At the intersection of Roma and Londres streets in Colonia Juárez stands the black statue of a man wearing a huge cape and holding a book in both hands. It is the great Giordano Bruno. His gaze is intense, funereal, like a monument to death. Somehow, the essence of this incomparable Renaissance philosopher and freethinker remains and transpires in Mexico City from the materiality of the stone.
Next to the plaza are some metal playground equipment (recently restored) and swings. There are also several small businesses such as stationery stores, coffee shops, an ice cream parlor and other small shops. In front of the statue there are several street stalls, hot tamales, a lady selling delicious products from the State of Mexico such as tlacoyos and corn tortillas to take home. The taco stands are also delicious and on Wednesdays there are spectacular mixiotes. Still, with all that delicious food orbiting around, Giordano is the central character and, referring to his heliocentric theory, he is the sun that watches over and observes the passers-by, the children and their mothers, the homeless and the street vendors.
Giordano Bruno was an Italian astronomer, theologian, poet and mathematician. He said that the sun was just another star and the universe contained an infinity of alternate worlds inhabited by other intelligent beings. Also, despite being a member of the Dominican order, he differed from the Catholic Church and believed that imagination was the gateway to understanding magical practice. He thought that magic was simply the ability to perceive and recognize binding relationships. He thought of a dogma-free mysticism, of a loving and ethereal god. For this reason, the Roman Inquisition declared him guilty of heresy and burned him at the stake. His writings remained censored and for more than two centuries were hidden under lock and key in the Vatican.
Giordano Bruno Square
The Giordano Bruno Plaza in Colonia Juarez was inaugurated in February 1991 with the support of the Mexico City Department, the National Council for Culture and the Arts, the Italian Embassy in Mexico and the Italian Institute of Culture. Somehow, Giordano has become the meeting point for neighborhood meetings. It is something like the "saint" of Juarez. The neighbors organize there to reforest and recover green areas, hold meetings and parties to celebrate and support businesses that have been there all their lives. And all this without any sponsorship or promotion by political parties. All activities and events are open to the public. So, this incredible monument functions as the center of community dialogue, it is the substantial satellite of the identity, also free-thinking, of the neighborhood.
On the other hand, since the inauguration of the plaza, the Giordano Bruno Pro-Revaluation Committee A.C. was formed by people interested in rescuing the heritage of knowledge left by the Italian genius. The committee promotes his work and honors his image as a man of profound poetry, mysticism, astronomy and philosophy. Through conferences, concerts, articles, round tables and research, the committee spreads Bruno's work in different forums of the Republic. You can contact them to organize an event or get involved in their community or simply to know the calendar of upcoming events.
When you pass by this little corner, try to look at Giordano calmly. Besides, they have just remodeled and changed the lower plaque on his sculpture. The playgrounds are surrounded by benches where you can sit and take a break under the shade of the trees and contemplate, under his omnipresent gaze, his intelligence and courage that still reverberates.