The symbol of Mexico City, known as 'El Ángel' (The Angel), this gilded Winged Victory on a 45m-high pillar was sculpted for the independence centennial of 1910. Inside the monument are the remains of Miguel Hidalgo, José María Morelos, Ignacio Allende and nine other notables. Thousands of people congregate around the monument on Independence Day, New Year's Eve, for victory celebrations following important Mexican fútbol matches, and occasional free concerts.

It's also a magnet for political demonstrations, and in August 2019 a protest against femicide ended in graffiti to El Ángel to draw attention to the problems of inequality in the country. The site remains boarded up for years-long repairs at the time of writing.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Zona Rosa & Reforma attractions

1. Centro Bursátil

0.26 MILES

An angular tower and mirror-ball ensemble housing the nation’s Bolsa (stock exchange) marks the southern edge of the Colonia Cuauhtémoc.

2. La Diana Cazadora

0.29 MILES

Commonly known as La Diana Cazadora (Diana the Hunter), this 1942 bronze nude sculpture atop a fountain is actually meant to represent the Archer of the…

3. Torre Reforma

0.46 MILES

This 246m (807ft), 57-story, wedge-shaped tower became Mexico City's tallest building when it opened in 2016, displacing the Torre BBVA Bancomer (235m…

4. Casa Guillermo Tovar de Teresa

0.47 MILES

The converted art storehouse of historian and bibliophile Guillermo Tovar de Teresa opened its doors in 2018 as a sumptuous museum of the Museo Soumaya…

5. Torre Mayor

0.54 MILES

The Torre Mayor stands like a sentinel before the gate to Bosque de Chapultepec. The green-glass tower soars 225m above the capital. The earthquake…

6. Torre BBVA Bancomer

0.56 MILES

Across from the Torre Mayor is the Torre BBVA Bancomer, a bank's 50-story skyscraper that became Mexico's tallest building upon its completion in 2015,…

7. Monumento a la Madre

0.59 MILES

Just off Reforma, this monument and open plaza dedicated to mothers features a statue of a woman and child. The first brick was laid on Mother's Day (May…

8. Estela de Luz

0.6 MILES

Opposite Torre Mayor, the 104m-high Estela de Luz was built to commemorate Mexico's bicentennial anniversary in 2010, though due to delays in construction…