Angel of Independence in Mexico City (Independence Column)

Angel of Independence in Mexico City is one of the significant monuments for the residents of the capital of Mexico. Famous sculptors Antonio Rivas Mercado, Gonzalo Garita and Manuel Gorospe worked on its creation. The monument in the form of a column is a symbol of victory, as a result of which Mexico gained its long-awaited independence. The centennial of this event was a worthy occasion for the erection of the golden-winged Angel, which is the name of the monument in Mexico City. Once in the Sona Rosa neighborhood, walk to the center of the traffic circle on Paseo de la Reforma Street. A few tens of meters before you can see a majestic monument topped with a seven-ton sculpture of Niki – the ancient Greek goddess of victory. The graceful female figure was cast in bronze, which was later covered with 24-carat gold. The authorship belongs to the sculptor Enrique Alchiati. The majestic goddess holds symbols in her hand: chains – a reference to broken chains and freedom, and a wreath of laurel – to victory.

.

Video: Angel of Independence in Mexico City

Contents

Highlights

The Angel of Independence rests on a pedestal, the four corners of which correspond to bronze sculptures: Peace in the south-east, War in the south-west, Law in the north-east and Justice in the north-west. There is also a place for a bronze statue of a child and a lion. The top of the base of the monument is crowned with majestic figures of the country’s heroes, and the inscription “Nation to the Heroes of Independence” arouses awe even among tourists who are not familiar with the history of Mexico and its capital. If you look closely at the capitol of the column, you can see that it is made in the Corinthian style, and the decoration is four sculptures of eagles with outspread wings. Travelers who find themselves in Mexico City do not return home without photos of the Column of Independence, which evokes awe and pride of their nation in the heart of every Mexican.

.

History of the Angel of Independence

The decision to erect the monument fell on the shoulders of the then president of Mexico, Porfirio Diaz. His hands and was laid the symbolic first stone. It took place on January 2, 1902 after the festivities and festivities for which the Mexican capital is famous on New Year’s Eve and the next day.

.

Construction had to be started twice: four years later, the 25-meter structure that laid the foundation for the modern Angel of Independence collapsed. As it was later determined, the cause was an improper layout of the monument’s base. In order to avoid a second incident, a special commission took control of deconstructing the structure and building it from scratch according to new calculations. By the anniversary of the beginning of the bloody war for the sovereignty of the country, the construction of the monument was completed. In 1910, the inauguration ceremony of the Column of Independence was held, which was attended by officials and the President of Mexico, as well as guests from other countries. Nineteen years later, the monument’s display included an eternal flame in memory of the soldiers who laid down their heads in bloody battles in the name of freedom.

.

Since 1929, the Angel has served as a mausoleum for the country’s leaders. Among them were Miguel Hidalgo de Costilla, the revolution’s mastermind, his successor José María Morelos, as well as Guadalupe Victoria, Vicente Guerrero, and Nicolás Bravo Rueda, formerly of the presidency.

The July 1957 earthquake caused the reconstruction of the Column of Independence: a sculpture of the goddess Niki fell from its “pedestal” and broke into several large pieces. The reopening of the monument took place a year later.

>

In mid-September 2017, another 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck the capital of Mexico. Despite the strongest tremors, the Angel stood firm, though it swayed faintly along with the surrounding buildings and lampposts.

.

What else is notable about the Independence Column

In addition to being a symbol of the city, the Angel of Independence is also a great place to see the panorama of Mexico City. A staircase of two hundred steps leads up to a height of 45 meters. Periodically the observation deck is closed, so try to check with the policemen who always walk around the monument. Most of them do not speak English, so a Spanish phrasebook and dictionary are indispensable for any tourist.

.

How to get to the monument’s observation deck

Anyone can climb to the dizzying heights, but before doing so, they must go in person to the office of the Patrimonio Cultural de la Delegación Cuauhtémoc (Cultural Heritage of Cuauhtémoc) to obtain a permit. The office is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 to 14:30. It takes no more than 15 minutes to obtain the coveted document and does not require a financial contribution, which is especially pleasing to tourists who are used to paying for excursions at a minimum.

.

To apply for a permit you will need the following documents:

.
  • an official request addressed to the Deputy Director of Cultural Heritage;
  • indication of the purpose of the visit, name, number of people in your group, date and time of the visit to the Column of Independence;
  • A copy of an identification document (federal or national voter card, professional certificate, passport).
.

For more information, call 2452-3355. The office itself is located at the address: Oficina del OPat. Aldama y Mina S/N, Buenavista. As a last resort, you can ask leading questions to the staff of the hotel where you are staying – the friendly staff will help you get to the top of the capital’s main monument.

.

Seeing the Angel of Independence from inside can be done in groups of a maximum of six people. The time spent on the observation deck does not exceed 15 minutes. It is worth noting that people with poor physical fitness are better off choosing other sights to visit: the climb is very difficult. If the first 15-20 steps are wide and comfortable, the rest are their complete opposite: metal and narrow. Some parts of the stairs are practically unlit, which can provoke an unwanted fall. The size of the observation deck is not as large as you would like, but it is enough for taking photos and viewing the capital of Mexico from a height. Plus, you’ll be able to get a close up look at the majestic statue of Niki.

.

Currently, tourists are allowed into the “bowels” of the Independence Column on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Since this schedule is constantly changing, it is better to check the information with the servants of the law.

.

How to get there

The Angel of Independence is located at Paseo de la Reforma y Eje 2 PTE, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc. There are six buses heading towards the majestic monument: #19, #19-A, #76, #76-A, #76-A-X, #76-X. Don’t be afraid to pass by: the Independence Column is visible from the window of public transportation, so you will have to get off at the nearest stop. A bus fare costs from 0.2 USD and up. Public transportation “goes” often, which means tourists will not spend several hours waiting for the right bus.

.

If the contingent that meets in the transport, causes you negative emotions, it is worth giving preference to a cab. The trip to the Angel of Independence will take less time and cost 5-10 USD.

.