Plaza Independencia (plazas de Armas, Juan de Salazar y del Congreso)

Plaza Independencia is the most important set of squares and gardens in downtown Asunción. It covers about 24,362 m² between Río Jejuí, El Paraguayo Independiente, Independencia Nacional and Avenida República streets. In everyday use it is informally split into three parts: the Plaza de Armas, the Plaza Juan de Salazar and the Plaza del Congreso. What makes it special is its surroundings: the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Curia, the Cabildo (now a cultural centre), the National Congress building, the back of the Municipal Theatre, the Police Headquarters, the Catholic University (in the old Conciliar Seminary) and the Monseñor Juan Sinforiano Bogarín Museum all stand around it. It is a good starting point to understand, on foot and in an hour, how the political, religious and cultural power of the city was organised.

The square was inaugurated in 1913 and was named Plaza Independencia by municipal ordinance in 1943. Law No. 6284, of 18 July 2019, declared the Independencia, Juan de Salazar and Armas squares of Asunción national historic heritage.