Mexico City

Tourist attractions

The Museo de Antropologia showcases the history of

Mexico’s peoples, with space devoted to how its native
cultures lived before the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th
century to how their descendants are surviving today. While
the museum building is more of a contemporary style, the
inside contains ancient artifacts used hundreds of years ago.
The most famous artifact is the Aztec Calendar Stone, which
was actually not used as a calendar but does contain 20 day
signs and the 4 era’s of suns that preceded the current 5th
sun.
The Templo Mayor was an Aztec temple in Tenochtitlan. The
temple was enlarged over the decades until it became the
main center of religious life. Human sacrifices to the gods of
war and rain took place here. Then, in 1521, it was destroyed by
Spanish conquistadors, who then promptly erected the
Cathedral roughly over it – but not quite. The temple, which
consists of a large stone pyramid, remained lost until it was
discovered in 1978. Today visitors can see the remains of
several older temples that were found underneath the original
temple while walking through the dig site.
 Awesome is a term that comes easily to mind when
viewing Catedral Metropolitana, or Metropolitan
Cathedral, the largest and oldest cathedral in the
New World. Located on Plaza Zocala, the 16th
century cathedral is stunning when it’s lit up at
night. Stones from the Aztec’s Templo Mayor were
used to build a church, which predated the
cathedral on this site. The cathedral, which
represents many architectural styles, holds a great
collection of paintings and artifacts, many from the
colonial era
Chapultepec Castle is a regal site atop Chapultepec Hill,
which translates as “grasshopper hill.” It was a sacred site
for the Aztecs and is the only North American castle to
serve as home for royalty, Emperor Maximilian I and
Empress Carlota in the 19th century. In 1847, six teenage
military cadets died defending the castle from U.S.
military invaders in the Battle of Chapultepec, during
the Mexican-American War; they are honored with a
mural at the castle’s entrance. Today, the castle houses
the Museo Nacional de Historia.
 The Palacio de Bellas Artes, or Palace of Fine
Arts, is an opulent white building that is the
cultural center of both Mexico City and
Mexico. Built on the site of a former convent
and the first National Theatre of Mexico, the
building’s exterior represents neo-classical
and art nouveau style, while the interior is art
deco. It’s best known for its murals painted by
famous Mexican artists such as Siquieros and
Diego Rivera. It also is a performing arts
center, hosting performances by the Ballet
Palacio Nacional (National Palace) is where
Folklorico de Mexico and other groups.
Mexico’s president works. But the president
isn’t the first person to rule over a nation here.
Much of the palace is made from materials
used in building a palace for the Aztec ruler
Montezuma II. The palace fills an entire side
on the Plaza de la Constitucion. The palace is
home to a bell that called troops to action in
the War for Mexican Independence; it is rung
every September 15 to commemorate the
occasion. The ornate palace also contains
murals by Diego Rivera depicting the history
of Mexico from the pre-Columbian age to the
Mexican Revolution. Tours in English are free.
Mexican Food

Quesadilla

Simple Perfect
Enchiladas

Steak and Egg

Burrito
Guacamole

Salsa
Graham Cracker and
Mexican Chocolate
Ice Cream Sandwich