Monterrey - Gran Plaza

Opened in 1984 the Gran Plaza (Marco Polo) extends between the Palacio de Gobierno and the modern new town hall situated to the south. This 40 ha (99 acre) complex is five times larger than the Zócalo in Mexico City. At the Palacio de Gobierno the Esplanada de los Héroes (Heroes' Esplanade) leads past memorials to Miguel Hidalgo, José Maria Morelos, Benito Juárez and Mariano Escobedo. The waters of the impressive 60 m (197 ft) 3 30 m (99 ft) Fuente de la Vida (Neptune Fountain) pour over three levels between bronze sculptures by Luis Sanginio. The single-towered cathedral on the west side of the square was begun in 1603 and completed in 1851. Opposite, on the east side, stands the remarkable 76 m (249 ft)-tall monument by Luis Barragán from whose Point of the Night, a laser beam, is directed up into the sky. The equestrian statue of General Zaragoza and the memorial to the city's founder Diego de Montemayor are in the centre of the southern part of the Gran Plaza. Rufino Tamayo's sculpture called "Homage to the Sun" occupies a position near the Palacio Municipal (town hall) which adjoins the square.