Plaza Miranda, Public square in Quiapo, Manila, Philippines

Plaza Miranda is a public square in Quiapo, Manila, Philippines, facing the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene. It has a paved surface of reddish-brown and grey, with a tall obelisk topped by a statue of a woman holding a torch, and several gold-painted columns with flower bowls.

The square was inaugurated in its current form in 1961 under Mayor Arsenio Lacson and named after José Sandino y Miranda, a former Secretary of the Treasury. In 1971, a political rally here was attacked with grenades, killing nine people, and the square later became a site of protests against martial law.

Around the square, you will see fortune tellers and stalls selling lucky charms and amulets. Many of them say their skill comes from their devotion to the Black Nazarene, even though the Catholic Church does not approve of the practice.

The square is open all day and night, and you can walk through it freely. It is a good place to start exploring Quiapo, with the church and nearby streets easy to reach on foot.

The square is known as a freedom park, where assemblies and protests can be held without a permit from local authorities. It is also called Manila's version of Times Square because thousands of people cross it every day.