Monument to Christopher Columbus, Monument on Paseo de la Reforma, Mexico City.
The Monument to Christopher Columbus by French sculptor Charles Cordier stood on a roundabout of Paseo de la Reforma: a reddish-pink stone pedestal with a recessed panel, two bronze friars seated at its corners, and a bronze Columbus above, pointing toward the city centre. Bas-reliefs on the pedestal showed his arrival in the New World and the building of a church. The sculptures were taken down on 10 October 2020.
French sculptor Charles Cordier created this work in 1877 for businessman Antonio Escandon during Mexico's Porfiriato era. Its placement reflected broader European influence on the city's development during that period.
The seated friars are Pedro de Gante, the first Franciscan to evangelize Mexico's indigenous population, Bartolomé de las Casas, Juan Pérez de Marchena and Diego de Deza; the last two aided Columbus in Spain. Two bas-reliefs on the pedestal show Columbus's arrival in the New World and the construction of a church. Since 25 September 2021 feminist collectives have renamed the roundabout Glorieta de las mujeres que luchan.
The work sits at a central point on Paseo de la Reforma and is reachable by public transportation, with nearby Metrobus stations serving the area. The location is in an active part of the city, making daytime visits more comfortable.
The bronze sculptures were taken down on 10 October 2020, two days before a planned protest, for what the city called a previously scheduled restoration by the National Institute of Anthropology and History. The empty plinth was then occupied: on 25 September 2021 feminist collectives installed an antimonument and renamed the roundabout Glorieta de las mujeres que luchan.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,470 contributors worldwide.