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The word ‘Mexico’ comes from the náhuatl words meztli, ‘moon,’ xictli, ‘center’ or ‘navel,’ and co, ‘place.’ Mexico means ‘in the navel of the moon.’ Once the ancient Aztec city of Tenochtitlan, Mexico City was originally constructed in the Valley of Mexico over theancient Lake Texcoco. The Aztecs built an intricate network of canals to navigate the city. After the arrival of theSpanish in 1519, most of the Aztec structures and canals were destroyed and replaced with modern roads and buildings.
Mexico City hosts places to captivate visitors no matter what their travel plans are.
More than four thousand years of documented and lived history are constantly
recreated through monuments and impressive archeological and architectural remains
as a result of pre-hispanic and colonial past. Mexico City is an international, cosmopolitan city and a popular destination for tourists from all over the world. The city centre is full of landmarks showcasing Mexico’s rich history and diverse culture and visitors can enjoy great museums, food and entertainment.
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The Palacio de Bellas Artes is both a museum and an opera house that astounds visitors with works of Mexico’s great muralists, and hosts concerts, plays, dance and art exhibitions. The Alameda park, next door, is the largest in the downtown area. The Alameda Park, next door, is the largest in the downtown area.
Plaza Garibaldi is the home of mariachi musicians and the place for celebrations of all kinds. Paseo de la Reforma is bedecked with monuments and statues, of Christopher Columbus and the Angel of Independence, among others. The Revolution Monument and its esplanade pay homage to the heroes of the nation’s history, while Roma and Condesa are must-see neighborhoods for their multiple stores, galleries, bars and restaurants.
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Here, you can find ancestral water canals that preserve the magic stories of the ancient
Xochimilca-people to aristocratic neighborhoods like San Angel and Coyoacan,
where Mexico’s most famous painters, musicians and writers have lived. The Basilica
of Guadalupe is an icon, not only of the faith of the Mexican people, but because it
marked the start of a modern architecture that now can be admired along Reforma
Avenue and especially in the Santa Fe district.
More than 150 museums show’s Mexico’s invaluable cultural heritage. Hosting great
world class shows and, if visitors are looking for a special place to please their palate,
there are extraordinary restaurants serving Mexican and international cuisine, many
of them recognized as some of the best in the world.
Nightlife is the perfect complement to a great trip. A night out can be enjoyed in
the historical centre, among its charming streets full of lights, old houses, palaces and
restored temples, or in the Roma-Condesa area with its never-ending variety of bars,
pubs, restaurants and discotheques to chose from.
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Mexico City is prepared to welcome tourists with high quality services. Moving on from a predominantly business oriented city, to a city that contributes to it’s country’s tourism, taking advantage of multicultural richness, of ever growing and increasingly user friendly infrastructure, and of course, great hospitality!
What to do & where to go.
Take in a “Lucha Libre” (mexican wrestling show) at Arena Mexico.
Visit a “Cantinas” (mexican tipycal bar) at the Historical Center of Mexico City.
Brunch at “Bellinis” spectacular (the largest in the world) revolving giratory restaurant on top of the World Trade Centre.
Visit the “Azteca” stadium located in the suburb of Santa Ursula.
Go see San Angel, colonia or neighborhood of Mexico City, located in the southwest in Álvaro Óbregon borough.
For a spiritual visit: Tlatelolco and three cultures square, Saint James Church and then to Tepeyac Hill and San Diego and John Paul II Staues, the new Shrine to our Lady of Guadalupe, old Shrine now museum, chapels of Tepeyac Hill and Roses. “Basilica
de Guadalupe” is the most important Latin American tribute to the Virgin of Guadalupe.
For a more cultural and historical experience, visit the National Palace with Diego Rivera murals, principal avenues and boulevards, panoramic view of Palace of Fine Arts, the Central park known as Alameda Central by Reforma boulevard to Chapultepecforest and
residential district of Lomas. PALACIO DE BELLAS ARTES Av. Juárez at Eje Central; www.museopalaciodebellasartes.mx. The jewel in the crown of downtown, the palace of fine arts has a dazzling marble exterior and an art deco interior. The interior is decorated with paintings by Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, David Álfaro Siquieros and Rufino Tamayo, while the galleries host visiting exhibitions, and the auditorium, with a Tiffany curtain, hosts concerts, opera and ballet.
