[Week 118] Weekend-Engagement concept: A historical monument

The square France is located in the Municipality of Chacao and was conceived so that the Caracas citizens could visit a new urbanization that was being developed in Caracas Venezuela called Altamira.

The inauguration of this square was on August 11, 1945 with the name of Square Altamira, and in 1967 the change of name to Plaza Francia was made official.

The place where the square was built was part of a hacienda, and its land was acquired in 1943 by the urban planner Luis Roche, being an emblematic element an Obelisk that is approximately 45 meters high.

Luis Roche wanted to build in this area a sumptuous, welcoming and illuminated square, adorned with beautiful slender trees and an Obelisk taller than the Cathedral of Caracas.

This Obelisk was the first project in the city of Caracas to have the intention of being a referential icon on a metropolitan scale, and is recognized as an architectural symbol that links the past with the present of the city.

On July 29, 1967, at approximately 8:05 p.m., an earthquake occurred that lasted 35 seconds, severely affecting the areas of Altamira, Los Palos Grandes and the Central Litoral. The earthquake was of magnitude 6.5 on the Ritcher scale. The area of Los Palos Grandes is very close to Altamira and four buildings with 10 or 11 levels collapsed. buildings with 10 or 11 levels collapsed.

People ran in panic to the square and stayed overnight around the obelisk for days, fearing to return to their homes due to the aftershocks that followed the earthquake.

This Obelisk is a monument which is known as a symbol of the Municipality of Chacao.

Thanks to @galenkp for the suggested topics in the initiative [Week 118] Weekend-Engagement concept Link Here, out of all I have chosen the following:

Weekend History Lesson

Find a historical monument in your area, take a photo of it and write a minimum of 250 words about it, the history and significance it has. The photo you use must be your own.

Have a happy and productive weekend. Greetings to all and good luck to the participants.

The image is my own and was taken with my IPhone 4 cell phone. I decided to present it in black and white to give it that particular touch of the 40s and 50s.