MEXICO CITY SPECIAL INTERESTSAsk our Mexico Specialists to arrange for your special interests in travel to Mexico City! Art &
Artists/Museums/Archeological Sites Dining Families Art &
Artists, Museums & Archeological Sites ART & ARTISTS Two of Mexico's most beloved artists are Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo. These two 20th-Century artists lived and worked together, as well as endured a tempestuous marriage. Their dramatic lives are expressed through their magnificent work. Rivera's awe-inspiring murals can be seen throughout the city. Kahlo's work is of a more personal nature, combining elements of Surrealism as well as expressions of the physical suffering she had to endure due to a crippling auto accident. DIEGO RIVERA MURAL MUSEUM Home to the original of Diego's most famous mural, "Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Park". Anahuacalli Museum was built by Diego Rivera to showcase his collection of 60,000 pre-Hispanic artifacts. The Diego Rivera Studio Museum preserves the studio surroundings in which the artist worked, displaying his tools, memorabilia and collection of striking paper and plaster folk sculptures. FRIDA KAHLO MUSEUM Where the now-famous painter was born and lived for 25 years with her husband, Diego Rivera. Inside are examples of her artwork, as well as unique pieces of folk art and the folk dresses she habitually wore. BACK TO 'ART & ARTISTS', MUSEUMS & ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES' MUSEUMS Chapultepec Park Area NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY Mexico City's most renowned museum, houses 26 exhibit halls covering 100,000 square feet of display. There are thousands of artifacts from Mexico's indigenous cultures, including funeral masks, the famous Aztec Calendar Stone and a reconstructed Mayan temple. MUSEUM OF MODERN ART Set inside two modern, circular, glass-enclosed structures, offers an outstanding permanent collection of contemporary Mexican art, including works by Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, Orozco, Siqueiros, and Tamayo. RUFINO TAMAYO MUSEUM Exhibits Tamayo's own vibrant painting as well as the artist's collection of more than 300 works by contemporary international artists, including works by Pablo Picasso and Rene Magritte. BACK TO 'ART & ARTISTS', MUSEUMS & ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES' Historic Center NATIONAL ARTS MUSEUM The venue's 22 exhibit areas are filled with Mexican art from the colonial era through the 20th century. In front of the building is the work of Mexico's greatest sculptor, Manuel Tolsa. PALACIO
DE BELLAS ARTES Mexico's principal opera house built of Carrara marble and home of the National Folkloric Ballet. This architectural masterpiece combines Art Deco design and murals by some of Mexico's foremost painters. It is also the site of the not-to-be-missed Folkloric Ballet of Mexico, presented every Wednesday and Sunday. TEMPLO MAYOR MUSEUM (GREAT TEMPLE) At the northeast corner of the Zocalo, is both an archeological site and a museum. A chance discovery in 1978 led to a major excavation of two square city blocks, revealing what was the genesis of the great Aztec city of Tenochtitlan. A series of ramps and walkways takes visitors through the remains of the ancient city's main ceremonial pyramid. There is also an excellent museum nearby, with more than 3.000 artifacts, an enormous model depicting the Aztec capital, and a huge carved stone disc of exquisite craftsmanship. MEXICO CITY MUSEUM Houses in an 18th century colonial mansion, feature exhibits documenting the history of the capital since pre-Columbian times. FRANZ MAYER MUSEUM Dates to the 16th century. This beautifully restored building houses a vast collection of European, American, and Asiatic art objects accumulated by the German-born Mayer and donated to the people of Mexico. BACK TO 'ART & ARTISTS', MUSEUMS & ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES' Folk Art DR. RUTH LEEHUGA'S APARTMENT A little-known gem of a museum is housed in a private home in Mexico City's trendy Condesa neighborhood. Dr Ruth Leehuga's Apartment is filled with 10,000 pieces of Mexican folk art, including masks, baskets, painting, ceramics, and textiles. Lechuga utilizes every inch of her home to display her fascinating collection, which has been assembled over the span of 50 years. To experience this truly unique museum, reservations are necessary. Luchuga gives personal tours in English and Spanish, at a cost of $15. BACK TO 'ART & ARTISTS', MUSEUMS & ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES' ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES Mexico City is situated on the exact site upon which the great Aztec civilization once flourished. As such, there are many exciting remains to be explored in and around the city limits, and guided tours can be arranged. Here are the must-see sites: TEOTIHUACAN This is the earliest site in pre-Hispanic Mexico and the country's first true city. Teothuacan thrived between 500 B.C. and A.D. 700. At its height, it was home to an estimated 200,000 residents. Teotihuacan was not only the religious, political and commercial hub of Mexico, it was also the most advanced urban center of its time and heavily influenced later Toltec and Aztec societies. Teotihauacan, with its monumental scale and artistic grandeur, is not to be missed. Principle structures include the Pyramid of the Sun, a massive 215-foot-high edifice; Pyramid of the Moon; grand Avenue of the Dead; and Temple of Quetzalcoatl, with its enormous ornamental snake heads. A major research center was recently opened to support further study of Teotihuacan culture. A library, museum and auditorium are housed near the site's entrance. TULA The term "toltec" means master craftsmen, and the Tula site has revealed the Toltec's rich artistic past. Tula was founded around A.D. 1000, after the fall of Teotihuacan and before the advent of Tenochtitlan. Tula is important for its colonnades, ball courts (believed to be the first in Mexico), stone-carved figures