Mexico ... one of the largest cities in the world, one of the most polluted one of the most dangerous. That is what comes to the minds of most people when talking about the capital of Mexico.
What is it exactly? Mexico City is a charming, captivating, full of contrasts ... unrealistic.
The Mexican capital is a metropolis located to 2300 meters above sea level. The first thing that strikes you when you get to Mexico is the view that it was about volcanoes and Popocateptl Iztaccihuatl (especially since south of the city) and surrounding mountains. In fact the city is built into a mountain, by the way is why pollution was a slight tendency to stay above the city.
The other feature of the capital, it was built on the ruins of the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan. It follows that the basement of the Mexican capital is a real Swiss cheese, and especially that until today, the Aztec ruins remake appearance.
One of the most notorious examples is the Templo Mayor (Aztec temple) found right next to the Zocalo and the English cathedral. A surreal vision!
The historic center of Mexico City date from the sixteenth century and has been built by the Spaniards. It has been perfectly preserved and is one of the main attractions of the city, especially since as stated above, there are also some Aztec ruins.
What to see in the historic center of Mexico City?
Zone ALAMEDA the "Museo Mural Diego Rivera", "Palacio de Bellas Artes", "Parque Alameda Central" Museo nacional de arte "," Museo Franz Mayer "and the building of" Correo Mayor.
Zone Zocalo "El Zocalo", "el Templo Mayor," "Cathedral," and "el Palacio Nacional.
The area the east of the "Zocalo" is the area most attractive colonial style, including the "Calle de la Moneda" including the church "Santa Teresa la Antigua" and that " el museo nacional de las Culturas ", and" Calle Emiliano Zapata "including the monumental church of the Santissima." Please note, this area is very poor, avoid them display your wealth, visit the preferably early in the afternoon. Do not expect to see clean streets and monitored the area was long abandoned by al left the local authorities. History buffs will appreciate, however, the building style.
Another interesting street is "Calle Madero, which connects the" Zocalo " to the Alameda. This includes street respectively "casa de los Azulejos," the church of "San Francisco" church "San Felipe de Jesus" and the "Palacio de Iturbide".
in central See also:
- "Torre Latinoamericana"
- "Secretaria de Educacion Publica"
- "Secretaria de Educacion Publica"
- Plaza Garibaldi
the 2-basilicas of "Guadalupe"
- Plaza de las Tres Culturas " Other interesting areas of Mexico
Chapultepec: "El Bosque de Chapultepec is a large wooded area to west of Mexico City. It is very nice, you can go cycling or walking on the broad avenues that dot the woods. The two big attractions are "el museo nacional de Antropologia" and "el castillo de Chapultepec (Castle) with its" Museo Nacional de Historia.
Polanco : located north of Chapultepec, Polanco is the business district of the Mexican capital, there is a strong Jewish community and Arab. The area is nice, we could imagine in Europe if the streets were not as great. Apart from the luxury shops and other bars and restaurants there is not much to see in this neighborhood.
Zona Rosa : the festive neighborhood of Mexico City, he has a lot of bars and nightclubs, many of which are gay. Ask well before returning :-).
La Condesa : located south of the "zona rosa" is a district frequented by the trendy youth of Mexico. Very bourgeois neighborhood, the streets are lined with palm trees, there are lots of nice little restaurants with terrace on the sidewalk.
Coyoacan : early twentieth century Coyoacan was a small colonial village that housed artists and intellectuals, located 10 km from Mexico City. A hundred years later, the village was engulfed by the metropolis. It follows that the district has kept bohemian charm and is a favorite destination for Mexican weekend. This weekend, the main square (the zocalo), we can come see the musicians, dancers and other performers in a kind of craft market. On weekdays, it's a lovely area too, and it is also the Coyoacan district of Frida Kahlo ("Casa Museo Frida Kahlo), Diego Rivera and Trotsky (" Museo Casa de Trotsky)
The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM): it may seem odd, but the university (also known as CU for "Ciudad Universitaria") built in 1950 is a World Heritage of Humanity. The most famous building is the library that includes mosaic murals depicting the history of Mexico. The university site also includes a "centro cultural" and impressive "espacio escultorico" difficult to define (see left). Indeed there are examples of contemporary Mexican sculpture scattered in a wilderness!
You can also see "El Horizonte de las Estrellas" (Star Horizon), a remarkable achievement as well.
Sunday it is sometimes possible to attend plays, organized by students. UNAM hosts a whopping 250,000 students each year, c is a city Inside the town. There is also a bus service free to move around the site.
Archaeological Site Cuicuilco : south of the UNAM, the site includes a circular pyramid (extremely rare in Mexico) by 18 meters high and 135 meters in diameter. Unfortunately the site was inundated by a lava flow (long ago do not worry) and was cleared with dynamite. Obviously, the pyramid has suffered somewhat ...
Xochimilco : south of Mexico City, you must use the "tren ligero" to get there. Xochimilco (Aztec language means "garden of flowers") is the area that supplies the capital with flowers and vegetables since the time of the Aztecs. In spring the fields of flowers are most beautiful. Xochimilco's campaign is full of channels on which it is possible to walk in a boat (the walk takes one hour), and that is the main attraction of the place, although I also recommend the flower market and Pottery located on "la calle del 16 de septiembre" every Saturday.
Xochimilco is troubling, because with its poplars and willows, we do not necessarily believe in Mexico.
Explore different means of transport in the Mexican capital.
If you want to learn or improve your English in Mexico You can read the page.
Finally, if you want to sleep cheap Mexico City, I will tell you the best places to hotels.
DO NOT MISS / CLOSE TO MEXICO
About fifty miles north of Mexico City lies the impressive archaeological site of Teotihuacan , declared Patrimony of Humanity. You can visit include the pyramids of the Moon and Sun, 2 huge pyramids that appear out of the earth such as mountains.
GO TO THE BEACH FROM MEXICO
Mexico City is not located by the sea, however, it is only to 4 hours drive from Acapulco and 5 hours Veracruz. On one side so you have the Pacific, and the other the Gulf of Mexico.
