Monumento al Pípila is a large statue on a hilltop above central Guanajuato, built in 1939 for El Pípila, a miner remembered for his part in the 1810 fight for Mexican independence. The figure holds a torch aloft, and the terrace around it looks out over the colored houses, the Basílica and the university. You can reach it by funicular from behind Teatro Juárez or by a steep stair climb of roughly 10 minutes. Vendors at the top sell snacks and souvenirs, and toilets are close by.
Who El Pípila was
The monument is dedicated to Juan José de los Reyes Martínez Amaro, known as El Pípila. He was a miner in Guanajuato during the Mexican War of Independence. His name is linked to the events of 1810 at the Alhóndiga de Granaditas, the grain exchange building that Spanish forces held.
According to the local account, he carried a heavy stone slab on his back as a shield and set fire to the building's door, which opened the way for the insurgents. Details of the story vary between tellings, but his place as a local hero of the independence struggle is not in doubt in Guanajuato.
The statue was built in 1939 from pink quarry stone. It shows a muscular man with his right arm raised, holding a torch, and his left arm resting on a stone slab. The torch is the feature most people recognize, and the figure is visible from many points in the city.
Reaching the top
There are two main ways up. The funicular station is just around the corner from Teatro Juárez. Walk behind the theater, turn left and then left again before the tunnel entrance. The ride is short and a one-way ticket is enough if you plan to come back on foot.
The other way is the stairs. Signs mark the route from the area near Jardín de la Unión. The steps are steep in places. A fit walker can reach the top in roughly 5 to 11 minutes, though you may arrive out of breath. Murals commemorating the city's history line parts of the climb, and the view widens with every flight.
The viewpoint can also be reached on foot by road or by public transport. If you want to see the statue and the city without a hard climb, the funicular is the simplest choice.
What you find on the hill
The terrace around the monument has stairs and benches where you can sit and take in the view. Guanajuato lies in a bowl-shaped valley, and from here the colorful houses spread out in every direction below the surrounding hills. The Basílica Colegiata de Nuestra Señora de Guanajuato and the university are easy to pick out.
A small stair inside the statue leads to a higher lookout for a small fee. The glass up there can be dusty, so expect a simpler view than from the terrace.
Shops, food vendors and toilets are nearby. Vendors sell snacks, drinks and souvenirs, and they are not pushy. The site is open around the clock, and sunset is a popular time to come. You can watch the light fade and the lights of the city come on.
Other viewpoints nearby
Mirador Panorámica is a few minutes on foot to the west of the monument. It is another place to look over the city if you want a second angle. The monument is also a natural first stop on arrival, because the hill gives you a sense of the city's layout before you head down into the center.
Preguntas frecuentes
Is there an entry fee for Monumento al Pípila?
Visiting the viewpoint is free, and so is the stair climb. The funicular charges a fare, and going up inside the statue costs a few pesos.
How do you get to Monumento al Pípila?
Take the funicular, whose station is behind Teatro Juárez, or climb the stairs from near Jardín de la Unión. Public transport also reaches the viewpoint.
How long does the climb take?
The stairs take roughly 5 to 11 minutes depending on your fitness. They are steep, so go slowly and rest when you need to.
Is the monument open at night?
The site is open 24 hours a day. Many people come at sunset to see the city lights switch on.
Is it suitable for people with limited mobility?
The stairs are steep and hard going for anyone with leg or mobility problems. The funicular avoids most of the climb, though some steps remain at the top.
