{{Short description|Cultural heritage site in Peru}} {{about|the plaza in Lima|the plaza in Uruguay|Democracy Square}} {{Infobox historic site | name = Democracy Square | image = JNELima.jpg | locmapin = Peru Lima | coordinates = | location = [[Lima]], Peru | area = | built = 2006 | architect = | architecture = | designation1 = World Heritage Site | designation1_offname = Plaza de la Democracia | designation1_type = Non-movable | designation1_criteria = Monument | designation1_date = 1991 | designation1_partof = [[Historic Centre of Lima]] | designation1_number = 500 }} '''Democracy Square''' ({{langx|es|Plaza de la Democracia}}) is a [[public square]] in the [[Historic Centre of Lima]], [[Peru]]. It is located on the former site of the [[Bank of the Nation (Peru)|Bank of the Nation]] Building, which burned down in the year 2000 during the [[Four Quarters March]].<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Lima: espacio público en transición. La plaza de la democracia 2006 |journal=On the w@terfront |url=https://revistes.ub.edu/index.php/waterfront/article/view/18757 |last=Hamann Mazuré |first=Johanna |issue=21: Public Art. Urban Design. Civic Participation. Urban Regeneration |pages=83-96 |year=2012}}</ref> The park's address is 1045 Nicolás de Piérola Avenue.<ref name=feria>{{Cite web |url=https://www.munlima.gob.pe/2018/10/28/municipalidad-de-lima-realiza-feria-del-libro-viejo/ |title=Municipalidad de Lima realiza Feria del Libro Viejo |date=2018-10-28 |website=[[Municipalidad de Lima]]}}</ref>
In 2023, the [[Metropolitan Municipality of Lima]] approved that the square be renamed after [[Luis Giampietri]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Plaza de la Democracia en el centro de Lima se llamará Luis Giampietri |url=https://larepublica.pe/sociedad/2023/10/19/plaza-de-la-democracia-en-el-centro-de-lima-se-llamara-parque-luis-alejandro-giampietri-municipalidad-de-lima-rafael-lopez-aliaga-673360 |last=Salinas |first=Camila |date=2023-10-19 |work=[[La República]]}}</ref>
==Overview== The square is located in the [[Historic Centre of Lima]], one block away from the [[Plaza San Martín, Lima|Plaza San Martín]] and one block away from the [[University Park, Lima|University Park]]. The headquarters of the [[National Jury of Elections]] (JNE) are located in front of the park on [[Avenida Nicolás de Piérola|Nicolás de Piérola avenue]]. The park features a small [[monolith]] in its centre with the park's name.
The park is used for public events, such as [[book fair]]s,<ref name=feria/> and protests, such as the [[2022 Peruvian economic protests]]<ref>{{Cite news |title=Vándalos destruyen estación del Metropolitano e intentan ingresar a la sede del Jurado Nacional de Elecciones |url=https://rpp.pe/lima/policiales-crimenes/inmovilizacion-social-vandalos-destruyen-estacion-del-metropolitano-e-intentan-ingresar-a-la-sede-del-jne-noticia-1397774 |date=2022-04-05 |work=[[Radio Programas del Perú|RPP Noticias]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Pedro Castillo pide a simpatizantes ser tolerantes y no caer en provocaciones |url=https://elperuano.pe/noticia/124606-pedro-castillo-pide-a-simpatizantes-ser-tolerantes-y-no-caer-en-provocaciones |date=2021-07-14 |work=[[El Peruano]]}}</ref> or the [[2022–2023 Peruvian protests]]<ref>{{Cite news |title=Así amaneció Lima luego de violentas protestas y enfrentamientos entre manifestantes y la PNP |url=https://www.infobae.com/peru/2023/01/20/asi-amanecio-lima-luego-de-violentas-protestas-y-enfrentamientos-entre-manifestantes-y-la-pnp/ |date=2023-01-20 |work=[[Infobae]]}}</ref>
==History== ===Original building (1962–2000)=== {{main|Banco Comercial (1962–2000)}} The plaza was formerly the location of a building that housed the ''Banco Comercial del Perú'' and later the [[Bank of the Nation (Peru)|''Banco de la Nación'']].<ref name=building>{{Cite web |url=https://cammp.ulima.edu.pe/edificios/banco-comercial/ |title=BANCO COMERCIAL |website=[[University of Lima|Instituto de Investigación - Universidad de Lima]]}}</ref> The building was designed by Peruvian architect [[Enrique Seoane Ros]], and built by ''Flores & Costa, S.A.'', a Peruvian construction firm.<ref name=building/> On July 28, 2000,<ref>{{Cite news |title=El cuerpo de bomberos voluntarios del Perú en la historia |url=https://andina.pe/agencia/galeria.aspx?GaleriaId=5134&FotoId=548106 |date=2018-12-05 |work=[[Andina (news agency)|Andina]]}}</ref><ref name=RPPNov16>{{Cite news |title=Estos fueron los incendios más devastadores en Lima en el siglo XXI |url=https://rpp.pe/lima/actualidad/estos-fueron-los-incendios-mas-devastadores-en-lima-en-el-siglo-xxi-noticia-1003544?ref=rpp |date=2016-11-16 |work=[[Radio Programas del Perú|RPP Noticias]]}}</ref> amid the protests that surrounded the building and the centre of Lima known as the [[Four Quarters March]], an explosion and fire on the building's third floor compromised the building's structural integrity<ref>{{Cite news |title=Sí, hubo explosión: Ocurrió en el tercer piso y provocó caida parcial del edificio del Banco de la Nación |date=2000-08-13 |pages=3 |work=[[La República (Peru)|La República]] |quote=La explosión en el tercer piso habría provocado la destrucción de las paredes, el rompimiento de las columnas y el desmoronamiento de los techos. El incendio no pudo causar tal desastre.}}</ref> and killed six security guards.<ref name=10y>{{Cite news |title=Sentencian a 10 años de prisión efectiva a Montesinos por muerte de vigilantes del Banco de la Nación |url=https://andina.pe/agencia/noticia.aspx?id=250747 |date=2009-08-27 |work=[[Andina (news agency)|Andina]]}}</ref> The explosion was reportedly caused by undercover agents acting under orders of [[Vladimiro Montesinos]].<ref name=RPPNov16/> The intent was to paint the protests in a negative light, and to link them to terrorist groups [[Shining Path]] and [[Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement|MRTA]].
===Plaza (2006–present)=== The current plaza differed from its original designs but was built and completed, being inaugurated on July 27, 2006. The inauguration ceremony was headed by now President [[Alejandro Toledo]], who had participated in the 2000 march. His speech during the event referenced the fire and his [[Anti-Fujimorism|anti-Fujimorist]] stance, referring to [[Alberto Fujimori]]'s government as tyrannical. Kurt Burneo, the bank's president at the time of both the fire and the ceremony, was present in the event.<ref>{{Cite news |title=“Nunca más la muerte”, enfatiza Toledo al inaugurar Plaza de la Democracia |url=http://portal.andina.pe/edpespeciales/especiales/2006/julio/fiestaspatrias/27jul025.html |date=2006-07-26 |work=[[Andina (news agency)|Andina]]}}</ref>
==See also== *[[Torre Banco de la Nación]], which replaced the bank's former building
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Lima landmarks}}
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[[Category: Squares in Lima]] [[Category:Historic Centre of Lima]]