Santa Cruz de la Sierra city centre is centred on Plaza 24 de Septiembre, the focal point of the historic district known as the Casco Viejo. You can use the square to orient yourself, visit the Basilica Cathedral of San Lorenzo and continue to Manzana 1 Espacio de Arte, where admission is free.
- Historic centre: the Casco Viejo extends roughly three to four blocks around the main square.
- From the hotel: Santa Cruz city centre is about 15 minutes by car or 43 minutes on foot from a hotel in Santa Cruz.
- Art space: Manzana 1 Espacio de Arte is at Calle Independencia and Plaza Manzana Uno.
- Admission and hours: Manzana 1 is free to enter and opens every day of the week, with a midday break.
Orienting yourself around the central square
Plaza 24 de Septiembre is the simplest starting point for finding your way around Santa Cruz’s historic centre. The Casco Viejo takes its name from the old centre, and the historic zone extends roughly three to four blocks from the square.
Architecture gives the area much of its character: styles include republican, tropical neoclassical and eclectic. The city’s historic-centre project began in 1988, with rules requiring owners of heritage houses to maintain certain characteristics of their buildings.
The municipal culture and tourism office identifies churches and cultural stops around the Casco Viejo, including La Merced, San Francisco and Jesús Nazareno churches; the Raúl Otero House of Culture; the UAGRM History Museum; the Museum of Contemporary Art; the Plurinational Culture Centre; the University Auditorium; and Altillo Beni.
Start at the square, then choose a nearby church or cultural stop before continuing to another place in the historic district.
Plaza 24 de Septiembre and the cathedral
The San Lorenzo Metropolitan Cathedral Minor Basilica is one of the churches in the Casco Viejo, making it a natural companion to a visit to Plaza 24 de Septiembre.
Take in the cathedral’s exterior and its setting beside the central square. Visitor hours and access restrictions can vary, so check the official site before you go.
If you want to add another cultural stop, the Raúl Otero House of Culture and the UAGRM History Museum are also in the historic centre. The Casco Viejo’s compact scale makes it practical to plan these as part of the same central-area outing.
Manzana 1 Espacio de Arte
Manzana 1 Espacio de Arte is a free-entry art space at Calle Independencia and Plaza Manzana Uno. It began in September 2005 and has operated as an independent, self-managed, nonprofit civil association since 2007.
Its public hours are Monday through Friday, 10:00–13:00 and 15:00–20:00, and Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, 10:00–13:00 and 15:00–20:00. The outdoor “Arte en la plaza” project displays images on metal supports in Plaza Manzana Uno. Its exhibitions are renewed four times per year.
Hours can change, so check the official site before you go. Pair a visit with time in the adjoining plaza, then continue to other central sights on foot.
Planning the trip from the hotel
Plaza 24 de Septiembre makes a useful point to organise your time in the Casco Viejo.
For local transport options around the city, this guide to getting around Santa Cruz de la Sierra covers practical ways to plan your journeys. Manzana 1’s split opening hours make it worth timing the gallery visit around its midday break.
FAQs
What is Santa Cruz de la Sierra’s historic centre called?
It is known as the Casco Viejo and is organized around Plaza 24 de Septiembre.
Is Manzana 1 Espacio de Arte free?
Yes. Admission is free, and the space opens on weekdays, weekends and holidays, with a break between midday and afternoon opening.
How often does “Arte en la plaza” change?
The outdoor project renews its exhibitions four times per year.
What other central parks can you visit?
Parque El Arenal is another central park to include in a city itinerary, with more about the park and central parks in Santa Cruz.