Cities and Towns
Most of the Spanish settlers lived in cities and towns throughout the colonies. These cities and towns grew fast in terms of population and wealth. They became centers of government, commerce, and European culture. The central square consisted of big government buildings and Spanish churches. Broad avenues and monuments decorated the areas and symbolized European power and wealth. These cities and towns were also centers of intellectual and cultural life. Architecture, panting, poetry, and ideas were all exchanged here.