Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
&
Zona Rosa
Walk of the Reform
Emperor Maximilian I named the
road “Causeway of the Empress”
for his wife. After the Republic was
restored, it was renamed Paseo de
la Reforma (Walk of the Reform).
The road was transformed, and
under Porfirio Díaz the major
monuments were placed in the
glorietas
(traffic circles), and 36
statues of national heroes were
placed along the road.
Once a trendy neighborhood
of first-class hotels and restau-
rants, sidewalk cafés, and
boutiques, Zona Rosa's elegant
past has been overrun by the
tawdry nightlife now found here.
Visitors should exercise caution
if they are going out in the
evening.
d
Paseo de la Reforma, Niza,
Av Chapultepec and Varsovia • Map K4
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Monumento de Colón
Explorer Christopher
Columbus is commemorated in
this monument inaugurated in
1877. Created in France by artist
Carlos Cordier, the statue was
donated to the city by Don
Antonio Escandón. Seated on
the red limestone pedestal
below Colón (Colombus) are four
bronze statues of Friar Diego de
Deza who supported his project,
Friar Juan Pérez de Marchena,
Friar Bartolomé de las Casas,
defender of the native cause,
and Friar Pedro de Gante.
d
Paseo
de la Reforma glorieta at Av Morelos and
I. Ramírez • Map L3
Zona Rosa
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Monumento a la
Independencia, El Ángel
Widely referred to as El Ángel
for the Winged Victory at the
top, the glorious monument to
Mexican Independence was
inaugurated in 1910 to
celebrate Mexico's first
century of independence
from Spain. The steel
column covered with the
names of heroes is
118 ft (36 m) high. The
Winged Victory, by
artist Enrique Alciati,
is of bronze covered
with gold and stands
22 ft (6.7 m) high. The
four bronze statues at
the corners of the base
of the column symbo-
lize Law, Justice,
War, and Peace.
d
Paseo de la Reforma,
glorieta at Florencia
• Map J4
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Monumento a
Cuauhtémoc
Cuauhtémoc was the last
Aztec emperor and led the
defense of Tenochtitlán
against the Spaniards until
he was captured during the
final battle at Tlatelolco on
August 13, 1521. This powerful
monument was designed by
Francisco Jiménez and the
bronze statue of Cuauhtémoc
holding his spear aloft was
sculpted by Miguel Noreña.
The bas-reliefs on the
base depict the torture
of Cuauhtémoc by the
Spanish.
d
Paseo de la
Reforma glorieta at
Insurgentes Sur • Map K3
Monumento a
Cauhtémoc
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