Todos Santos Plaza lives up to its more common name of Plaza Centro, as it is a spot that locals see as central to the community even though it is west of the town’s geographic center. Come here to relax in the square and visit the church, theater and other sites near the courtyard.
The plaza has recently been renovated to give it a crisp, clean appearance. Numerous benches are set up in the shade of tall palms to give spots to relax out of the sun. A gazebo provides another airy place to rest behind pretty ironwork under the eight-sided roof. If you visit during the holiday season, come here to see the Christmas tree displayed in the gazebo and colorful lights strung around the supports.
On the southern edge of the plaza is the mission church, Nuestra Señora del Pilar Church, which was constructed in 1733. Step inside this replica reconstruction that contains original artifacts. The pale yellow walls and light brown pews offer a pleasant spot to avoid the heat and enjoy some quiet reflection. Look for the statue of the Virgin of Pilar as well as a lovely stained-glass window behind the altar. From the church’s high point in the town you can view the square, the Valley of Pilar and the ocean.
The western side of the plaza has the Teatro Cine General Manuel Márquez de León, a theater established in 1944 by the Baja California governor to provide local youth a home for their art. The tradition continues today with the theater offering free exhibitions of painting, dance, photography and other arts throughout the year. Come for the annual film festival in the spring, when full-length films, documentaries, short works and student pieces are shown. Note that audio will generally be in Spanish.
Find Todos Santos Plaza at the northwestern part of the city. Walk a few blocks away to visit several art galleries, the Hotel California and the Professor Nestor Agundez Martinez Cultural Center, which holds the town library, historic murals and artifacts from centuries of evolution of Todos Santos.