Mexico City is intense in a exciting way, there is nowhere quite like it! Therefore to recharge your batteries, take in a day at leisure for personal activities, shopping, or visit one of the wonderful museums. Get to know the most important tourist sights of the capital, its historic center and relevant monuments, also visit to one of the world´s leading museums of its kind: The National Museum of Anthropology. MUSEO DEL ESTANQUILLO Isabel la Católica 26 at Madero www.museodelestanquillo.com. Displays the personal collection of late writer and intellectual Carlos Monsiváis. The museum is a treasure trove of more than 12,000 objects of Mexican memorabilia, from posters and postcards to books, cartoons from newspapers, and film posters that serve as a chronicle of the city. Also worth a visit: Templo Mayor and its very interesting Museum.
Visit the Plaza Garibaldi to taste Tequila and Mezcal in Cantina atmosphere to the transcending and uplifting sound of the Mariachi!
For art lovers, Mexico City is the hub of creativity. Make sure you take a stroll through the city’s largest outdoor art gallery and if you love art like we do, Mexico City is to art what heaven is to saints!
Mexico City area The vicinity of Mexico City boasts beautiful hills and major archaelogical historical sites. One hour’s drive from Mexico City, lies the famous ancient city of Teotihuacan. Here you can tour the most visited archaeological site in the continent: Teotihuacan, (a World Heritage Site since 1987), was a very influential place economically, politically, socially and religiously throughout Mesoamerica. Get to know the Quetzalpapálotl Temple, Pyramids of the Moon and the Sun, and the calzada de los muertos, among others. Take an archaeological tour to Teotihuacan Pyramids and walk along the “Calzada de los Muertos” and feel the grandeur of this site of the gods. Stop at Tulpetlac to visit the site of the 5th. Then continue on to see the front of Acolman Monastery and arrive to the city of the Gods Teotihuacan, see the magnificent pyramids the sun and the moon, stroll by the boulevard the deaths, the temple of Quetzalcoatl.
A to Z of Mexico City.
Álvaro Obregón Spend a Saturday browsing the bazaar, viewing the art on sale and exploring the restaurants around Plaza San Jacinto, the epicenter of San Ángel, a charming quarter of cobblestoned streets. The Museo Casa del Risco http://youtu. be/9rosOJkkXGI inside an elegant mansion, houses an art collection, while the Museo del Carmen tells the story of the Carmelite nuns in Mexico. The Museo Casa Estudio Diego Rivera designed by Juan O’Gorman, was home to the famous painter and Frida Kahlo. For contemporary art, the Museo de Arte Carrillo Gil on Avenida Revolución offers temporary exhibitions by local and international artists.
Azcapotzalco In the center of the borough, which still maintains the airs of a tranquil Colonial-era town, is the Jardín Hidalgo. Opposite is a former Dominican monastery, the Parish Church of Felipe and Santiago, while the Casa de Cultura, renowned for its beautiful gardens, hosts temporary art exhibitions, and the interior of the nearby Fray Bartolomé de las Casas Library boasts a fabulous mural by Juan O’Gorman. Once you’ve strolled around the neighborhood to take in the sights, head for one of the oldest cantinas in the city, El Dux de Venecia, for a drink accompanied by delicious snacks. Inspired by the gardens of the Aztec emperors on the shores of Lake Texcoco, Parque Tezozómoc surrounds a lake and has an open-air theater, a children’s playground and walking trails.
