“Paseo de la Reforma” is one of the most emblematic avenues not just of Mexico City but of the entire country. Across 15 kilometers, we marvel at its buildings, sculptures, restaurants, museums, and other recreational sites — a variety that captures the passing of years and a large share of our collective memory.
Its origin goes back to 1864, when Emperor Maximilian of Habsburg ordered the artery to be traced so that he could move easily, alongside his wife Carlota of Belgium, between his residence at Chapultepec Castle and the city. It was originally called “Paseo de la Emperatriz o Emperador,” planned at the time as a solemn space for the elite, with no carriages allowed. The original project was never completed: with the fall of the Second Mexican Empire, the initial plans were forgotten; the avenue opened to the public and was renamed “Paseo Degollado,” in honor of the soldier and politician Santos Degollado. Later, under Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada, the works were ordered finished to make the avenue functional, and it was named “Paseo de la Reforma” in honor of the reform process the country was undergoing.
Later, during Porfirio Díaz's government, Maximilian's ideas to embellish the area were resumed: monuments such as the Christopher Columbus statue and Miguel Noreña's monument to Cuauhtémoc were inaugurated; statues of national heroes still standing along the avenue were installed; and as part of the Centennial of Independence celebrations in 1910, the “Ángel de la Independencia” was unveiled — a column crowned with the winged victory, with the remains of insurgent heroes in its base and a sculptural complex featuring the most prominent figures of the movement.
By 1920, Paseo de la Reforma already had its present length. In a hundred years it has become not only an important thoroughfare but also a place for gathering and entertainment, hosting some of the most emblematic and contemporary skyscrapers in the city: the BBVA Tower, Torre Mayor (on the former site of the Cine Chapultepec), Torre Reforma, and Torre Chapultepec, among many others. Contemporary sculptures have joined the avenue, such as Sebastián's “El Caballito,” which now occupies the site once held by the Equestrian Statue of Charles IV by Manuel Tolsá, as well as the Estela de Luz. The avenue is also known for fountains like the Diana Cazadora, those of Petróleos Mexicanos and Bucareli, which still draw passersby with their charm.
Just two blocks from the intersection of Paseo de la Reforma and Av. Paseo de Bucareli sits the residential project Edificio Dondé, developed by the firm Cadaval & Solá-Morales together with ReUrbano. Take a walk and see for yourself!
