Cerro del Cubilete

Church atop the Cerro del Cubilete

The Cerro del Cubilete (translated as "Tumbler Hill") is a 2,700m (8,860 feet) tall mountain-hill in Silao Municipality in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico.

Cristo Rey

At 2579 meters above sea level on top of Cubilete Mountain, sits this beautiful and historically significant sanctuary. It is one of the most historically important religious shrines in Mexico, marking the geographical center of Mexico. Originally the site was occupied by a smaller statue of 'Christ the King' which was destroyed by bombers ordered by the ant-religious (spec Catholic) regime of President Calles to kill Christian rebels and destroy all Christian symbolism . This was just one brutal atheist diktat of the communist sympathizing Calles. These events took place during the nation's critical "Cristero War" - often called the last stage of the Mexican revolution, when state-Atheism was enforced with openly violent and oppressive tactics. The current building and the base for the giant 23m tall statue was built by artists Nicholas Mariscal in 1944, in honour of the struggle of the Cristeros. He also built a second chapel dedicated to all those murdered by the Atheist regime of Plutarco Elias Calles at the beautiful cathedral of León. The entire building at Cerro del Cubilete as well as the statue of Christ follow the period-style known as 'art deco.' Inside, on a circular platform of three, steps sits the altar; upon this beautifully crafted structure a symbol of the royal crown hangs above, suspended in a a large polished metal dome. Natural light filters in from carved slots in the fine marble walls into this domes area creating a wonderful glow. The outside of the large ribbed dome serves as the base of the newer statue, also named 'Christ the King', who looks up with open arms seemingly pouring his blessings over the whole country, while two angels kneel at his sides, one holding the crown of thorns, the other and a royal crown. From the entrance plaza the visitor can admire a fantastic wide view of historic Guanajuato valley, take in the almost too fresh air. Many people of all faiths have described the shrine as a 'mystical place' and find atmosphere comforting. Healing properties are said to be associated with the region, and specifically this shrine, but the main historical attraction of the site is that it is a memorial of the brave struggle of the 'Cristeros' during a bloody and oppressive period of Atheist rule. ...in the words of former President Vicente Fox, as a "rebuke to the repressors of religious freedom" who sought to quash the Church during the persecution of Christians in Mexico in the first half of the twentieth century.

See also

• List of statues by height