Benito Juárez The world’s largest mural, ‘The March of Humanity,’ by David Álfaro Siqueiros, measures 26,000 square feet and emblazons the interior of the Polyforum Cultural Siqueiros. The exterior walls also boast 12 murals, and the forum houses temporary exhibitions. For a panoramic view of the city, sit and eat at the Bellini revolving restaurant on the 45th floor of the World Trade Center. Also on Avenida Insurgentes, Parque Hundido is a sunken park with an audiorama, while the nearby Mixcoac neighborhood is a tranquil, Colonial-era enclave. Sports fans must not miss Plaza México, the world’s largest bullring, and the Estadio Cruz Azul, home to one of Mexico City’s most celebrated soccer teams.
Coyoacán The two central squares of this Colonial-era neighborhood, Jardín Hidalgo and Jardín Centenario, are a thriving scene of cafés, restaurants and art galleries. Frida Kahlo was born and died in La Casa Azul, which exhibits a large collection of works by the artist and by Diego Rivera. The vast campus of the national university, Ciudad Universitaria, a unesco World Heritage Site, features a stunning museum, the Museo Universitario de Arte Contemporáneo (muac), exhibiting the works of artists from around the world, and the Espacio Escultórico. You can also take a guided tour of the imposing Aztec Stadium, the scene of sporting encounters and concerts.
Cuajimalpa The highlight of this mostly rural borough is the Desierto de los Leones National Park a densely forested hill topped by the former Convent of the Barefoot Carmelite nuns, that also serves as a gallery for contemporary art exhibitions, and offers guided tours. The forested areas of the park are ideal for walking. Enjoy a freshly prepared trout at Los Peteretes or traditional Mexican snacks at La Venta food market. The Bosque El Ocotal is another ideal place for practicing sports or exploring, while the center of Cuajimalpa, with its square and bandstand, maintains its small-town charm.
Cuauhtémoc Comprising the ancient heart of the city. Templo Mayor http://youtu.be/4jiCEg-RpeM houses the remains of the Aztec temple that once stood here, adjacent to the Metropolitan Cathedral the largest in the Americas. The interior of Palacio Nacional, the seat of government, is decorated with murals by Diego Rivera, while the Palacio de Bellas Artes is the oldest and most traditional pulquerías, Los Hombres Sin Miedo, is located in the Santiago neighborhood.
Gustavo A. Madero The Basilica de Guadalupe honors the patron saint of Mexico, the dark-skinned virgin that allegedly appeared to Juan Diego in 1551. The virgin is venerated on December 12, when it becomes a pilgrimage destination for millions, many of whom travel here from remote towns by bicycle or on foot. The neighborhood is crowded with stalls and vendors selling objects of devotion, and the remains of the Guadalupe Aqueduct are still visible. Mexico’s National Polytechnic University (ipn) houses the Luis Enrique Erro Planetarium offering visitors a didactic view of the universe with the aid of cutting-edge technology, and also features a mural chronicling the history of astronomy. Visit the San Juan de Aragón Zoo to see a variety of animal species and enjoy outdoor activities.
Iztacalco The Palacio de los Deportes hosts concerts, music festivals, fairs and international expos, and forms part of the Magdalena Mixhuica Sports City, that includes a velodrome. The Foro Sol is also a sports and concert venue. The nearby Parque Escuela Urbano Ecológico is a green area conceived to raise environmental awareness. Plaza San Matías lies in the central Barrio de la Asunción, and whose Church and Ex Convent date from 1564. One of the city’s oldest and most traditional pulquerías, Los Hombres Sin Miedo, is located in the Santiago neighborhood.
Iztapalapa Famous throughout Mexico for its Good Friday passion play, when a ‘fortunate’ local plays the role of Christ and is ‘crucified’ on the summit of Cerro de La Estrella hill. Guided tours are available on the hill, where archaeological remains were recently discovered, and which you can learn more about at the Museo del Fuego Nuevo. On the slope of the hill is the Ex Convent of Culhuacán, built in 1607 on what was an important Toltec settlement, and its museum displays figures of deities. La Nueva Viga is one of the world’s largest fish markets and a guided tour in the early morning will introduce you to an impressive number of species on sale. For open-air activities, visit Parque Cuitláhuac.
