As was customary in Spain, in Puerto Rico, the municipality has a barrio called
pueblo which contains a central
plaza, the municipal buildings (city hall), and a Catholic church.
Fiestas patronales (patron saint festivals) are held in the central plaza every year. 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 is the (
Church San Miguel Arcángel of Utuado), the
Roman Catholic parish church. The first church to be built was made of wood and inaugurated in 1743. The current church was built from 1875 to 1896. The church today is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places. ==History==