Commerce Beacon

The Faro del Comercio, designed by Luis Barragán and supervised in construction by Raúl Ferrera, was placed in the Gran Plaza so it could be appreciated by citizens and visitors. Construction began in January 1983, and it was inaugurated on December 7, 1984, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the National Chamber of Commerce, Services and Tourism of Monterrey. Considered the highest artistic monument in Mexico, it stands 69.80 meters high, 12.33 meters long, and 1.83 meters wide, with 346 steps leading to a powerful 20-watt laser at the top that illuminates the mountains around Monterrey at night. Its distinctive orange surface requires 360 liters of paint, and the monument symbolizes the strength, verticality, and austerity of the men and women of northern Mexico in the development of the city. The laser operates through software called LASERMAX, and its cooling system uses distilled water kept at 22 degrees Celsius. In March 2001, by presidential decree through the National Institute of Fine Arts, it was declared a National Artistic Monument.

Nuevo León · Mexico