Magdalena Contreras Los Dinamos is an area of protected parkland on the city’s southern perimeter, through which runs the Magdalena River, the city’s only open waterway, which follows an 8-mile course through the valley and a series of canyons and rapids. It’s the ideal place to hike, mountain bike or go horseback riding along the more than 20 miles of trails, and ride zip lines. The Mazatépetl archaeological site contains various monuments built by the Otomi culture. The small, baroque-style Church of Magdalena Atlitic is the setting for big celebrations every July 22. The temperate forest of Parque Ejidal San Nicolás Totolapan offers diverse sporting and recreational activities.
Miguel Hidalgo Chapultepec Park contains some of the city’s most important museums, such as the National Anthropology Museum, with a vast collection showcasing the country’s pre-Hispanic civilizations; the Museum of Modern Art, with a permanent retrospective of 20th century Mexican art; the Rufino Tamayo Museum, showcasing contemporary art, and the Papalote Children’s Museum, a wonderland for the younger visitors. The park is divided into three sections and also contains a zoo, Chapultepec Castle, which houses the National History Museum, and a large boating lake with boat rental. In Polanco you’ll find the most prestigious boutiques for luxury goods on Presidente Masaryk, as well as art galleries, such as the Sala de Arte Público Siqueiros, and some of the city’s best restaurants, while Polanquito and Parque Lincoln are also pleasant places to explore. The Museo Soumaya houses an art collection, and the Parque Bicentenario boasts greenhouses that recreate different climates from across the world.
Milpa Alta Every October, the small village of San Pedro Atocpan holds its Mole Fair, when more than 500 exhibitors, both local and from other regions of the country, present different varieties of mole, a thick sauce prepared with a plethora of ingredients that include cocoa, sesame seeds, plantains and dried chilies, and which comes in a variety of colors, from black and dark brown to green, orange and red. You can sample all of the different varieties prepared in a number of ways, as well as purchase the paste to take home. Foodies should also visit the nopal cactus market. The Centro de Educación Ambiental Tepenahuac organizes educational activities concerning agriculture and the use of renewable energies. On the Day of the Dead, the Cantoya Balloon Festival is held.
Tláhuac The Day of the Dead celebrations in the town of San Andrés Mixquic http:// youtu.be/alhUuWc9UME are among the most famous and colorful in the country. The patio of the Casa de Cultura de la Parroquia de San Andrés houses a small archaeological site, Mixquixtli, which includes various figurines and sculptures. The parish saint’s day is on November 30. San Pedro Tláhuac is the largest town of the seven that comprise the borough, with a beautiful plaza in the shade of palm trees and dominated by the Church and Ex Convent of San Pedro Apóstol. At the Lago de los Reyes Aztecas (http:// youtu.be/1iDxoqxrC04 you can take a ride on a gondola-style boat for bird watching, and there’s a small museum exhibiting pre-Hispanic artifacts.
Tlalpan The central neighborhood of the borough, San Agustín de las Cuevas, is a charming area of Colonial-era houses whose main square has a bandstand that hosts concerts. The Cuicuilco Aarchaeological site, just south of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (unam) campus, dates from around 700 BC and is believed to be the earliest city and ceremonial center in the area now occupied by Mexico City. An on-site museum exhibits finds from archaeological digs. Located inside a 19th century mansion, Casa Frissac, houses the Javier Barros Sierra Science and Culture Institute, with an art gallery that holds exhibitions and workshops. For nature lovers, the Cumbres del Ajusco National Park and Tlalpan Forest offer activities such as hiking and horseback riding.
Venustiano Carranza Home to the city’s three major markets: La Merced, reputedly one of the largest markets in the Americas, is also the city’s oldest, and is located to the east of the downtown area. Divided into sections, the food section is a colorful show of Mexico’s vast variety of fruit and vegetables. The Mercado de Sonora has all kinds of exotic plant remedies, as well as live animals, on sale. The Mercado de Jamaica is famous for its huge and colorful flower and plant market. For a glimpse at the nation’s past, visit the Archivo General de la Nación and the former prison of Lecumberri Palace which offers guided tours. You can also take a curative bath at Peñón de los Baños, famous for its thermal springs and where, every May 5, the Battle of Puebla is recreated.
