The Mazatlan Plazas
January 2009
Social life in the Centro is organized mainly around two plazas – Machado Square and Plaza Republica.
Machado Square is the fanciest and most popular. Bordered by Constitucion, Sixto Osuna, Carnival and Heriberto Frias streets, Machado draws both the locals and tourists for food, drinks and a pleasant atmosphere. Machado is romantically lit at night and is a very popular meeting spot for strolling and perusing the various handicraft vendors who set up in the evening. Café Pacifico anchors the square on the northwest side, but there are restaurants on three sides of the plaza as well as a plethora of restaurants, bars, hotels and local businesses on the outlying streets. Some nights are livelier than others. There may be a parade and a mariachi band or there may be just a few diners.
Machado Square is also home to the Angela Peralta theatre, a cultural jewel. It was originally constructed in the 1870s and named the Rubio Theatre. In 1883 the “Nightingale of Mexico,” Angela Peralta was slated to perform there but was stricken with Yellow Fever on her way to Mazatlan and tragically died before her performance. In the succeeding century, the theatre played roles ranging from boxing ring to movie house to parking garage until it was virtually destroyed by a hurricane in 1975. It was renovated and reopened in 1992, and today stands as one of the few working opera houses in Mexico and hosts a myriad of live performances.
Another center for local gatherings is Plaza Republica, located a few blocks north of Machado Square between Benito Juarez, 21 de Marzo, Angel Flores and 5 de Mayo streets. Plaza Republica is home to a high concentration of shoe shiners, the municipal building and hosts local concerts and events on the weekends. Shoe shines are available all day everyday and shoes can be dropped off, or shined (shone?) on your feet while you wait. During evening concerts and events, the Plaza is rich with food vendors selling various corn products (corn-on-the-cob and Elote en vaso), hot dogs, and tostilocos, a strange creation of corn chips topped with varying items ranging from ceviche to serracha. If you can catch a Sunday night gathering, be sure to look for the churro cart on the northeast side of the square for the most delicious treat – five for ten pesos.
The shoe shine stands
Plaza Republica
A Sunday Evening Concert in the Plaza with the Cathedral in the Background
The large, ornate, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is adjacent to the Plaza Republica and is the pride of the town. Constructed in 1875, its pair of yellow towers are a central landmark identifiable from all vistas about town. Masses, confession, and rosary services are offered daily. The cathedral is rich with statuary, the most revered of which seems to be the Virgin of Guadalupe.
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Interior of Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Social life in the Centro is organized mainly around two plazas – Machado Square and Plaza Republica.
Machado Square is the fanciest and most popular. Bordered by Constitucion, Sixto Osuna, Carnival and Heriberto Frias streets, Machado draws both the locals and tourists for food, drinks and a pleasant atmosphere. Machado is romantically lit at night and is a very popular meeting spot for strolling and perusing the various handicraft vendors who set up in the evening. Café Pacifico anchors the square on the northwest side, but there are restaurants on three sides of the plaza as well as a plethora of restaurants, bars, hotels and local businesses on the outlying streets. Some nights are livelier than others. There may be a parade and a mariachi band or there may be just a few diners.
Machado Square is also home to the Angela Peralta theatre, a cultural jewel. It was originally constructed in the 1870s and named the Rubio Theatre. In 1883 the “Nightingale of Mexico,” Angela Peralta was slated to perform there but was stricken with Yellow Fever on her way to Mazatlan and tragically died before her performance. In the succeeding century, the theatre played roles ranging from boxing ring to movie house to parking garage until it was virtually destroyed by a hurricane in 1975. It was renovated and reopened in 1992, and today stands as one of the few working opera houses in Mexico and hosts a myriad of live performances.
Another center for local gatherings is Plaza Republica, located a few blocks north of Machado Square between Benito Juarez, 21 de Marzo, Angel Flores and 5 de Mayo streets. Plaza Republica is home to a high concentration of shoe shiners, the municipal building and hosts local concerts and events on the weekends. Shoe shines are available all day everyday and shoes can be dropped off, or shined (shone?) on your feet while you wait. During evening concerts and events, the Plaza is rich with food vendors selling various corn products (corn-on-the-cob and Elote en vaso), hot dogs, and tostilocos, a strange creation of corn chips topped with varying items ranging from ceviche to serracha. If you can catch a Sunday night gathering, be sure to look for the churro cart on the northeast side of the square for the most delicious treat – five for ten pesos.
The shoe shine stands
Plaza Republica
A Sunday Evening Concert in the Plaza with the Cathedral in the Background
The large, ornate, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is adjacent to the Plaza Republica and is the pride of the town. Constructed in 1875, its pair of yellow towers are a central landmark identifiable from all vistas about town. Masses, confession, and rosary services are offered daily. The cathedral is rich with statuary, the most revered of which seems to be the Virgin of Guadalupe.
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Interior of Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
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