Mexico City is an enormous capital. The city is both larger and slightly more populous than New York City, and it is the largest metropolitan area in the Western Hemisphere. That leaves aspiring tourists at somewhat of a loss as to how best to take in all that is offered. With that in mind, here are suggestions for just one small part of Mexico City—the Centro Histórico, which encompasses not only buildings going back to the founding of Mexico City in 1521 but also the pre-Hispanic city that was founded here in 1325.
Zócalo
The Zócalo is the main square of central Mexico City. Before the modern city’s beginnings, it was the ceremonial center of the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan. Today it's the center of government for all of Mexico and a busy place in general. Since the 1980s, there has been a steady stream of artistic, cultural, and musical events. Political protests are common, as are large-scale photoshoots, the annual Festival de Mexico, and concerts from the likes of Paul McCartney to Justin Bieber. Most of the hotels and restaurants people talk about are located on or near the Zócalo.
Palacio de Bellas Artes
The Palace of Fine Arts is located on the west side of Centro Histórico. With a Neoclassical/Art Nouveau exterior and an Art Deco interior, the building itself is a piece of art before you even get to the murals by the likes of Diego Rivera and Rufino Tamayo. Inside you'll find a museum dedicated to taking care of the building's art installations, a separate museum of architecture, and a whole host of events, from concerts to dramatic plays to ballet performances and more.
Metropolitan Cathedral
Formally called "Catedral Metropolitana de la Asunción de la Santísima Virgen María a los cielos," Metropolitan Cathedral is the largest cathedral in North and South America combined. The cathedral is still the seat of the Archdiocese of Mexico today, and they do perform worship services here. The architecture floats between Renaissance, Baroque, and Neo-classical, partially just because the massive building was under construction long enough for each of those styles to come and go. There are two altars and sixteen chapels, and each one is a feast for the eyes in a different way.
Templo Mayor
Unfortunately, the Metropolitan Cathedral does have a massive downside—it was built, roughly, on the remains of the Great Pyramid of Tenochtitlan after conquistadors smashed it to bits. Today, the temple survives as an archaeological site, accompanied by a four-story museum dedicated to the Aztec culture that founded this city in the pre-Columbian era. The dug-up temple has been exposed in places and labeled to illustrate when each section was built. The museum is a treasure trove of small offerings, stone masks, flint blades, and more. It's not all about Aztec religion—though there's plenty of that—but Tenochtitlan's history as a trade hub is on display, too.
