Visiting Sucre Square in Valencia [ESP/ENG]

This time I'd like to show you Sucre Square in Valencia. This square has had different names in the past, during colonial times, but regardless of its name, it has always been a meeting place, a place to relax, and a recreational area for the people of Valencia. It has always been a beautiful square, but it's currently even more beautiful than I've seen it before—very clean, with well-maintained green spaces, and even antique-style lampposts that give it a special, vintage touch that blends with the colonial essence of the historic center.

En esta ocasión me gustaría mostrarles la plaza Sucre de Valencia. Esta plaza ha tenido diferentes nombres anteriormente, en los tiempos de la colonia, pero sin importar que nombre tuviera siempre fue un centro de encuentro, descanso y recreación para los valencianos. Siempre ha sido una plaza muy hermosa, pero actualmente está mucho más bonita de lo que la he visto en otras ocasiones, muy limpia y con areas verdes muy cuidadas, incluso con faroles de corte antiguo que le dan un toque especial y vintage que combina con la esencia colonial del casco histórico.

In the middle of the plaza stands a bronze statue that gives the plaza its name: Antonio José de Sucre, also known as the Grand Marshal of Ayacucho, an illustrious military leader who contributed greatly to the liberation of Venezuela from the Spanish Empire. One of the plaza's former names was Plaza Guzmán Blanco, in honor of the then-president, Antonio Guzmán Blanco, and a statue of him stood in its center. However, in 1889, the statue was toppled and dragged into the Cabriales River by citizens dissatisfied with the government. The plaza was subsequently renamed Plaza Sucre, and a statue of the national hero was erected there to replace the previous one.

The plaza is surrounded by iconic and historically significant landmarks. For example, in the photo below, you can see the former law school of the University of Carabobo, although I understand it was a convent during the colonial era. Next to it is the Church of San Francisco de Asís (the oldest church in the city after the cathedral).

Directly ahead is the state capitol (the governor's seat of power); I understand it was once a convent, but of a different order. You can see the chapel's dome in the background.

Behind it stands an old colonial mansion that, sometime in the 1920s or 30s, was a convent school for young ladies, and later, in the second half of the 20th century, it became the Ramón Zapata School of Theater, which continues to operate there today. The Nina Nikanorova School of Classical Ballet also operated there for many years.

This square brings back many memories from my youth, as does Bolívar Square, because it was my meeting place with friends, the spot where the bus stop used to be where I caught the bus to school. But later it became the place where I would sit and rest with my sister while our daughters were at ballet class.

That day, my eldest daughter and I were out shopping, so we stopped for a while to rest in the plaza before heading back home. But not before cooling off with a delicious ice cream because, honestly, the heat was unbearable that day. The sweet taste of the ice cream, the well-deserved rest, the beautiful view, and the coolness of the trees were all necessary to revive fond memories and recharge our batteries. That's why I think it's always necessary to preserve these spaces that are so important to the city; they're part of our identity.

Well friends, I'm saying goodbye, but not before sending you, as always, virtual kisses and hugs full of blessings 😘 🤗