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El Ángel de la Independencia "The Angel of Independence”, most commonly known by the shortened name El Ángel and officially known as Monumento a la Independencia, is a victory column located on a roundabout over Paseo de la Reforma in downtown Ciudad de México.

El Ángel was built to commemorate the centennial of the beginning of Mexico's War of Independence, celebrated in 1810. In later years it was made into a mausoleum for the most important heroes of that war.It is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Ciudad de México, and it has become a focal point for both celebration or protest. It bears a resemblance to the July Column in Paris and the Victory Column in Berlin.

The base of the column is quadrangular with each vertex featuring a bronze sculpture symbolizing Law, War, Justice and Peace. Originally there were nine steps leading to the base, but due to the sinking of the ground fourteen more steps were added.

On the main face of the base, which faces downtown Ciudad de México, there is an inscription reading La Nación a los Héroes de la Independencia ("The Nation to the Heroes of Independence").

An eternal flame (Lámpara Votiva) honoring these heroes was installed in the base of the column at the order of President Emilio Portes Gil in 1929.

In front of this inscription is a bronze statue of a giant lion led by a child, representing strength and the innocence of youth during War but docility during Peace.

Elevation 45 metres Inaugurated by Porfirio Díaz Built September 16, 1910

Built for C Anniversary of the Mexican Independence

Restored September 16, 1958 Restored by José Fernández Urbina

Architect Antonio Rivas MercadoGonzalo GaritaManuel Gorozpe

Enrique Alciati (sculptures)

Next to the column there is a group of marble statues of some of the heroes of the War of Independence. The column itself is 36 meters high. The structure is made of steel covered with quarried stone decorated with garlands, palms and rings with the names of Independence figures. Inside the column is a two-hundred step staircase which leads to a viewpoint above the capital. The Corinthian-style capital is adorned by four eagles with extended wings from the Mexican coat of arms used at the time.

Crowning the column there is a 6.7 metres statue by Enrique Alciati of Nike, the Greek goddess of Victory, like other similar victory columns around the world. It is made of bronze, covered with 24k gold (restored in 2006) and weighs 7 tons. In her right hand the Angel, as it is commonly known, holds a laurel crown above Miguel Hidalgo's head, symbolizing Victory, while in her left she holds a broken chain, symbolizing Freedom.

The monument suffered some damage during an earthquake on July 28, 1957 when the sculpture of the Winged Victory fell to the ground and broke into several pieces. Sculptor José Fernández Urbina was in charge of the restoration, which lasted more than a year. The monument was reopened on September 16, 1958. It survived the devastating earthquake of September 19, 1985 with some damage to the staircases and the reliefs, but none to the Angel.

El Ángel, the victory column on a roundabout over Paseo de la Reforma

Las alas de la ciudad del escultor Jorge Marin. Paseo de la Reforma

Mexico has been celebrating 200 years of Independence and local artist Jorge Marin has been giving all chilangos (citizens of Ciudad de México) the chance to become an Angel of Independence. His sculpture on Reforma entitled "Alas de la Ciudad" (wings of the city) has quickly become the most popular posing spot in the city....

Paseo de la Reforma is a wide avenue that runs in a straight line, cutting diagonally across Ciudad de México. It was designed by Ferdinand von Rosenzweig in the 1860s and modeled after the great boulevards of Europe, such as Vienna's Ringstrasse or the Champs-Élysées in Paris. It was Emperor Maximilian's wish to directly link his Imperial residence, Chapultepec Castle, with the National Palace in the city center.

Text and pictures: InternetCopyright: All the images belong to their authors

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanuwww.slideshare.net/michaelasanda

Sound: Juventino Rosas - Sobre las Olas (Over the Waves)- London Symphony Orchestra