Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Mexico Janitzio Statue of José Maria Morelos
AO Edited

Statue of José Maria Morelos

Climb through the life of a Mexican hero as you ascend a 130-foot statue.

Janitzio, Mexico

serflac profile photo
Added By
ser flac
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
  Isaacvp/CC BY-SA 4.0
  Isaacvp/CC BY-SA 4.0
Base of the statue   Isaacvp/CC BY-SA 4.0
Inside the statue   Isaacvp/CC BY-SA 4.0
  Hernán García Crespo/CC BY 2.0
The statue is visible as you approach the island.   Adavyd/CC BY-SA 3.0
Isla de Janitzio   Isaacvp/CC BY-SA 4.0
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Approaching the tiny island of Janitzio by boat, there is no way to miss the towering Statue of José Maria Morelos. Standing 130-feet high over Lake Patzcuaro, the spiraling stairway that leads to the top of the statue tells the hero's story through sweeping murals the entire way up to the top.

José Maria Morelos was a revolutionary leader during Mexico's quest for independence and was executed by the Spanish government. Embraced across the country, this statue was erected in 1933 to honor his memory. Standing with one proud fist in the air, the statue is set on the hill in the center of the island, making it the most prominent part of the central-Mexican landscape.

Almost resembling the famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio, the Statue of José Maria Morelos takes heroic imagery one step further by doling out a history lesson on the way to the spectacular views at the top.

Places

Discover your next amazing Atlas Place.

Get more unusual and extraordinary places each week with the Atlas Obscura Places newsletter.

Your newsletter subscriptions with us are subject to Atlas Obscura's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Related Tags

Statues Monuments

Know Before You Go

For a truly unique experience visit Janitzio during Dia de los Muertos (Day of the dead, November 2). Make your way through the candlelit and flower bedecked cemetery and then up the winding streets toward the statue of Morelos lit up against the night sky.

Community Contributors

serflac profile photo

Added By

serflac

L luistorres19xx profile photo Monsieur Mictlan profile photo linkogecko profile photo Michelle Cassidy profile photo

Edited By

luistorres19xx, Monsieur Mictlan, linkogecko, Michelle Cassidy

  • L luistorres19xx profile photo luistorres19xx
  • Monsieur Mictlan profile photo Monsieur Mictlan
  • linkogecko profile photo linkogecko
  • Michelle Cassidy profile photo Michelle Cassidy

Published

January 27, 2012

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Statue of José Maria Morelos
Janitzio
Janitzio
Mexico
19.574534, -101.651335
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Temple of Santa Muerte

Santa Ana Chapitiro, Mexico

miles away

Emperador Caltzontzin Theater

Pátzcuaro, Mexico

miles away

Gertrudis Bocanegra Public Library

Pátzcuaro, Mexico

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Mexico

Mexico

North America

Places 652
Stories 62

Nearby Places

Temple of Santa Muerte

Santa Ana Chapitiro, Mexico

miles away

Emperador Caltzontzin Theater

Pátzcuaro, Mexico

miles away

Gertrudis Bocanegra Public Library

Pátzcuaro, Mexico

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Mexico

Mexico

North America

Places 652
Stories 62

Related Places

  • America's Response Monument-De Oppresso Liber

    New York, New York

    America’s Response Monument

    It memorializes America’s initial military response to the terrorist attacks on our country on September 11, 2001.

  • Walking during a rainy day

    Eivissa, Spain

    Monument to the Hippies

    This sculpture shows an iconic image typical of Ibiza that, however, did not take place here

  • The Monument of Stevan Sremac and Kalča

    Niš, Serbia

    The Monument of Stevan Sremac and Kalča

    A bronze sculpture honoring a famous Serbian writer and a character from his novel.

  • The statue of Lapu-Lapu

    Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines

    Lapu-Lapu Monument

    This statue honors the Philippine warrior who repelled a foreign invader and prevented Ferdinand Magellan from circumnavigating the globe.

  • Major Bosshardt.

    Amsterdam, Netherlands

    Major Bosshardt Monument

    A statue commemorating 'the greatest inhabitant of Amsterdam of all time.'

  • Sachem Iyannough Monument

    Barnstable, Massachusetts

    Sachem Iyannough Monument

    A sculpture in Hyannis commemorates Chief Sachem Iyannough of the Mattachiest tribe.

  • Türk Öğün, Çalış, Güven (Turk be proud, work hard and have trust)

    Ankara, Turkey

    Güvenlik Anıtı (Security Monument)

    A monument completed by a Third Reich sculptor in 1935 in Ankara's central park encourages Turks to "be proud, work hard, and have trust."

  • Punk monument of Visací zámek.

    Prague, Czechia

    Punk Monument

    This pink tractor statue pays tribute to a legendary underground punk band.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2026 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.