Xochimilco Head to one of the embarkation points (embarcaderos) such as Nativitas or Fernando Celada and get paddled away on a colorful gondola through the city’s floating gardens to the rhythm of the musicians that paddle down the canals. There are four flower and plant markets: Cuemanco, Madre Selva, San Luis Tlaxialtemalco and Palacio de la Flor, as well as plant nurseries at the Centre of Environmental Education Acuexcomatl. The Museo Dolores Olmedo Patiño, occupying a beautiful house and gardens, has an extensive collection of Mexican modern art and also hosts temporary exhibitions. Both the parish church of Santa María Tepepan and the Ex Convent of San Bernardino de Siena date from the 16th century and boast impressive altars, sculptures and paintings.
Fly Cruise Stay’s flying visit!
Fly Cruise Stay flew economy class nonstop to Mexico City (MEX) from London Heathrow (LHR) with Aero Mexico on their new Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner on kind invitation from the Mexican Tourist Board and AeroMexico.
Our fascinating tour of Mexico city courtesy of Viajes Meca and its glorious regions was as follows:
March 27th, 2015.
We got picked up at the hotel and had a private drive around Mexico City’s downtown, going through Reforma Avenue, constructed by Emperor Maximilian, where most of the important monuments of the city are located. Driving through Juárez Avenue, we viewed “La Alameda” park and the Palace of the Fine Arts, gloriously built by Italian architect Adamo Boari. Then through Madero Street we arrived at the Zócalo and visited the National Palace which is the current seat of the government and whose walls are covered by frescoes painted by Diego Rivera , one of the greatest modern Mexico’s painters.
We then visited the Cathedral –a clear and beautiful example of Colonial
architecture–, and the Templo Mayor. Later we continued towards Chapultepec park, passing through Las Lomas, one of Mexico City’s most exclusive neighborhoods.
We were very lucky to come across the spectaular set of the new James Bond movie SPECTRE whose amazing opening scenes were being shot on location in Mexico City!
The visit continued onwards to Teotihuacán (“Place of the Gods”), approximately one-hour drive from the central Federal District (53km). We also visited the archaeological site with
guide where the Teotihuacán culture settled. Viewed the Temple of Quetzalcóatl, the Pyramid of the Sun, the temple of Quetzal-Papalotl, the temple of the Plumed Snails and the Pyramid of the Moon –from this spot the Road of Dead is seen in all its splendour. Lunched at a nearby restaurant.
We then returned to the 5 Star Marquis Reforma Spa Hotel for accommodation. Situated in the beautiful Reforma Avenue and overlooking the Chapultepec Castle and Parks, the Marquis Reforma Hotel is the perfect choice for business or leisure travellers’ eager to explore all Mexico has to offer. The superb location means you are less than 1 Km away from main attractions like the Chapultepec Castle, Anthropology Museum and the Modern Art Museum. We dined at Restaurant Villa Maria.
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March 28th, 2015.
Departured for San Angel in the south of the city. At the end of the 19th century, San
Ángel was converted into a retreat where wealthy families built luxurious country
houses in what was then a suburban paradise, ideal for rest and day trippers. It was
soon enough a paradise that was incorporated into the city’s urban fabric thanks to
the rail line to Cuernavaca, streetcars and automobiles. Today San Ángel has taken on a big commercial push, but at the same time it maintains its character as a quiet neighborhood, ideal for relaxation or the enjoyment of its streets’ suburban, Spanish-colonial feel.
Proceeded to Xochimilco on route visit of the National Autonomous University of Mexico,
the maximum house of studies of the country. It was constructed in the Fifties, but its
foundation goes back to the 16th century. Stroll through the campus, where there are
more than 80 buildings, among them the Rectory, the Library, the Olympic Stadium.
