When I was younger and first started to travel to other cities, the first thing I wanted to see were the museums, art galleries, but today it is the streets and public spaces that capture my interest. That was probably a reflection of the fact I was aspiring artists and then curator in my 20s and 30s. Today, it is the the streets and public spaces that interest me the most - they are the heart and soul of any city. There are where you will meet the locals.

While many cities have great streets, Mexico City’s streets impressed me more than any other city I have visited, with their diversity of colour, characters, and charm. My favourite place to hang out was the Monumento a la Revolucion plaza with its playful dancing fountain. I loved how it attracted people of all ages and especially how locals played in the fountain at night.

History Monumento a la Revolucion

Originally planned (1910) as the Federal Legislative Palace during the regime of president (dictator) Porfiro Diaz to hold the congressional chambers of the deputies and senators. The ageing president died soon afterwards, resulting in the Mexican Revolution - 10 years of political instability and civil war.

By the mid 1930s the government decided to transform the redundant building into a public monument to celebrate the years of revolution. An international call for proposals was marred by corruption, with French architect Emile Bernard finally awarded the project which was completed in 1938. The monument is considered the tallest triumphal arch in the world, standing 67 metres (220 ft) in height.

In 1970,the monument was closed and the elevator going up to the observatory deck was suspended, however, in 2010 in the centennial year of the revolution the building and elevator was restored and opened for the public once again, with the addition of an amazing light show at night.

Today, you can ride the glass elevator up to the observatory deck with its café or all the way to the summit of the tower and enjoy a 360-degree view of the city. Underneath the plaza is the Museo Nacional de la Revolucion, not a parkade as would be more common in Canada or the USA. Museum admission cost is 20 pesos ($1.30 CDN) to the museum and free on Sundays.

But for me it was all about the plaza and fountain. I hope you will enjoy these photos of the plaza.

Photo Essay

The plaza attracts lots of romantic couples in the evening.

This was after the Zombie Parade. When the girls saw me taking photos they crawled up to me, smiling. The parents were right behind them and signalled it was OK to photograph them.

These young women were just lying on the plaza looking up at the Arch. There were more than pleased to let me take their photo.

Young women come to the fountain in the evenings for a photo shoot as part of the Quinceanera celebration that happens on a girl’s 15th birthday, marking her passage from girlhood to womanhood.

The lighting effects inside the arch were surreal, with the elevator like a ladder reaching up into the heavens. It was surreal, ethereal and beautiful all at the same time.

This might have been some sort of protest as there were dozens of people lying or sitting on the plaza away from the fountain.

There are four larger stone columns representing independence, the agrarian law, the workers’ law and law of reform, at the top of each column. The monument also is home to the remains of Vicente Carranza, Francisco. I. Madero, Plutarco Elias Calles, Lazaro Cardenas and Francisco (Pancho) Villa important revolutionaries.

The plaza is a popular place for concerts and festivals.

There are light shows on the facade of the arch some evenings.

Monumento la Revolución plaza, fountain and museum of just a 10 or 15 minute walk from Mexico City’s Historic Zocalo Square.

Last Word

I think Mexico City is one of the most under-rated cities in the world. It has wonderful new and historic museums, art galleries and public spaces. It has many of the features of European cities at a faction of the cost and for North Americans, a much shorter flight.

Here are some other blogs from my Mexico City adventure:

Seven Reasons To Visit Mexico City
Mexico City: Full of Fun Surprises

Mexico City: City of Museums

Mexico City vs Calgary / Public City vs Private City