The Historical Center of Mexico City

Originally the site of the great city of Tenochtitlan, what is now the  Historical Center was, in the 16th Century, built over by the Spaniards, becoming a colonial center of trade and culture, and today it houses some 1421 monuments of both pre-hispanic and colonial origin.

The Alameda - Public park and one of Mexico City's oldest. A refuge populated by bootblacks, balloon merchants, birds and those who want to rest their eyes from the surrounding concrete and traffic. The Monument to Benito Juárez stands on the southern (Avenida Juárez) side of the park.

The Torre Latinoamericana (#1) - a 44 storey structure on the corner of San Juan de Letrán and Francisco I. Madero streets, constructed between 1948 and 1956. Observation decks, open 9 am - 10 pm., and restaurant/bar offer spectacular views of the city. 

Bellas Artes (#2) - Palace of Fine Arts - East of the Alameda. 

The Museum holds works by Mexico's great muralists, including Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros, José Clemente Orozco and Rufino Tamayo. Open Tuesday-Sunday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm

The Concert Hall gives presentations of the Ballet Folklórico several times a week. Tickets are available at the ticket office on the ground floor near the main entrance. Click HERE for more information

The Zócalo or Plaza of the Constitution, with it's National Palace (#4), Benito Juárez Museum and the Metropolitan Cathedral (#5), and nearby

Museum of the Templo Mayor (#6) - Inaugurated on October 12, 1987. In 1978 the

Palacio de la Inquisición (Palace of the Inquisition), built from 1732 - 1736. On the corner of República de Venezuela and República de Brasil. Also called "La Cachata", it currently houses the Museum of Medicine. 

Plaza de Santo Domingo - Diagonally across from the Palace of the Inquisition, along República de Brasil, the Plaza holds

Museo de la Ciudad de México. Pino Suárez No. 30. Constructed in 1778, the building became Mexico City's museum in 1964 and contains wonderful exhibits and information on the settlement of the Valley of Mexico.