The Angle of Independence Monument
When discussing what is the emblem of Mexico City, the Angle of Independence is one of the most iconic monuments that must be noted. Most generally known as El ngel, it is formally known as Monumento a la Independencia. The Angel was ultimately completed in 1910, just in time to honor Mexico's 100th year of independence from Spain. The Angel, like Reforma Avenue and the rest of Mexico City's major sculptures, was an attempt by President Porfirio Diaz to bring all the majesty, class, and sophistication of the great European capitals to Mexico City.
The Angel is a winged statue of the ancient Roman goddess of triumph, Victoria. In one hand, she carries a laurel wreath to lay on the heads of successful freedom fighters, and in the other, a broken three-link chain representing three centuries of Spanish tyranny in Mexico until Mexicans rose up and broke away from Spain. The base of the column is quadrangular, with a bronze sculpture representing law, war, justice, and peace at each vertex.
On a normal day, visits to the Angel include only a walk around the base of the statue and its mini-museum honoring the independence fighters, but with advance notice and a special permit, groups can ascend the statue's winding inner staircase and go all the way to the top of the Angel for a breathtaking view of Mexico City below.
Location: Av. Paseo de la Reforma, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc, 06500 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Opening hours: Always open
Phone number: N/A
Rating: 4.5/5, 460 Tripadvisor reviews
Website: https://mexicocity.cdmx.gob.mx/venues/el-angel-independencia/
