Plaza Independencia is the geographic and social heart of Mendoza, a broad square ringed by sycamores and surrounded on all sides by the avenues from which the city's street grid radiates. Four smaller plazas — Chile, España, Italia, and San Martín — sit two blocks out in each direction, each with its own character and design. Together they form a system of outdoor spaces that makes central Mendoza feel remarkably generous in its provision of shade and seating.
The plaza itself contains fountains, a weekend artisan market along its edges, and the Museo Municipal de Arte Moderno beneath it — an underground gallery accessible via stairs from the plaza surface. On weekend evenings it fills with families, street performers, and anyone enjoying the cool air after the heat of the day.
All of Mendoza's main streets pass through or near the plaza. The Teatro Independencia occupies one edge, the Hyatt and other hotels another. It is an easy reference point from anywhere in the centre and the natural starting place for any exploration of the city on foot.