Plaza de María Pita

The Plaza de María Pita is the nerve centre of the city of A Coruña, where the monumental Palacio de María Pita is located, now the municipal town hall.
 

Its name comes from the Galician heroine María Pita. Previously it was called the square of Alesón, Liberty and Demolition.
 

It was built in the last third of the 19th century by the municipal architect Juan de Ciórraga. The paving dates from 1937, while the asphalting is from the 1950s. It was not pedestrianised until 1987, when an underground car park and a tunnel were constructed.
 

Architecturally, this square is rectangular with more than 10,000 square metres. On its north side stands the monumental Palacio de María Pita, built in an eclectic style by Pedro Mariño (1908-1912) and today functions as the city hall.
 

The other three sides are occupied by elegant buildings with balconies and arcades with arches on the lower floor. These arcades host various hospitality establishments, such as Galician cuisine restaurants, pizzerias or tapas bars.
 

The centre of the square is dominated by the Statue of María Pita, a bronze sculptural group by Xosé Castiñeiras.