Paseo de la Reforma
The Paseo de la Reforma is the prominent street in Mexico City and the main thoroughfare of the metropolis in east -west direction. On their route, numerous roundels are with monuments of famous personalities who are often closely linked to the history of the country. In addition, located on the street and in their immediate environment, many banks and offices, embassies, hotels and upscale restaurants. The road is about 15 kilometers long and 60 meters wide. The most significant part of the road is its central portion. This is where most banks and offices are also located as the Bolsa de Valores, the stock market of Mexico City.
History
The road was built at the behest of Emperor Maximilian, because it wanted a direct connection between the Castle of Chapultepec where he lived and his official residence at the Zocalo. Consequently, the road was first called Calzada del Emperador ( Emperor of the roadway ). After he was overthrown, it was renamed in view of the statues located here in Paseo de los Hombres Ilustres ( Promenade of famous men ) before finally honor of the reform laws adopted in 1861 by President Benito Juárez was given its present name.
The road
The street takes its beginning at Tlatelolco in the northeast of the city; where the Calzada Misterios converges at the intersection of Avenida Manuel Gonzales with the Calzada de Guadalupe.
Right at the beginning of the road is on the right side at a distance of nearly 500 meters, the Plaza de las Tres Culturas (Square of the Three Cultures ).
After 800 meters you will find the first roundabout Reforma, as the road is usually called by the locals: the Glorieta Cuitláhuac. The monument is dedicated to the second last Aztec Emperor ( June-October 1520), who died of the entrained by the Spaniards smallpox.
More about 800 meters southwest of here is the first major transportation hub for the road: the Plaza Garibaldi, the environment has become the center of mariachi music in the Mexican capital. Here also the Garibaldi Metro Station, the northern terminus of the line is 8
In the next roundabout, the Glorieta Simon Bolívar is a monument to the " Libertador ", probably the most important freedom fighters of South America, with the inscription: " Simon Bolivar - Libertador de Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Panama. Fundador de Bolivia. "
Approximately 700 meters southwest of the monument dedicated to Bolívar crosses the Reforma Plaza Hidalgo, which lies at the western end of Avenida Hidalgo and on the northwest corner of a green space, occupies the major part of the 1592 scale Alameda Central park. The local metro station named Hidalgo is served by lines 2 and 3. Right of Reforma, on the corner of Avenida Puente de Alvarado, the Baroque church of San Hipólito rises. Just two blocks from here in the north-west is the San Fernando Church. On the belonging to her cemetery are the graves of some outstanding personalities of Mexican history, as Benito Juárez and Vicente Guerrero.
About 500 meters away is equal to the next junction. Here crosses the Reforma Avenida Juárez, which passes to the east on the south side of the Alameda Central to the Hemiciclo Juárez and south of the Palacio de Bellas Artes, the Palace of Fine Arts, at the corner of Avenida Lazaro Cardenas, in the Avenida Francisco I. Madero passes that leads straight to the Zocalo, the main square of the Mexican metropolis. The westernmost part of Avenida Juárez leads to the Plaza de la República, in the geographic center of the Monumento a la Revolución is located. The massive structure in its present form was created by converting an unfinished Parliament building, which was begun under the era of former dictator Porfirio Díaz. After the victorious revolution, the building was converted into a monument to the revolution. In two pillars are the remains of Francisco Madero and Venustiano Carranza.
From the corner of Avenida Juárez down to the entrance to the Bosque de Chapultepec follows the most beautiful and most important section of the road, which here runs straight. In this region, as well as the neighboring streets, many banks, offices and embassies, hotels and restaurants have established a high standard. A large part of the left road section takes here the Zona Rosa. In this district, whose streets are named after European cities, there are many hotels and restaurants and boutiques.
At the first roundabout this route is the 1877 created by Frenchman Charles Henri Joseph Cordier monument to Christopher Columbus. At the next roundabout, there is a monument to Cuauhtémoc, the last Aztec emperor. The construction of the designed by the renowned Mexican sculptor Miguel Norena monument lasted over nine years ( 1878-1887 ). The monument is located on the corner of Avenida de los Insurgentes ( Allée of insurgents ). The 26- kilometer road is the major north-south axis of the city.
The most famous of all sculptures of the Reforma and a symbol of Mexico is the closest Rondell established Independence Monument, popularly known as El Angel. On a pedestal, a 35 meter high obelisk towers in height, on the top of the Golden Angel is. The inauguration of the resulting under the direction of Antonio Rivas Mercado Mexican architect monument took place on September 16, 1910 as part of the celebrations to mark the centenary of independence of the country. The square around El Angel is a popular meeting place for celebrations after victories of the Mexican national football team, especially during the World Cup. In the immediate vicinity from 1915, the glorious Football Club España, based still record champion of the country, his first permanent homestead with 15 titles.
The recent sculpture of this section, which was also controversial in the beginning, is the closest Rondell established La Diana Cazadora ( Diana the Huntress ). The monument was created in 1942 as part of a program for urban beautification. The architect Vicente Mendiola and the sculptor Juan Olaguíbel were selected to create the local fountain and bronze sculpture. As a model for the creation of the Roman goddess of the hunt, the 16 -year-old Helvia Martínez Verdayes is selected, this posed from April to September 1942. Initially held parts of Mexican society, the sculpture to be vulgar because she was completely naked. So they gave her a " panties ". Ahead of the Summer Olympic Games of 1968 in Mexico City which now freer in their views Mexican society found the disguised Monument something strange and therefore the removal of underpants was initiated. The sculpture was damaged, however, and eventually dismantled. Only in August 1992, it was erected at its present location again.
Just before the entrance to the Bosque de Chapultepec, which is located on the left side of the Reforma, the road makes a right turn about 45 degrees. From there it runs straight for a distance of nearly four miles before it takes its continuation behind a highway for which it serves as a feeder.
Shortly before the right-hander is the Torre Mayor, the tallest at 225 meters and 55 floors building in Latin America. The building at number 505 was completed in 2003 and is an earthquake with a magnitude of up to 8.5 on the Richter scale withstand.
On the continuation of the road to the aforementioned right turn it makes its way to the highway through the Bosque de Chapultepec. On the right side is located at a distance of about 500 meters to Reforma - accessible via the branching Calzada Grail Mariano Escobedo - the grounds of the sports and social club Deportivo Chapultepec. This used to be the home of the Reforma Athletic Club. The club was founded in 1894 by British and named after the Paseo de la Reforma presented the most successful soccer team in Mexico prior to the start of the First World War. Left of the road ( at about the same place ) is the Museo de Arte Moderno opened in 1964, the Museum of Modern Art.
Several hundred meters away, located to the right of the road, the Museo Nacional de Antropología, Anthropology National Museum, which showcases an impressive collection of Mexican culture from the pre-Hispanic period. A little further to the left of the Reforma is the Zoo of Chapultepec and about one kilometer behind it the Auditorio Nacional. Both are accessible via the Metro station Auditorium, which is located halfway between them and is served by the line 7. Behind the Auditorio Nacional is the military parade ground Campo Marte, of which the was established in 1928 former military sports club Marte obviously referring his name.