The Plaza 24 de Septiembre is the gravitational centre of Santa Cruz — the point from which the concentric anillos radiate outward, and the most pleasant place to spend an afternoon in the city. Towering ceibo and palm trees shade the benches; sloths cling to the higher branches and are easier to spot than you might expect once someone points them out. Shoeshiners work the crowd, families gather in the evenings, and the surrounding cafes spill onto the pavement.
The plaza is named for the date Santa Cruz declared independence from Spain in 1810. On its south side stands the Cathedral Basilica of St. Lawrence; the Casa de la Cultura, the prefecture, and the municipal government buildings frame the other sides. Come at dusk when the heat lifts, the lights come on, and the plaza fills with locals doing exactly the same.