Plaza sights in Costa Rica
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A
Plaza de la Cultura
For many Ticos, Costa Rica begins here. This architecturally unremarkable concrete plaza in the heart of downtown is usually packed with locals slurping ice-cream cones and admiring the wide gamut of San José street life: juggling clowns, itinerant vendors and cruising teenagers. It is perhaps one of the safest spots in the city since there's a police tower stationed at one corner.
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B
Plaza de la Democracia
Immediately west of the national museum is the stark Plaza de la Democracia, which was constructed by President Oscar Arias in 1989 to commemorate 100 years of Costa Rican democracy. The concrete plaza is architecturally dull, but some of its elevated terraces provide decent views of the mountains surrounding San José (especially at sunset). On its western flank is an open-air crafts market.
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Parque Central
The best time to visit is on Saturday during the farmers market, when cheeses and chorizo are on display and the local ladies can be found shopping and gossiping.
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C
Parque Juan Santamaría
Two blocks south of Parque Central, this plaza features a statue of the hero in action, flanked by cannons. Across the way, the Parque de los Niños has a more parklike scene going, complete with playground equipment, chattering toddlers and canoodling teenagers.
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