The central plaza, or square, is a place for official and unofficial recreational events and a place where people can gather and socialize from dusk to dawn. The
Laws of the Indies, Spanish law, which regulated life in Puerto Rico in the early 19th century, stated the plaza's purpose was for "the parties" (celebrations, festivities) (), and that the square should be proportionally large enough for the number of neighbors (). These Spanish regulations also stated that the streets nearby should be comfortable portals for passersby, protecting them from the elements: sun and rain. Located across from the central plaza in Arecibo barrio-pueblo is the , the second-largest
Roman Catholic church in Puerto Rico. It was built in 1616, then reconstructed in 1793. After the ceiling of the central nave was damaged by the
1918 San Fermín earthquake it was reconstructed in concrete. The central plaza features an obelisk which sometimes has been decorated as a Christmas tree during the holiday. ==History==