Gertrudis Bocanegra Square (former San Agustín Square)

It is the second most important square, after Plaza Vasco de Quiroga, and is slightly smaller than the latter.

Its current name, Gertrudis Bocanegra, was given in honour of this insurgent heroine. A large bronze statue that is meant to represent her stands in its centre.

María Gertrudis Bocanegra Mendoza was born in Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, on April 11, 1765. She was the daughter of the Spanish merchant Pedro Xavier Bocanegra and María Feliciana Mendoza, a mestizo woman descended from an indigenous chief.

On October 11, 1817, during the War of Independence, this Michoacan insurgent was executed in the Plaza de San Agustín, accused of rebellion and conspiracy against the authority of the king. She was one of the many women who participated in the Independence movement.

The humanity of Bocanegra’s story lies not only in her bravery and sacrifice, but also in the circumstances that led her to become involved in the independence movement. Bocanegra was a woman who lived in a time when women had very little autonomy. She was born into a society that considered women inferior to men and denied them many basic rights and opportunities. However, she refused to accept this reality and became an active participant in her country’s struggle for freedom.

For those who like snacks, there are stands in various places around the plaza where a wide variety of dishes are sold.

It is also possible to find a good number of fountains and small squares on the streets of Pátzcuaro that take us back to ancient times full of history.

Every corner hides a legend.