Pablo Acosta Ortiz Square

The Pablo Acosta Ortiz square or Altagracia square is a public space located in the city of Barquisimeto in the center west of Venezuela, more specifically in the state of Lara. One of the best known and most emblematic space of the city. It bears the name and bust over a marble pedestal of the highest exponent of Venezuelan medicine the famous doctor, Pablo Acosta Ortiz. The square is located in front of the Altagracia church.

History and location
Located at Carrera 19 with Calle 20, on land in front of the old house where Dr. Pablo Acosta Ortiz was born, raised and studied until 1985 when he moved to Caracas to start his medical studies. It was built on April 4, 1936, and renamed Plaza Altagracia after the distinguished doctor. It is said that in its former location, General José Antonio Páez shot four slaves and several members of the Reform Revolution were executed there. In 1940 remodeling work began. They made concrete construction and a marble pedestal was erected on which a bust of Acosta Ortiz stands.

The place has been maintained until today, however, due to the unconsciousness of the citizens who pass through the area daily (since it is in a central area of the city) the place has deteriorated. Despite everything, the square is constantly visited by students from nearby schools and by walkers from its surroundings.

About Pablo Acosta Ortiz
He was born on March 21, 1864, in a house in the city of Barquisimeto, he lived there throughout his childhood and adolescence until 1895 when he decided to study medicine at the University of Caracas, his parents being lawyers Pablo Acosta and Doña Benigna Ortiz. When he was 21 years old, he received a doctorate in medicine and surgery and began his practice as a doctor in Los Andes.

In 1887 he moved to France and enrolled in the University of París, where he became a disciple of the famous surgeon Le Dentu, one of the most prominent figures in cardiovascular surgery in France. He again studied medicine, obtaining his doctorate with honors on November 27, 1892.

He returned to Barquisimeto and together with Antonio María Pineda they made the  'La Caridad' hospital, a center for the study and practice of medicine in the region.

He developed a great activity in the field of medicine, standing out as a writer in the surgery section of the Gaceta Médica de Caracas (1993-1895), through whose pages he disseminated the latest advances in surgery, which led Dr. Plácido Rodríguez, rector of the Central University of Venezuela: 'He is the most eminent of our modern surgeons.' He participated in the founding of the College of Physicians of Venezuela (1902).

Several Institutes bear his name: a clinic, a school and a school canteen in Barquisimeto. In Caracas a high school bears his name, as well as a Hospital in San Fernando de Apure. In addition to having busts of him in the square with his name in Barquisimeto, there are also busts in the Hospital Vargas in Caracas and in the Hall of Fame of the International College of Surgeons in Chicago.