Glorieta

Glorieta is a Spanish noun that refers to a roundabout or traffic circle, typically landscaped and often featuring a central monument, statue, fountain, or garden. The term comes from gloria, with the diminutive suffix -eta, literally meaning “little glory.” In many Spanish-speaking countries and regions, glorietas serve as key junctions in road networks and are common elements of public spaces.

The word is also used in place names and urban design. In the Americas, glorietas appear in several notable locations. Glorieta Pass is a mountain pass in northern New Mexico, United States, best known for the 1862 Battle of Glorieta Pass during the Civil War, an engagement that helped determine control of the region. In Mexico City, Glorieta de los Insurgentes is a prominent traffic circle on Insurgentes Avenue, near major cultural and commercial districts. Similar glorietas appear in towns and parks across the Spanish-speaking world, reflecting their role as central civic or scenic features.