venezolano is one of the emblematic places of our Caracas. The original name is due to the fact that there was the convent of San Jacinto, which in 1595 was founded by the Dominican friars, 28 years after the founding of Santiago de León de Caracas. One of its corners took that same name. Since that year there was the square as part of the convent, a fact that is documented as such in 1656. In 1660 the Dominicans are forced by the Spanish authorities to leave Venezuela, passing the square to be administered by the provincial government. Years later, in 1775 it changed its use and became a bullring.

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In 1803, according to an idea suggested by Alexander von Humboldt, a sundial was placed in the square, which is still there. In 1809 the local council decided to convert the area into a market. In 1828 the town hall transformed part of the land into its headquarters and another into a public jail. In 1812, the old San Jacinto convent building was almost completely destroyed, leaving only the turret, which fortunately can be seen today. This earthquake not only ended the convent, but with almost the entire city. In front of that square is the house where Simón Bolívar was born. That neighborhood made El Libertador already recognized for having harangued the population that was demoralized, because the clergy, for a change, had spread the species that the telluric movement was a divine punishment as a consequence of the disobedience of the citizens having embraced the cause of the Fatherland.
On October 17, 1977 it is declared a National Historical Monument.

The extraordinary thing about this chronicle is that today I was in this square full of history. While I was waiting for a person with whom I had an appointment, I was able to enjoy the pleasant atmosphere that can now be taken advantage of. I sat on an iron bench, chatted with some colleagues who shared that bank with me, I observed the surroundings and I came very pleased. From the place where he was sitting, he saw passers-by passing by, one pair of couples indulging in the delights of love, and in the background, the birthplace of the Liberator and the headquarters of the Bolivarian Museum were witness to the passage of history.

Until 2005, this plaza served as the headquarters for one of the most chaotic informal economy markets in the city. It was practically impassable and those who dared to do so were exposed to theft and violence by criminals who took advantage of the disorder