The year of foundation of Mexico City is considered to be 1325. Then the Aztecs settled on one of the islands located on Lake Texcoco. They built a city there, which they called Tenochtitlan. The city grew and developed over the next two centuries as the capital of the Aztec Empire, before the arrival of the Spaniards. In 1521, the city center was destroyed by order of Hernán Cortés. In the same place, the conquistador ordered the construction of a new city, European in architecture and layout, with rectangular blocks, majestic churches and large palaces. This is how Tenochtitlan turned into Mexico City — rich capital of New Spain. In 1821, after the declaration of Mexico's independence, the city became the capital of the new power. In the second half of the 20th century, due to rapid urbanization processes, it became the largest metropolis in the world, with a population exceeding 20 million people.
In 1987, the historical center of the city was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The diverse artistic, cultural and social heritage that has accumulated over many centuries in the “city of palaces”, and today is also felt in its suburban areas and new neighborhoods, gives Mexico City its special charm.
In 1980, the Mexican government issued a decree defining the boundaries of the Historic Center, which correspond to the boundaries of the city at the time of Mexican independence. The territory includes 668 blocks located on just over 9 square meters. km (910 ha).
To explore the Historical Center, the best way to get around is on foot. The country's main tourist attractions are located quite close to each other. In particular, Plaza Manuel Tolsà, if you walk along Tacuba Street, is located 700 m from the Zócalo, the main city square. And from Tolsa Square to the central Alameda square and the monuments located around it is only 200 m.
The cheapest way to get around Mexico City — metro (5 pesos, lines 1, 2 and 3 cross the center), metrobus (bus operating on a dedicated line, 6 pesos), trolleybuses and buses (from 4 to 6 pesos). Taxis in Mexico City are also very developed. It is possible to catch them right on the street, but at the same time you need to make sure that they have license plates and a taximeter, and in addition to this, a license with the driver’s photo on the glass. These taxis are painted pink with white bottoms. There are other taxis, some of which are white with a red stripe at the bottom, which shows the name of the taxi company. They are more expensive, but are considered safer. In addition, digital taxi services Uber, Didi and Cabify operate in the city — they must be called through mobile applications. A taxi is not considered an expensive means of transport.
The central square of the city is “Constitution Square”, better known among the people as Zocalo (pedestal, foundation). The name came to the square in the first half of the 19th century, when a pedestal was erected for the construction of the Monument to Mexican Independence, and then the construction was abandoned.
The Zocalo has an area of more than 5 hectares, which allows a large number of people to live on it. Various public events are held here, attracting thousands of spectators. On the northern side of the square rises the Cathedral, which is one of the architectural pearls of the continent. Its construction began in 1573 and lasted until 1813, when the Spanish sculptor and architect Manuel Tolsa completed the construction of the dome and the preparation of the upper part of the building's facade. During the 240 years of construction, the Cathedral was enriched with many elements of different styles and eras, from the Renaissance to the neoclassical. Particularly attractive are its Baroque facade, its fourteen chapels located inside the building on both sides, which house relics, the majestic Altar of the Kings in the apse and the magnificent Sacristy of the Cathedral, added to the main building between 1749 and 1768. architect Lorenzo Rodriguez. (Lorenzo Rodríguez).
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In the eastern part of the Zocalo is the National Palace — residence of the President of Mexico. This building was once the residence of the Spanish viceroys, however, it retained its purpose as the seat of civil authorities even after the Proclamation of Independence. It has undergone several renovations and reconstructions, the last of which was carried out during the presidency of Plutarco Elias Cayes, from 1924 to 1928, when the third floor was added. Some rooms of the architectural structure are closed to tourists. These include courtyards, museum sites, access to “archaeological windows” (excavated parts of Aztec-era public and imperial buildings) and the famous wall paintings created by Diego Rivera between 1929 and 1952.
The western part of the Zocalo is bordered by buildings housing shops and restaurants. One of them — The Grand Hotel building has elegant Art Nouveau decorations.
On the south side of the square there is an ancient city government building, erected in the 16th century, and its almost exact copy, built at the beginning of the 20th century. In the building of the city government, the Hall of City Councils, which preserves the spirit of the viceroyalty within its walls, is closed to the public. There is also a portrait gallery of all 63 viceroys of New Spain who ruled it from 1535 to 1821.
More than 30 years ago, several buildings that were not of historical value were demolished on the eastern side of the Cathedral and archaeological excavations were carried out. This made visible the ruins of a complex of Aztec buildings known as the Templo Mayor (Great Temple). It was the central and largest religious and ceremonial center of Tenochtitlan.
