El Pípila Monument, Guanajuato

The monument on San Miguel hill rises from pink stone blocks forming a 28-meter-tall pedestal topped by a commanding statue. The figure holds a torch aloft, towering above the city below.

The monument commemorates the siege of the Alhóndiga de Granaditas in September 1810, when a hero set fire to the grain storehouse door. That act became a turning point in Mexico's independence war.

The monument honors a local hero whose story is taught in schools throughout the city and remembered in street names. His legacy remains part of how residents understand their town's role in the nation's founding.

The site is accessible on foot or by funicular railway from Teatro Juárez. The paths are generally clear and lead directly uphill to the location.

From the top, you see how the colonial buildings and old mining tunnels weave through the city in unexpected ways. Most visitors miss this hidden view of how the city is actually built.

Location: Guanajuato City

Official opening: September 1939

GPS coordinates: 21.01440,-101.25400

Latest update: December 8, 2025 13:44