According to the traditional Spanish colonial custom, a town's main square, or plaza, was the center of the town. In the case of Ponce, a Catholic church was built on the center of the plaza, thus splitting the plaza into two sections: Plaza Muñoz Rivera to the north and Plaza Degetau to the south. Plaza Las Delicias square is, thus, actually made up of two plazas. The north section of the square is named Plaza Luis Muñoz Rivera, while the south section is called Plaza Federico Degetau. Plaza Muñoz Rivera measures 2,400 square meters. The history of the plaza dates back to as far as the creation of the first Catholic chapel in Ponce in 1670. It is also known that around 1840 Mayor Salvador de Vives planted trees as a renovation project for the plaza. It was first lit in 1864. An 1874 map of downtown Ponce shows that this northern plaza was already called "Las Delicias" while the southern plaza continued to be called "Plaza Mayor." When referring to either plaza it is common to just say "Plaza Las Delicias". For example, it may be said that the Feria de Artesanías de Ponce is to take place at Plaza Las Delicias, when in effect it takes place at Plaza Degetau; or to say that Fiestas Patronales are taking place at Plaza Las Delicias when in effect they are centered mostly at Plaza Muñoz Rivera.
3. Lions Fountain 4. Statue of Luis Muñoz Rivera 5. Statue of Juan Morel Campos 6. Statue of Domingo Cruz "Cocolia" 7. Obelisk to "El Polvorin" Firemen 8. Statue of Blind Justice 9. Statue of woman with children, "Añoranzas" 10 & 11. Large Fountains
Name
Plaza Luis Muñoz Rivera is situated to the north of the Ponce Cathedral and was originally known as Paseo de La Alameda or, simply, Alameda, but today it is named after the famed Puerto Rican statesman Luis Muñoz Rivera. It is so named to honor the prominent poet, journalist, and politician by that name born in Barranquitas and whose statue stands prominently in the center of this plaza. The statue is the product of the foundry of Italian sculptor Luiggi Tomassi in Pietrasanta, Italy. The Muñoz Rivera statue is made in bronze and was unveiled in 1923. Luis Yordán Dávila, mayor of Ponce at the time, was one of the main proponents of the monument. In addition to the statue of Munoz Rivera, this section of Plaza Las Delicias also has two fountains.
Location
Plaza Muñoz Rivera is bounded on the north by Plaza Muñoz Rivera street, on the west by Union street, on the east by Atocha street, and on the south by the Ponce Cathedral and Parque de Bombas. Two hotels, various banks, several boutiques, and the old 3-story Forenza building surround this plaza. It is surrounded by hotels, banks, the Casa Armstrong-Poventud, the Teatro Fox Delicias, and various boutiques and cafes.
Setting
The Plaza has wide mosaic-tile sidewalks, well-manicured flower gardens, well-trimmed bushes and Indian laurel trees, late 1800s lampposts, and numerous marble benches. The fountain is made of marble and bronze. It is surrounded by a multitude of other historic sites such as Paseo Atocha and the Casa Saurí, among others. During the day, the plaza hustles with schoolchildren, shoppers, and tourists. After the sun sets, there are often live bands giving concerts to "multigenerational families."