The discovery of the Templo Mayor was made possible by a chance discovery by workers laying an electrical cable in 1978. First, they found a monolith with a relief of the goddess Coyolxauqui — the lunar deity, the proponent of the god Huitzilopochtli, whose zealous admirers were the Aztecs. During the excavations, fragments of seven stages of construction of the central pyramid of the temple complex were discovered, and many finds were made, including stone products, sculptures, and ceramics. Today they can be seen in the Templo Mayor Museum, located in the archaeological zone.
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From the western part of the Zocalo, the pedestrian street Francisco I. Madero leaves, from which you can walk to Alameda Park. In the old days it was called Serebryanikov Street, because of the large number of shops and workshops of jewelers. Today it remains one of the busiest and most colorful streets of the historical center. In addition, while walking along it, you can see various interesting buildings.
At the corner of Madero and Isabel la Católica street stands the Church of La Profesa (profesar — to give monastic vows). Built by the Jesuits between 1714 and 1720, it was a place where Jesuit novices came from all over New Spain for initiation rites. After the expulsion of the Jesuits in 1767, the church passed to representatives of the Oratorian brotherhood. Currently, it houses a large collection of religious paintings from the 17th to 20th centuries, and another attraction is the magnificent neoclassical altarpiece created by Manuel Tolsa.
Moving along Madero Street from La Profesa Church further west, one can admire buildings from the colonial and later eras, known for their beauty or history. For example, at number 17 is the Iturbide Palace. Agustin de Iturbide became the first emperor of independent Mexico, and served for less than two years. It was at this house that the crowd gathered chanting “Long live Augustine I” on May 18, 1822. This became the reason for the Constitutional Congress to proclaim this talented military leader and politician emperor. Today, the Iturbide Palace, where he was just a guest, an invited host for some time, is considered a place for temporary art exhibitions.
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Next to the west on the same side of the street is the Temple of the Atonement of St. Philip Jesus, erected in 1896 — 1897, and part of the once huge monastery of St. Francis. The monastery was founded in the 16th century, but today the oldest surviving element is the 18th-century Baroque Balvanera Chapel. Next to the Franciscan temple, separated from it by a small Japanese garden, rises the bulk of the Latin American Tower (Torre Latinoamericana or, as it is popularly called, Torre Latino). This office building was erected between 1948 and 1956. one insurance company. Consisting of 45 floors and having a height of 180 meters, it was for many years the tallest building in Latin America. On its upper floors there is a terrace and a restaurant.
Opposite the tower is the Tiled Palace, a beautiful colonial-era estate that received its modern appearance in 1737. Its outer walls were covered with talavera (ceramics) from Puebla, making the structure very different from its neighbors. It has housed the Sanborns store and restaurant since the early 20th century. You are allowed to go inside and admire the interior design of the hall, and in addition the fresco by Jose Clemente Orozco “Omnisciencia” (1925).
In recent years, the Historical Center has become a venue for various cultural events, celebrations and art festivals. Among them, the “Mexico City Festival in the Historic Center” (Festival de México en el Centro Histórico) stands out, during which every spring theater and opera performances, concerts and art exhibitions are presented in the Cathedral, in the streets, squares, in the Palace of Fine Arts and in other places in the historical center.
Late in the evening on September 15, the President of Mexico goes out onto the balcony of the National Palace to throw out the Cry of Independence, which commemorates the beginning of the struggle for independence on this day in 1810. The cry is followed by an evening celebration, which takes place in front of a large crowd of people. The next day, the Independence Day celebration begins with a military parade, also in Zocalo Square.
During the New Year holidays, Alameda Park is filled with Santa Clauses and Magi, and massive concerts are held in the city's central square.
Two blocks north from the Tiled Palace is Manuel Tolsà Square, considered one of the most beautiful in Mexico City. It bears the name of the famous sculptor and architect, and two of his masterpieces are located right here: the majestic equestrian statue of King Carlos IV, better known as “The Horses” (El Caballito), and the building on the south side, which in the 19th century was the School of Mining Engineers and, for its elegant appearance, was called the Palace of Mining (Palacio de Minería).
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In the northern part of this small square there is a building built in 1904. It was intended for the Office of Communications (Palacio de Comunicaciones), but since 1982 it has housed the National Museum of Art (Museo Nacional de Arte).
The architectural ensemble of the square is completed by the Post Office building (Palacio de Correos), an eclectic work by the Italian architect Adamo Boari and the Mexican engineer Gonzalo Garita, built in 1902 — 1907 Inside you can visit the postal museum and a small but interesting ship museum.
