Mexico City, Torre Latinoamericana

Mexico City, Torre Latinoamericana. Photo by SECTUR

Centro Historico, the historical center of Mexico City is filled with impressive buildings ranging from Aztec times to the modern, amazing museums, remarkable murals and awe inspiring cathedrals. There is much to see and do in the old town area; here are some of the sites that are not to be missed.

The Zócalo

Officially Plaza de la Constitución, in the heart of Mexico City, is one of the world’s largest urban public squares. It measures over 240 by 240 meters (800 x 800 feet). Fiestas, protest marches, political events, and national celebrations usually end up at the Zócalo. It is also frequently used for free special events, concerts, and exhibitions.  Also, the large Mexican flag at the center of the plaza is lowered every evening at 6 pm in a ceremony best observed from the restaurants on the top floors of hotels on the west side of the square.

There are amazing historic buildings lining Mexico City’s Zócalo offering a glimpse into architecture of the past. Such as:

Catedral Metropoplitana (The Metropolitan Cathedral) - Having destroyed the Aztec temples on this spot, Hernán Cortés (the conqueror) ordered the construction of a Catholic church on the same spot. The first church was demolished in about 1573 and the Spaniards built a new cathedral with stones from the many local Aztec buildings that the Spanish had destroyed. The cathedral was built to look like those in Spain. It was consecrated in the year 1667, but the final elements -bell towers and central dome- designed by Manuel Tolsá were not finished until 1813.

Museo Templo Mayor – During the 1970s, large parts of the Templo Mayor (Main Temple) of the Aztecs where excavated. Parts of the pyramids, a chac mool (a type of Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican stone statue), and other statues can be explored. The Museum of the Main Temple has some very interesting pieces including the Coyolxauhqui offering stone and almost intact statues of the eagle warriors.

Palacio Nacional (National Palace) – This building runs the full length of the squares’ eastern side. The palace is mostly late seventeenth century but the third story was only added during the 1920s when much of the palace received a makeover. The main reason to visit the interior of the palace is to see the murals by Diego Riviera of Mexico’s history and culture.

Most of the buildings on the south side of the Zocalo are used by the government of Mexico City and not open to the general public. Statues along Pino Suárez Street show the legend of the Aztecs discovering the eagle on a cactus eating a snake which led to the founding of Tenochtitlan, the original Aztec name for Mexico City.

The buildings on the western side of the square are mostly used by commercial enterprises. Many buildings have restaurants on the top floor with lovely views of the square. It is worth entering the Gran Hotel de la Ciudad to see its Art Nouveau interior and Tiffany stained-glass ceiling.

North of the Zócalo

In the blocks to the north of the Zócalo are a few of palaces, which are mostly visited to see murals by Mexico’s most famous artist of the early twentieth century:

Museo Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso - The museum has permanent and temporary art and archeological exhibitions in addition to the many murals painted on its walls by David Siqueiros, Jose Clememte Orozco, Fernando Leal and Diego Rivera.

Secretaría de Educación Pública (Ministry of Education) - A number of structures, some dating from the seventeenth century, are combined into this single building with its beautiful courtyards and surrounding galleries decorated with the murals mostly by Diego Rivera.

Antigua Aduana (Former Customs House) – This building is of a fairly simple design. The facade is of tezontle, a dark red porous volcanic stone, with doorways, windows and balconies of cantera, a white stone. In side there are two large interior patios with large columns. The main stairwell contains mural work by Siqueiros called Patricios y Patricidas (Patricians and Patricides), which was begun in the mid 1940’s but was never finished.

South of the Zócalo

To the south of the Zócalo are a couple of lesser-known sights related to the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés:

Iglesia de Jesús de Nazareth - in a small urn simply marked HC, is the remains of Hernán Cortés.

Hospital de Jesús – founded by Cortés in 1524, is still in daily use. Despite a more modern façade, it is at its core the original and thus one of the oldest functioning buildings in Mexico City. It has some beautiful patios and a small bust of Cortés – reputedly the only public memorial in the city honoring the great conquistador.

West of the Zócalo towards the Alameda

The streets leading from the Zócalo westwards towards the Alameda Central Park are also lined with historic buildings.

On La Avenida Francisco I Madero:

Palacio de Iturbe – The beautifully restored eighteenth century building is used by Banamex bank as exhibition area for rotating art collections (admission free).

Casa de los Azulejos – The sixteenth century building is clad with eighteenth century blue-and-white tiles. It houses a Sanborn’s restaurant (moderately priced Mexican and international food) but is worth entering to see the colonial courtyard and Jose Clemente Orozco mural.

La Torre Latinoamericana – Construction was completed in 1956, and at 182 meters (600 feet) it was the tallest building in Mexico for decades. Its observation desk offers excellent views on clear days.

On Avenida Tacuba:

Museo Nacional de Arte – The National Art Museum has a large collection of Mexican art from the sixteenth century to around 1950. The Neo Classical building was completed in 1911 while the famous equestrian statue of Spanish King Charles IV is a century older.

Palacio de Minería – The Mining Palace or old Mining School was completed in 1813 and is considered the best example of Neo Classical architecture in Mexico City.

Palacio de Correos – Mexico’s main post office is an interesting building using an eclectic style is from the early twentieth century and still in use as post office.

Parque Alameda Central Area

The tree-rich Alameda Central Park was once a fashionable hangout spot for the city’s elite. Nowadays, it is still very busy with vendors of all kinds. There is a large marble monument in the park in honor of Benito Juarez, a beloved Mexican president during the mid-nineteenth century. In this area you will find beautiful architecture and museums such as:

Palacio de Bellas Artes – This huge, white marble theater was planned for the centennial celebrations of Mexico’s independence in 1910 but was only completed in the 1930s. As a result, it has an Art Nouveau exterior but an Art Deco interior – both splendid examples of the genres.

Museo Mural Diego Rivera - To the west of the park is a museum whose only treasure is Diego Rivera’s mural Sueño de una tarde dominical en la Alameda Central (Dream of a Sunday afternoon in the Alameda Central), an engaging depiction of famous political, entertainment and society figures of the time.

Museo Franz Mayer – This building dates back to the sixteenth century. Beautifully restored, it houses a vast collection of exquisite colonial-era art and rare items accumulated by Mayer and donated to the people of México. This museum features mostly functional yet eclectic pieces, such as furniture, watches, trunks, utensils and altar-pieces.

By no means is this all there is to see in Mexico City. This is just one of many areas throughout the city filled with beautiful architecture, art, and culture.