It contains the statue of Emilio Castelar, a great speaker and the last President of the First Republic.
Esta antigua plaza de planta trapezoidal, se organiza de modo similar a la actual Plaza de Mina, aunque sus dimensiones son más reducidas.
The Square
History
Arboreal Species
The Square
In this old square, the garden space is organized around a central gazebo with paths connected by a perimeter walk, some of them with a series of pergolas covered by bougainvillea. The external pavement bordering the square has a row of elms on the outer edge that, like other specimens of elms existing in the city, are being gradually replaced by other species such as hackberry, due to the poor health condition of elms. In the inner part of the street paths we can find a row of bitter orange trees, which in Spring, give off an intense scent of orange blossom flowers in the square.
In the flowerbeds, among the arboreal species, we can also find the following plants:
An Araucaria or Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla) of more than 100 years; a Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) also more than 100 years old; Canarian Palm Tree (Phoenix canariensis), a specimen of more than 100 years old, surviving a plague of the Red Palm Weevil Insect (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) in the city; a Dragon Tree (Dracaena draco) of about 40 years; a Chinese Fan Palm (Livistona chinensis) with more than 80 years; a Silk Floss Tree (Chorisia speciosa), an Orchid tree (Bauhinia variegata), a Burrawang (Macrozamia communis), a Queen Palm Tree (Syagrus romanzoffiana) and a Mediterranean Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens).
Another characteristic element of this square is the bronze statue of Emilio Castelar, a great speaker and the last president of the First Republic. He was born in one of the houses that overlook the Square, which presides over the central gazebo. Also, on one side there is a small marble fountain.
The houses that surround the Square, for the most part, date back to the end of the 19th century. There are elements of the Romantic era, such as the house number 15, known as Asilo de Oviedo, an Elizabethan-style place. In the house that had previously lived in that place the Chilean insurgent leader Bernardo O’Higgins lived for years. You can see its magnificent facade with pilasters back-to-back and with corbels that have figures of eagles. Also noteworthy is house number 6, built in 1906 and which combines the architecture of glass and iron.
History
Since time immemorial, there was a square in the place adjoining the chapel, called la Ermita de los Moriscos (the Hermitage of the Moorish). In 1567, the Convent of Candelaria was built, which had a large garden for the use of religious Augustinians. It was rebuilt in 1680, but after the confiscation of Mendizabal in 1836, the convent was definitively destroyed in 1873 by order of Mayor Fermín Salvochea, because of the sad and sorry urban state which it was in.
The Augustinians continued to be the owners of the site several years after the demolition until, in 1879, the City of Cadiz was authorised to acquire the large plot of land for public use. Until 1884, Candelaria Square was used to house the Circo Teatro Gaditano , where all kinds of artistic performances took place. The site of the convent was used for different purposes, as a place where circuses were set up and the old winter fairs were celebrated.
In the year 1884, the mayor José Ramón de Santa Cruz undertook a wide reform and urbanisation project of the aforementioned square. He demolished the theatre and landscaped the plot, placing a beautiful marble fountain in its centre, but it was removed in 1903. In 1906, a statue was placed in its place in homage to Emilio Castelar, a Cadiz-born politician, historian, journalist, great public speaker and Spanish writer as well as being president of the Executive Power of the First Republic between 1873 and 1874.
The sculpture has an extended arm as though a speech was being given. It was made in bronze by the sculptor Eduardo Barrón, from Zamora, and placed on a pedestal made by the architect Cabrera Latorre. On the shaft, in front, there is a bronze plaque that proclaims:
CADIZ A EMILIO CASTELAR MCMV (Cadiz to Emilio Castelar MCMV)
Later, two more laterals were installed that say:
THE 1st TOWN HALL OF THE 2nd SPANISH REPUBLIC TO EMILIO CASTELAR AT THE 1st CENTENARY OF HIS BIRTH. SEPTEMBER 7 1832-1932. ARGENTINA. BOLIVIA BRAZIL. CHILE. COLOMBIA. COSTA RICA. CVBA. DOMINICAN. ECUADOR GUATEMALA. HAITI. HONDURAS. MEXICO. NICARAGUA. PANAMA. PARAGUAY. PERU. PORTUGAL. URUGUAY. VENEZUELA.
TO THE NOTEWORTHY CADIZ-BORN EMILIO CASTELAR AT THE FIRST CENTENARY OF HIS BIRTH. 1832 -7 SEPTEMBER- 1932. TRIBUTE OF THE SPANISH AMERICAN ACCREDITED CONSULS IN CADIZ
From then on, the Square was renamed the Plaza de Castelar and subsequent successive municipal governments changed the name constantly, to the name that now stands; Plaza de la Candelaria.
Arboreal Species
In the flowerbeds, among the arboreal species that there are, it is worth mentioning the following:
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Araucaria or Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla) of more than 100 years old Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) also more than 100 years old Palm Tree (Phoenix canariensis) a specimen of more than 100 years old, surviving the city plague of Red Palm Weevil Insect (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) Dragon Tree (Dracaena draco) of about 40 years Chinese Fan Palm (Livistona chinensis) with more than 80 year Silk Floss Tree (Chorisia speciosa) Orchid tree (Bauhinia variegata) Burrawang (Macrozamia communis) Queen Palm Tree (Syagrus romanzoffiana) Mediterranean Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) |