Another building that is an obligatory element of the historical center of Mexico City is the Palace of Fine Arts (Palacio de bellas Artes), a theater building made of white marble. This is one of the largest stage venues in the country, home to famous ballet, theater troupes, dance and music groups. Construction of the theater began at the beginning of the 20th century according to a design in the art nouveau style of the Italian architect Adamo Boari. But it was completed after the end of the Mexican Revolution in 1921. During this time, artistic tastes changed, and the theater was finished in a radical art deco style. It is worth exploring its many details, such as the Italian sculptures installed on the outside of the building, the paintings of José Clemente Orozco and David Alfaro Siquieros, as well as its colored glass panels.
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Immediately behind the theater is the first city park, laid out at the end of the 16th century — Central Boulevard (Alameda Central). Repeatedly expanded and rebuilt over the centuries, it is one of the most famous and visited green areas of the city.
To the north of it is the Santa Vera Cruz square, which contains the baroque buildings of the churches of Santa Vera Cruz, built by order of Hernán Cortes in the 16th century, and San Juan de Díos of the monastic order of the Hospitalites of St. John of God. The latter building today houses the Franz Mayer Museum of Decorative Arts, whose exhibits include Mexican products from the colonial era.
The various popular destinations within Mexico City correspond to the neighborhoods, or “colonies” as they are called, located outside the Historic Center.
To the west of Alameda is the highly sought-after Paseo de la Reforma, which connects the center with the Bosque de Chapultepec Park. The park is home to some of the country's best museums, such as the National Museum of Anthropology (MNA) or the Rufino Tamayo Museum of Contemporary Art.
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To the south from Paseo de la Reforma is the Zona Rosa district, which in the 60-70s of the 20th century was considered bohemian, where intellectuals and representatives of the arts gathered in cafes. Today the area remains very vibrant, teeming with bars, restaurants, cafes, nightclubs and discos. There are many hotels, shopping centers, and fashion stores here.
To the north from Paseo de la Reforma is Polanco, an area where the residential buildings of wealthy residents of the city are located, as well as business and commercial buildings.
In the southwest of the center there are two districts, which are famous for their architecture and chic atmosphere. These are Roma and Condesa, whose bars and nightclubs fill with people on Friday evenings and weekends. It is very pleasant to wander through their green streets, admiring the early 20th century Art Deco buildings.
Other picturesque areas of the city are Coyoacan and San Angel — are located 10 and 12 km from the center, to the south and southeast. Here, incredible liveliness is combined with history, a riot of colors of houses that look like ancient estates - with the calmness and leisurely pace of people walking. They look like ancient towns that found themselves in the middle of a metropolis. Plaza Hidalgo and La Conchita in Coyoacan and San Jacinto in San Angel are considered some of the most charming places in Mexico City. In Coyoacan there is the house-museum of Frida Kahlo, and in addition the house-museum of Leon Trotsky.
Mexico City has produced its own arts and crafts, such as Judas (cardboard cutouts meant to be “burned” during Holy Week) and Alebrijes (fantastic papier-mâché creatures). But, however, handicrafts from all over the country are sold on the streets of the metropolis. Many souvenir shops are located in the Zona Rosa area in the southwest of the historical center and on the streets of Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas or 5 de Mayo. But the best place to buy souvenirs is the Ciutadella Handicraft Market (Mercado de Artesanias de la Ciudadela). A great variety of different products are sold here at reasonable prices. The market is located on Balderas street, corner with Emilio Dondé, next to Juárez and Balderas metro stations.
Mexico City — the city of “antojitos”, in other words, small snacks that you can always buy to take away and that are seasoned with hot sauces. Quesadillas, torta, tamales and sopes fall into this category. The classic taco has many variations originating from Mexico City. This is a tomato taco or a suadero taco (thinly sliced beef). But the most popular type of taco in — This is a "taco al pastor" ("shepherd's") made from pork, seasoned with spices and roasted on a vertical spit. In Mexico City you will find a great variety of stationary and mobile kiosks and food stalls. The city offers a large selection of restaurants serving both European cuisine and dishes from different regions of the country. As an option to eat deliciously, you can use any market where there are many places with inexpensive set meals and “antojitos”.
21 km south from Zocalo is the ancient village of Xochimilco, which has become part of the metropolis. It was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987 because it is the only evidence of traditional use of coastal lake lands in the Valley of Mexico City. Xochimilco still has chinampas - artificial islands created for agricultural purposes, land created by man on lake water.
