Rocafuerte Square History

The origins of San Francisco square go back to the colonial time, at the end of the XVII century, when the Guayaquileños began to populate New City. In 1700, the surrounding lots had already been distributed and the small square appeared surrounded by the houses belonging to Antonio Salavarría, Francisco Castañeda, Joseph Morán, Magdalena Castañeda, Juan de Aguirre and San Francisco's convent, which didn’t occupy the whole block yet.

The City council threatened to demolish the Franciscans’ convent, because they had built beyond the corresponding limit; however, the clergymen imposed their will, making use of their influences, since the Our Lady of Angels brotherhood, under their charge, was one of the most popular of the city, as it gathered shipyard workers and their families.

The small square, later San Francisco square was New City’s backbone . There, since 1900, all the popular parties took place: bullfights, fireworks, comedies and queen election. Jano’s other face also cohabited: in the XIX century, in times of disturbance, the square became an execution place.

Since 1880, the square houses the first statue Guayaquil had: the monument to Vicente Rocafuerte; in that moment, it began to be called either, San Francisco Square or Rocafuerte Square. In 1896, the sequels of the "big fire" affected the beautiful statue; nevertheless, it stood still and its restoration was undertaken by the Guayas Philanthropic Society.

Though in life Vicente Rocafuerte had a very serious mood, his statue has been very restless, since through the years it has moved several times, all over the square.

In 1917, the folklorist José Antonio Campos, known as Jack the Ripper, ironized that the tribune was growing, because he had been added a stone block under the original baseboard. Campos would say today that he is taking a bath in a pool, amid a cleaner and better care for square, with more space to circulate.

by: Ángel Emilio Hidalgo, Historian.