If you want to know the essence of Mexico City, you must visit the historic center.
It will be enough to walk the cobbled streets of the center, while listening to the unique sound of the cylinder's music, to go back to the different times that have marked its history.
And the fact is that the historic center of Mexico City is full of aromas: it smells of baroque, incense, dancers, ruins, history, commerce ...
But for you to live a unique experience, here we present the things you can do in the center of the capital.
1. Walk through the Plaza de la Constitución - Zócalo
It is unthinkable to visit the center of Mexico City and not take a walk on the Plaza de la Constitución, admiring the historic buildings that surround it, the Metropolitan Cathedral and the imposing monumental flag that flies 50 meters high.
The ceremony of raising and lowering the national flag, a ritual worthy of admiration, takes place at 8 in the morning and at 5 in the afternoon, where a contingent made up of an escort, a war band and military authorities perform this ceremony with a 200 meter war flag.
The waving of the flag is a daily spectacle for passers-by who walk on the main square of the capital.
Every September 15, Mexicans gather to celebrate the ceremony of the «Grito de Independencia »or to enjoy the number of events that take place throughout the year.
2. Visit the National Palace
It is one of the most important buildings in the capital and headquarters of the Federal Government.
It occupies an area of 40 thousand square meters and has witnessed the historical and cultural events that have marked the life of the entire nation; This is reflected in the mural "Epopeya del Pueblo Mexicano" made by Diego Rivera on one of the building's stairs.
You can visit this historic building from Tuesday to Sunday from 9 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon.
3. Tour the Museo del Templo Mayor
If you visit this important site of pre-Hispanic vestiges and ruins, you will learn about the most important aspects of the economic, cultural, religious and historical life of the Mexica. It is located on Calle Seminario number 8, in the historic center.
This building was the center of the great Tenochtitlán, capital of the Great Mexica Empire, and houses a large collection of pre-Hispanic pieces that attest to the main daily aspects of its inhabitants.
You can also admire the great monolith dedicated to Coyolxauhqui, who (according to mythology) was the sister of Hutzilopochtli, considered the representation of the Moon and died dismembered by her own brother.
To know its history you can visit this museum from Tuesday to Sunday from 9 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon.
4. Visit the National Art Museum (MUNAL)
It is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city, built during the government of Porfirio Díaz, to house the Palace of Communications and Public Works on Calle de Tacuba number 8.
The MUNAL has several exhibition rooms of the most representative works of the main Mexican artists of the 16th and 20th centuries, such as José María Velasco, Miguel Cabrera, Fidencio Lucano Nava and Jesús E. Cabrera.
The building is right on the Plaza dedicated to Manuel Tolsá and opens its doors from 10 in the morning to 6 in the afternoon from Tuesday to Sunday.
5. Climb the Torre Lationamericana
It was built in 1946 and is one of the most emblematic buildings in the center of the capital. It houses a restaurant and two museums at an altitude of 182 meters, where you can enjoy an unparalleled panoramic view and the vertiginous sway of Mexico City.
This imposing building is located on Eje Central number 2 and is open from 9 in the morning to 10 at night.
From the viewpoint you will be able to see the Monument to the Race, the National Palace, the Basilica of Guadalupe, the Palace of Fine Arts and even the capital's subway cars traveling at high speed through this important city.
You can also visit the City Museum and the Bicentennial Museum, located in the only skyscraper built in a seismic zone that has resisted these earthquakes that have hit the capital for so many years.
6. Visit the Palace of Fine Arts
This white marble building, built during the Porfiriato by the Italian architect Adamo Boari, is the most important cultural site in the country.
Located on Avenida Juárez on the corner of Eje Central, in the historic center, this important building has hosted the most important exhibitions and cultural events in the capital.
It has also been the place of murals and tributes of the present body for the characters that have marked the intellectual life of our country, such as Carlos Fuentes, Octavio Paz, José Luis Cuevas and María Félix.
The hours of the Palacio de Bellas Artes are from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon.
