| Spanish; Castilian: Plaza de Armas|italic=no | |
| Image Place: | Habana - Plaza de Armas 02.jpg |
| Pushpin Map: | Cuba |
| Pushpin Label: | Spanish; Castilian: Plaza de Armas|italic=no |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the Plaza de Armas in Havana |
| Coordinates: | 23.14°N -82.3492°W |
| Location: | La Habana Vieja, Havana, La Habana Province, |
| Place Type: | Public square |
| Open: | 1520s |
Plaza de Armas is the oldest town square in Habana Vieja.[1]
Established in the early 1520s in Habana Vieja, the Plaza de las Armas was designed to serve as the original main square for the military and government in Havana.[2] As Spanish custom when they laid out a new town, open space was reserved for a public square when the city was founded in 1519.[3] The Plaza de Armas was commandeered for military use by the 1580s.[4] The name was La Plaza de Armas, translating to "Place of Arms".[5]
In 1777, a church was demolished to make way for the new residence of the governor-general. The Governor's Palace was situated on Plaza de Armas and occupied one whole side of the square.[6] In 1896, the square was described as consisting of four parks with Ceiba trees and a marble statue of Ferdinand VII in the center.[7] Ramón Blanco was the last Spanish captain-general to occupy the site, and after 1899, it became the executive seat of the Cuban government.[8]
The square in Old Havana was surrounded by historic buildings including Castillo de la Real Fuerza, El Templete, the Federal Supreme Court, and the Senate building.