❈ Location ❈

The hemicycle to Benito Juárez is a neoclasical monument. It is located in the Alameda Central in the Historic Center on Juaréz avenue, is one of the most important monuments in the capital of Mexico.

 * The construction began in 1906 in mark the centennial of Juaréz's birth.

* The engineers for the construction of the monument were assigned by Porfirio Díaz.

Architecture

It was designed by the architects Guillermo Heredia and the sculptures in the load of the Italian Lanzaroni, built in 45 days an had a cost of 299 thousand pesos.

The monument is inspired in the neoclasical style with strong Greek influence, its shape , it has 12 Doric columns supporting an entablature and frieze structure of the same order. On both sides it has 12 golden spikes. It has a height of 7 meters and a weight of 70 tons. The sculptures that adorn it were elaborated by the Italian sculptur Lanzaroni.

 The central body of the monument, the flankedn by 4 columns on its side, the party an the medallion I'm the center or the which you can read the following legend. "Al benemérito Benito Juárez, la patria"

In the lower part of the central body is the symbolic tomb crowned by a republic eagle with open wings, its base is adorned with prehispanic frets and held by a lion lying on each side.  It is a Carrara marble building.

Importance

Was built in 1910 by orders of Porfirio Díaz, who led the inauguration ceremony on September 18 1910 as part of the celebrationsbof the Centennial of Independence of Mexico.

 The place is meeting point for tourist, marches, marathons and is the scene of various artistic events.  In 2012 the monument was cleaned and restored along with the renovated Alameda Central, however on December 1of that year, it was defaced by protesters who opposed the presidency of Enrique Peña Nieto.

Pictures