7. Visit Garibaldi Square
Visiting the Tenampa Hall and Garibaldi Square are part of the must-see destinations in the historic center of the city.
There you will find mariachis, northern ensembles, Veracruz groups and bands to liven up a stay to the sound of music, while enjoying the typical dishes of Mexican cuisine.
You can also visit the Tequila and Mezcal museum, where you will learn about the process of making these typical drinks.Their hours are Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on weekends they close at 12 p.m. night.
Plaza Garibaldi is located north of the historic center, in the popular neighborhood of «La Lagunilla», between Allende, República de Perú and República de Ecuador streets, in the Guerrero neighborhood.
8. Admire The Metropolitan Cathedral
It is part of the architectural complex that surrounds the Plaza de la Constitución and is a Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It is one of the most representative works of Hispanic American architecture.
It is worth visiting this temple —which is also the seat of the Archdiocese of Mexico— and admire its columns, altars, and neoclassical buildings, with ornate chapels. To date it is the largest cathedral in Latin America.
9. Walk through the Alameda Central
This historic garden, whose construction dates back to 1592, houses an imposing monument to President Juárez, better known as the “Hemiciclo a Juárez”, due to its semicircle shape and which is located on the avenue of the same name.
It is also an important lung of the city due to the large number of green areas that it houses and that you can enjoy on a pleasant tour, while you admire its fountains, flower boxes, the kiosk and a mural by Diego Rivera located on a pedestrian walkway.
The Alameda Central is open to the public 24 hours a day.
10. Get to know the House of Tiles
This traditional building in the historic center was the residence of the Counts of Orizaba, built in the viceregal era, and its façade is covered by tiles from Puebla talavera, which is why during the 16th century it was known as "El Palacio Azul" .
It is located on the pedestrian street of Madero, on the corner of Cinco de Mayo, and currently houses a department store with a restaurant. It opens its doors from Monday to Sunday from 7 to 1 in the morning.
11. Visit the Academy of San Carlos
It is located on Academia Street number 22, in the historic center of the capital, and was founded with the name of the Royal Academy of the Noble Arts of New Spain, by the then King Carlos III of Spain in 1781.
At present, this historic building houses the Division of Postgraduate studies of the Faculty of Arts and Design of the UNAM; It has 65 thousand pieces in its collections and you can visit it from Monday to Friday from 9 in the morning to 6 in the afternoon.
12. Visit the Postal Palace
It is no coincidence that Mexico City is also known as the City of Palaces and it is precisely in the first square where these imposing constructions rise, such as the Palacio de Correos, built during the government of Porfirio Díaz Mori in 1902. .
Its eclectic architecture was the headquarters of the post office at the beginning of the century and declared an Artistic Monument in 1987; On the top floor it houses the Museum of Naval History and Culture of the Secretary of the Navy since 2004.
It is open from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
13. Know the Convent of San Jerónimo and Cloister of Sor Juana
It was founded in 1585 as the first convent of Jerónimas nuns. It is enough to remember that Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz belonged to that order and lived in this convent, but in 1867 with the laws of Reforma Juárez, it became a barracks, cavalry and military hospital.
Due to its great architectural wealth, it is a building that is worth visiting by appointment.
It is located on Calle de Izazaga in the historic center.
14. Tour the Mining Palace
The most important event that takes place in this colonial building is the International Book Fair of the Palacio de Minería, as well as various events, conferences and diplomas.
It is located on Calle de Tacuba, right in front of the well-known El Caballito sculpture, in Plaza Tolsá, and is currently a museum that belongs to the Faculty of Engineering at UNAM.
It opens its doors from Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
15. Go to the City Theater
It is a beautiful colonial building located on Calle de Donceles number 36 and is the headquarters par excellence of scenic art in the capital, as groups from different parts of the world perform every year.
It has 1,344 seats and it presents plays, dance shows, musical productions, opera, operetta, zarzuela and film festivals.
This beautiful building is also part of the collection of properties classified as World Heritage by UNESCO.
These are just some recommendations of the places you can visit in the historic center of Mexico City, but if you want to know more ... Don't think about it and escape to the capital!
