María Pita square, Central square in A Coruña, Spain
María Pita Square is a rectangular public plaza at the heart of A Coruña, Spain, defined by the prominent City Hall with its granite facades and distinctive glass-enclosed balconies overlooking the open space. The square measures approximately 120 meters in width and is lined with restaurants and cafes that face the pedestrian zone.
The square takes its name from María Pita, who led the defense against English forces attacking the city in 1589. A bronze statue commemorates her leadership during this significant moment in local history.
The square is named after María Pita, the local woman who led the city's defence against the English in 1589; José Castiñeiras Iglesias's statue of her, placed here in 1998, faces the town hall. Since 2002 glazed, enclosed terraces for the bars and restaurants stand outside the arcades, a change that drew complaints about their effect on the square's setting.
The square has a tourist information office and numerous restaurants and cafes with outdoor seating throughout the area. The open layout makes it easy to navigate and locate services you might need during your visit.
The square was paved in 1936 and asphalted in the 1950s under mayor Alfonso Molina; parking was allowed from the following decade until 1987, when an underground car park and tunnel were built and the surface became pedestrian. Before its current name it was called plaza de Alesón, Libertad and Derribo.
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