{{Short description|Cultural heritage site in Peru}} {{more citations needed|date=December 2023}} {{Infobox historic site | name = Plazoleta de la Merced | image = Plazuela de La Merced en Lima 04.jpg | locmapin = Peru Lima | coordinates = | location = [[Lima]], Peru | area = | built = | architect = | architecture = | designation1 = World Heritage Site | designation1_offname = | designation1_type = Non-movable | designation1_criteria = Monument | designation1_date = 1991 | designation1_partof = [[Historic Centre of Lima]] | designation1_number = 500 }} The '''Plazoleta de la Merced''', also known as the '''Plazuela de la Merced''', is a [[public square]] located in front of the [[Basilica and Convent of Nuestra Señora de la Merced]], at the fifth block of the [[Jirón de la Unión]] and its intersection with the [[Jirón Huancavelica]], in the [[historic centre of Lima]], [[Peru]].

==History== Located in front of the [[Basilica and Convent of Nuestra Señora de la Merced|Basilica de la Merced]], the square was the scene of two important political moments in the [[republican history of Peru]]. In 1821, it was the location of one of [[José de San Martín]]'s proclamations of the [[independence of Peru]]. Previously, he had done it in the city of [[Huaura]] and in the [[Plaza Mayor, Lima|Plaza Mayor]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Fiestas Patrias: estas son las 4 plazas de Lima donde se gritó la Independencia |url=https://andina.pe/agencia/noticia-fiestas-patrias-estas-son-las-4-plazas-lima-donde-se-grito-independencia-fotos-853502.aspx |last=Garay |first=Karina |date=2023-07-28}}</ref>

Subsequently, on June 1, 1956, the then candidate for the presidency of the republic, [[Fernando Belaúnde Terry]], held a march in protest against the action of the [[National Jury of Elections]], which did not agree to register his candidacy just sixteen days before the [[1956 Peruvian general election|elections]]. This protest march was repressed with water jets thrown at the candidate, but it managed to get the state body to register his candidacy. Belaúnde lost that year's election to [[Manuel Prado Ugarteche]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.caretas.com.pe/1416/40/40.htm |title=40 Años Después |website=[[Caretas]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930193637/http://www.caretas.com.pe/1416/40/40.htm |archive-date=2007-09-30}}</ref>

==Monument== [[File:Plazuela de La Merced en Lima 02.jpg|thumb|right|The monument in 2023.]] The square is the site of a bronze monument made by David Lozano ([[Callao]]; {{dts|1865|1|7}} — Lima; {{dts|1936|1|16}}) of former president [[Ramón Castilla]], inaugurated on June 6, 1915, by then president [[Óscar R. Benavides]], Marshal [[Andrés Avelino Cáceres]], and then [[mayor of Lima]], [[Federico Elguera]].

Originally planned to be located in the ''[[balneario]]'' of [[Chorrillos District|Chorrillos]], it has been in its current location since 1915. In 2018, it was declared part of the [[Cultural heritage of Peru]] alongside the other statues located within the [[historic centre of Lima]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gob.pe/institucion/cultura/normas-legales/203967-053-2018-vmpcic-mc |title=Resolución Viceministerial N.° 053-2018-VMPCIC-MC |date=2018-04-24 |website=[[Gob.pe]]}}</ref>

==See also== *[[Basilica and Convent of Nuestra Señora de la Merced]] *[[Plaza Mayor, Lima]] *[[Plaza Italia, Lima]] *[[Plaza Bolívar, Lima]]

==References== {{reflist}}

{{Lima landmarks}}

{{coord|-12.04814|-77.03285|format=dms|type:landmark_region:PE|display=title}}

[[Category:Squares in Lima]] [[Category:Historic Centre of Lima]]