Monumento a la Revolución
Pl. de la República S/N, Tabacalera, Cuauhtémoc, 06030 Ciudad de México, CDMX
55 5592 2038
http://www.mrm.mx
One of Mexico City’s many iconic landmarks is dedicated to the heroes of the Mexican Revolution of 1910 and is a must-visit for any person who’s coming in from out of town and is interested in learning about Mexico’s colorful, and at times tumultuous, past. It was built in 1938 and houses some of these heroes’ remains, like Pancho Villa. The monument is open for visitors, who can access a glass elevator that will take them to the top, from where they can enjoy a magnific view of the city, exactly at 6:00 p.m. the monument is decorated in colorful lights on all of its sides, last elevator trip at 9:30 p.m.! It’s interesting to know the structure is actually unfinished, as originally it was going to be the Mexican house of representatives, yet when the original project was abandoned, it became a monument to the revolution instead, only the dome remains from the original project.
As much as it’s absolutely beautiful, the Monumento a la Revolución is interesting to architectural enthusiasts as one whole section of its structure was left open for visitors to admire the beams and trusses that support the massive structure. At 220 feet it’s the largest triumphal arch in the world. Below the monument lies an exhibition space and art gallery as well as the National Museum of the Revolution which covers Mexico’s history from the Constitution of 1857 to the post-revolution government of the 1920’s. It’s located in the Plaza de la República in downtown Mexico City and sits at the juncture of Paseo de la Reforma, Avenida de los Insurgentes, and Puente de Alvarado. Access to the observation deck at the top costs only $60 pesos, while a ticket that provides complete access to the entire facility and museum costs $90 pesos.
The Plaza de la República, surrounding the Monumento a la Revolución, is also the setting for very interesting happenings, the project “Revolucionarte” (Revolución+Evolución+Arte) aims to provide a different show or activity every week that could be a new exposition, a concert, or an art exhibition. And because it’s Mexico, there’s good food to be had as well, nearby Adelitas Café offers products from the Tabacalera neighborhood, featuring traditional Mexican cuisine. The object of the project is to create a cultural corridor from the monument to the Museo de San Carlos.
As you can see, the Monumento a la Revolución is not only a beautifully imposing monument, but an adventure packed with surprises each time you visit it.
