Mexico City

Interesting Mexico City Facts

Mexico City has the fourth highest number of theatres in the world after New York, London, and Toronto.
Like many cities built atop ancient settlements, there have been numerous discoveries of ancient ruins during modern construction work. These include the Aztec temple (Templo Mayor) located in the Zocalo and remains of Moctezuma's "New Houses" next to the National Palace.
The history of this city started in pre-Columbian times, and it grew to be a flourishing Aztec settlement called Tenochtitlan, which was later almost completely destroyed by the Spanish.
The twentieth century saw Mexico City explode from a population of only 500,000 to almost 115 million people.
It is the largest Spanish-speaking city in the world as well as one of the world's largest and most densely populated.

Mexico City is the bustling capital city of Mexico, and is also the largest city in the nation. There are many reasons to visit and they include the Historic Center (Centro Historico) and the floating gardens of Xochimilco, which together comprise a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Main sights in the Historic Center include the Zocalo (the Plaza de la Constitution), the city’s central square dominated by the Metropolitan Cathedral, the National Palace, and the ruins of the Aztec Templo Mayor. You’ll find one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks, the Angel of Independence column, on the elegant Paseo de la Reforma, built to resemble the Champs-Elysees in Paris. The avenue connects the National Palace with the Chapultepec Castle, the only royal castle in North America. There are more than 150 museums in the city, as well as scores of art galleries and performance halls.

There is superb shopping throughout the city in traditional open-air markets as well as sleek shopping centers, sophisticated shops, and boutiques boasting internationally known designers. Numerous fine dining establishments are available, including a number of wonderfully restored haciendas that are now restaurants.

National Palace

National Palace

The National Palace, located in the Zocalo main square, is among the most prominent buildings in the city’s Historic Center. This massive, ornate structure with beautiful gardens, fountains, and important works of art, including many panoramic murals depicting the stages of Mexican history painted by the great artist Diego Rivera. Scenes begin with the pre-Columbian Aztec Empire, depict the brutality of the Spanish conquest, the American and French invasions, the Reform period, and the Revolution. Admission is free, and picture ID is required for entry.

Teotihuacan

Teotihuacan

Teotihuacan (“The City of the Gods”), located about 25 miles northeast of Mexico City, is a sprawling archaeological site home to some of the world's largest ancient pyramids. The three main pyramids are the Temple of the Moon; the Temple of the Sun, which has lovely views; and the Temple of Quetzalcoatl, also called the Feathered Serpent Pyramid and decorated with stone dragon heads. There is an excellent museum that has artifacts excavated at the site, including tombs, skeletons adorned in jewelry, and sculptures, and a raised walkway around a scale model of the site.

Tepoztlan

Tepoztlan

Tepoztlan is a town about 30 miles from Mexico City known for the ruins of an Aztec Temple atop Tepozteco Mountain. You reach the site by following a foot path up the mountain and the top of the 30-foot pyramid via a narrow stairway on the temple's south side. The town itself is a popular destination, with excellent ice cream and two popular markets. One is located in the main square and offers fresh local produce and traditional crafts. On weekends, there is a market along the main road with local handcrafts. You can also visit the 16th-century Augustinian Convent and its archaeology museum.