Rotunda of Illustrious Persons

The Rotunda of Illustrious Persons (Rotonda de las Personas Ilustres) is a memorial circle and historical site within the larger Dolores Civil Cemetery. The cemetery takes up very nearly the entirety of Chapultepec’s section three. The Rotunda stands near the main entrance on the Av. Constituyentes, but often enough, visitors do not approach it dead on. It’s more often a highlight after wandering the rows and rows of graves of the less notably interred.

The Rotunda began in 1872 in the aftermath of the Reform Wars and the brief reign of Maximiliano. Upon the death of President Benito Juárez, the new President Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada decreed that those who’d made significant contributions to the social, cultural, and economic life of the Republic would be honored here. Juárez himself was among the last to be buried in the Panteón de San Fernando.

Today’s Rotonda is the final resting place for some 111 deceased. They represent fields like the military, science, and the civic and cultural life of the country. The Rotonda had been called the Rotonda de los Hombres Ilustres, that is, to Illustrious Men until 2003. President Vicente Fox officially rededicated the monument to include persons of both sexes.

People visit today to see the numerous works of sculpture and funereal design. In some cases, tombs depict the field of interest of the deceased. Some others are merely elaborate and abstract designs. But all stand interesting and even more when you start trying to take them all in.

Along with the rest of the cemetery, the Rotunda of Illustrious Persons is open Thursdays through Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.