We continue towards Xochimilco to visit the old pre-Hispanic canals.
We had a tasty lunch on board a trajinera (boat). We also visited a local craft market there.
In the early evening we visited the Anthropology museum the biggest in Mexico. The building is one of the most beautiful examples of the Mexican contemporary architecture. We visited the rooms of Mesoamérica –where the origins of the civilizations of old
Mexico are shown–, the Teotihuacán room, the Aztec room –where there are some of
the most representative pieces of the culture that settled down in the lake of Texcoco,
the place where Mexico City was built on–, the Olmec room –the mother culture–,
and the Mayan room –to understand the civilization that developed in Southeastern
Mexico and part of Central America, and whose greatness has been recognized by
specialists worldwide, because of its advanced knowledge in architecture, astronomy,
mathematics, philosophy and art.
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We then returned to our hotel to take our baggage and transfered to the airport for our onward journey home.
For more information: http://www.visitmexico.com/en/mexico-city
MEXICO CITY THROUGH THE CENTURIES
1325 Founding of México-Tenochtitlan, capital of the Mexica empire.
1366 to 1519 Eleven tlatoanis (Mexica governors or leaders) govern the city of Tenochtitlan, from the Acamapichtli dynasty.
1450 Tenochtitlan’s heyday. The Mexicas dominate much of Mesoamerica.
1519 Arrival of the Spaniards. Mexica leader Moctezuma Xocoyotzin meets with Hernán Cortés on November 8, 1519.
August 13, 1521 México-Tenochtitlan falls to the Spaniards.
1522 Hernán Cortés establishes the Spanish government of the new colony in Coyoacán.
1535 The Colony of New Spain is officially established.
September 15, 1810 The War of Independence begins after a call to arms by parish priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla.
September 27, 1821 End of the Independence War. Mexico City invaded by the ‘army of three guarantees’ that fought against the Spaniards, headed by Agustín de Iturbide.
1822 Agustín de Iturbide proclaims himself emperor of Mexico under the name Agustín.
1823 Iturbide’s empire overthrown by insurgents.
1823 to 1854 Power struggle between liberals and conservatives.
1855 to 1863 Reform decreed by Mexico’s president Benito Juárez, known as the ‘distinguished of the Americas.’
1857 1857 Constitution enacted.
1877 to 1911 Government of general Porfirio Díaz. Mexico experiences economic growth. Construction of the Palacio de Bellas Artes begins.
1910 to 1917 Mexican Revolution.
1917 Triumph of the Constitutionalists.
1917 Constitution written. Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata emerge as leaders.
1920 Álvaro Obregón becomes president. Distribution of lands to the peasants as a result of the revolution.
1921 Obregón designates José Vasconcelos as Education Minister. A period of rich cultural output begins.
1938 Expropriation of the oil industry by President Lázaro Cárdenas del Río.
1950 to 1960 Mexico City enters a period of urbanization and the country enjoys an economic bonanza known as the ‘Mexican miracle.’
1950 to 1970 Iconic public buildings open, including the unam campus and the Auditorio Nacional.
1968 Mexico City hosts the XIX Olympic Games.
1969 Inauguration of the METRO rapid transportation system.
1970 Mexico City hosts the soccer World Cup.
1976 The Basilica of Guadalupe, by architect Pedro Ramírez Vázquez, opens.
1986 Mexico City once again hosts the soccer World Cup.
1987 The Historic Center and Xochimilco are declared World Heritage Sites by unesco.
2002 The TURIBÚS (double-decker open-air bus) network opens.
2003 The Torre Mayor, the city’s tallest tower, opens.
2004 The Casa Estudio de Luis Barragán, one of the 20th century’s most important architects, is declared a World Heritage Site by unesco.
2007 The Campus of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (unam) is declared a World Heritage Site by unesco.
2010 Mexican cuisine is declared Intangible World Heritage by unesco.
2012 The Alameda, the oldest park in the Americas, is remodeled.
2013 Mexico City’s mayor declares tourism a priority policy for his government.