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During a visit to Xochimilco, you can stroll through the center of the village, buy souvenirs and see the parish church of St. Bernardino of Siena (San Bernardino de Siena, 1535 - 1590). But the most popular activity for travelers to Xochimilco is a boat ride along the local canals. The ships are located on piers, of which there are several in the village. Four marinas - Salitre, San Cristobal, Belem and Caltongo - are located a couple of blocks from the Church of St. Bernardine. The largest pier in the village — Nativitas — located one and a half kilometers to the southeast, along the Xochimilco-Tulyehualco highway.
12 km southeast from Zocalo is the central campus of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). It is called the University City (Ciudad Universitaria). The place is notable because it is associated with America's senior university, one of the largest and most significant in the world. However, it is worth visiting it not only for this reason - the architectural structure of the town is unique of its kind. For this reason, it was listed as a World Heritage Site in 2007. The town was built between 1949 and 1954. according to the project, on which 60 architects, artists and engineers worked. On the walls of the Rector's Building there is a university coat of arms and paintings by David Alfaro Siqueiros. The walls of the Central Library are decorated with mosaics created using natural stones in more than 150 different colors, created by Juan O'Gorman. The outlines of the University Olympic Stadium are made in the image and likeness of a volcanic crater, which is decorated with mosaic reliefs by Diego Rivera.
The largest pre-Hispanic city in Central Mexico, Tefromihuacan — A must-see for any traveler. Tefromihuacan was included in the World Population List in 1987. The layout of its neighborhoods and streets, as well as the construction of the main buildings, dates back to the first centuries of our era. However, its heyday falls on the period from 450 to 650. AD, when about 85 thousand people lived in it and its area was 20 square meters. km.
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After a rapid decline, the city was sacked, many buildings in the wealthiest quarters were set on fire, and it was finally abandoned by its inhabitants by 750 AD. All this happened for reasons still unknown. When the Aztecs came to the Valley of Mexico City, the city had already been in ruins for several centuries. But it impressed the Aztecs so much that they gave it the name by which we know it today - “the place where people become gods.” Key structures are located along the main street — The Roads of the Dead are 2 km long. From north to south along it are the Pyramid of the Moon, the Palace of Quetzalpapalfroml, the Pyramid of the Sun, the Ciutadella and the Temple of Quetzalcoatl. It is also worth visiting the Museum of the Archaeological Zone and the Museum of Tefromihuacan Painting.
The archaeological zone can be reached via the Mexico City-Tulancingo highway. Buses leave from the Northern City Bus Station (Central de Autobuses del Norte) from 7.00 to 17.00.
Countless water parks, swimming pools, hotels and golf courses are located south of Mexico City. They are located at a lower altitude at sea level, hence they have a milder climate. Beautiful villages of pre-Hispanic origin — Tepoztlán, Tlayacapan and Oaxtepec in the neighboring state of Morelos, the magnificent colonial-era mining town of Taxco in the state of Guerrero, the Tequesquitengo lagoon and the famous archaeological site of Xochicalco are all less than a two hour drive from Mexico City to the south.
The Sierra Nevada mountain range, with its volcanoes Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl, dominates Mexico City's eastern skyline. Guests of the country have the opportunity to travel along the so-called Route of the Volcanoes, in other words, visit beautiful towns with picturesque houses and churches of the colonial era and see the riches of the regions of Puebla and Tlaxcala.
In the north of Mexico City you can see different places, among which we note towns with their own unique charm. Tepotzotlán boasts a magnificent former Jesuit monastery, which today is the National Museum of the Viceroyalty (Museo Nacional del Virreinato). The village of Villa del Carbon is surrounded by a picturesque pine forest. Both localities are located within an hour's meal time from the center of Mexico City. If you go a little further, past the capital of the state of Hidalgo, Pachuca, you can visit the cities once founded by New Spanish miners - Huasca de Ocampo and Real del Monte. Worth mentioning is the city of Queretaro, two hours' drive to the northwest, which is also considered part of the World Heritage Site.
On the mission from Mexico City there is a region rich in all kinds of attractions: forest, mountain and lake landscapes, ruins of ancient pre-Hispanic settlements and ancient cities. In the state of Mexico there is the “wonderful town” of Malinalco, a two-hour drive from the capital to the southwest. A little further, a two to three hour drive from Mexico City, near the towns of Zitácuaro, Angangueo, Ocampo and Tlalpujahua, there are nature reserves where monarch butterflies spend the winter.
Based on ¡It's all Mexico!