Monumento a El Pípila

The monument to El Pípila honors the hero who torched the Alhóndiga gates on September 28, 1810, enabling Hidalgo's forces to win the first victory of the independence movement. The statue shows El Pípila holding his torch high over the city. On the base is the inscription Aún hay otras Alhóndigas por incendiar (There are still other Alhóndigas to burn).

It's worth going up to the statue for the magnificent view over the city. Two routes from the center of town take you there via steep, picturesque lanes. One goes east on Sopeña from Jardín de la Unión, then turns right on Callejón del Calvario (you'll see the sign). Another ascent, unmarked, goes uphill from the small plaza on Alonso.