Plaza de España!

What Is the Plaza de España?

This was the seat of Guam’s territorial government under Spanish rule!

What Makes It Historical?

When constructed in 1736, the palace complex for Governor Francisco Cardenas Pacheco was known as Plaza de Magalhaes after Fernão de Magalhães (a.k.a. Ferdinand Magellan). It was accompanied by an arsenal (almácen) and garden house, which survived the 1885 overhaul of the palace (Azotea) under Governor Don Enrique Solano! While the complex was used by both Americans and Japanese during their respective possessions of Guam, most of the original palace, save the garden house, was destroyed by American bombardment in 1944!

Spain’s takeover of Guam was a slow process. Captain Magalhães’ crew got into a fight with the local CHamoru and did not try to claim the island for Spain. It wasn’t for another 44 years that Basque conquistador, Miguel López de Legazpi, sailed from Mexico City and landed on Guam, claiming it for the Spanish crown before moving on to the Philippines! But another century would pass before Spain really set down roots in Guam, in the form of Father Diego Luis de San Vitores, who arrivetd in 1668, set up a mission in Hagåtña, and ruled as the religious and political leader until he was murdered for both in 1672! That kicked off 27 years of war between Spain and the CHamoru, whose population dropped from 50,000 to just 7,000 thanks to warfare and European diseases! Once subdued, the survivors were considered both subjects and citizens of Spain, and Spanish rule, based in Hagåtña, lasted for 217 years, spanning the terms of 50 Spanish governors!

How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?

Volunteer with the Guam Preservation Trust!
Donate to the Guam Preservation Trust!
Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!