and its 15-foot-high atlantes (stone soldiers), which stand atop the main Pyramid of the Morning Star. These towering figures resemble totem poles, and are the site's most outstanding feature. XOCHICALCO Xochicalco served as an important center following the decline of Teotihuacan in the year 700. The site is a collection of ceremonial buildings, houses, and terraced pyramids atop a series of hills in a semi-arid region south of Cuernavaca. The Ball Court and the Temple of Quetzalcoatl at Xochicalco are two of the finest examples of late Classic architecture in Mexico. Other interesting archeological sites near Mexico City include: Calixtlahuaca, with its temple dedicated to the wind god Ehecatl; Malinalco, one of the region's most beautiful sites; Teotenango, dating to the late Teotihuacan period; and Texcotzingo, with its gardens and baths carved out of rock. (Texcotzingo is unmarked; ask for directions in the nearby town of Texcoco.) BACK TO 'ART & ARTISTS', MUSEUMS & ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES' Dining Diners won't have to limit their choices when they visit Mexico City, as there is the option of choosing sophisticated preparation of classic Mexican cooking as well as international cuisine. Mexico City is also home to branches of some of the finest New York and Paris restaurants with impeccable service to match. Mexicans consider dining an important social occasion as well as a gastronomic one. It's a time to savor family, social, and business relationships. Lunch is the main meal and can often last two to three hours. Dinner is served late, usually around 9:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. A jacket and tie may be required for men at the nicer establishments. Here are some dining highlights: CHEZ WOK BENKAY SUNTORY DELMONICO'S LES
MOUSTACHES PALM SAN ANGEL INN LA BODEGUITA DEL MEDIO Replica of the celebrated 1940s Havana nightclub. Offers Cuban cuisine in an atmospheric setting. Live music in the afternoons and evenings. MAMA
RUMBA LES
CELEBRITES FOUQUET'S MAXIM'S DE
PARIS KOHINOOR ALFREDO
DI ROMA LA
BOTOGLIA LOS
ALMENDROA ANTIQA
HACIENDA DE TLALPAN CAFE
TACUBA LA
FONDADEL REFUGIO LA
VALENTINA La El Parador de Jose Luis: Old-time favorite in the Zona Rosa and in Polanco (near the Nikko Hotel). Superb food and service. AAA Three Diamonds. FAMILIES Families find that Mexico City has a charm and energy all its own - bustling market, Aztec ruins, mariachi musician - the city's excitement is sure to intrigue children. There are also a number of special attractions that are sure to be be a hit with children. The following is a sampling: CHAPULTEPEC PARK One of the world's largest city parks. Here families can enjoy botanical gardens, boat trips on the lake, playgrounds, a miniature railroad, and miles of wooded walkways. CHAPULTEPEC PARK ZOO Exhibits 300 species, including crowd-pleasing pandas. It also features a petting zoo. FERIA DE CHAPULTEPEC An amusement park with over 50 thrilling rides, including a Ferris wheel, and one of the world's largest roller coaster.The park is especially well attended on weekens, so it is recommended that families arrive early to beat the crowds. PAPALOTE MUSEAO DEL NINO This children's museum has 250 interactive exhibits grouped into five themes related to art, science, and technology. Housed in a brightly tiled cluster of unusually shaped buildings, its exhibits include a five-story maze and an enormous musical keyboard. Other museums with exhibits to intrigue youngsters include Museo del Automovil, (car museum), Museum of Technology, (hands-on exhibits), and Ripley's Museo de lo Increible, Mexico's own Ripley's Believe it or Not! Museum. Theme park fun in Mexico City includes Atlantis, a marine park fashioned after Orlando's Sea World, and the recently opened Six Flags Mexico Theme Park (formerly the popular amusement park Reino Aventura), having two gigantic state-of-the art roller coasters. MEETINGS & CONVENTIONS Mexico City is an economic powerhouse, the political, economic, and cultural nexus of the country. It's no surprise that the capital has al the elements necessary to host world-class meetings and conventions. Mexico City is considered to be the fourth most important business, exhibition, and incentive destination in the world. Its international airport - only 30 minutes from Mexico City (depending on traffic) - receives carriers from al over the world. On the ground, major transportation companies provide new vehicles equipped with air-conditioning, luxury seats, on-board TVs - everything the international business traveler needs to transfer comfortably from the airport to the hotel, go to important meetings, or take sightseeing tours. Mexico City's impressive convention infrastructure allows for the accommodation of all business needs, from small, intimate meetings to elaborate conferences for thousands of attendees. Major Mexico City conference center include the National Auditorium, the Siglo 21 exhibit center, the Polyforum Cultural Siqueiros, Mexico City Business Center, Exhibimex, U.S. Trade Center, Santa Fe Convention Center, World Trade Center, facilities located in major hotels, and 24 other spaces that, like the city itself, offer a combination of nature, culture, and history. HOTEL FACILITIES Mexico City hotels take special care of its business travelers. Many of these hotels have hundreds of rooms and can accommodate large volumes of incentive or conference attendees. These fine properties may include conference facilities; special executive floors; 24-hour business centers with bilingual secretarial services; translation services; and computer, fax, and internet access; cellular phones; free shuttle buses to major financial centers; complimentary early-riser breakfast, and afternoon cocktails; and superb sporting facilities - complete with swimming pools, golf, tennis, health spas, personal trainers, and massage therapists. Luxury properties have executive floors with private check-in, concierge service, secretarial services, and separate lounges. In addition, many hotels have elaborate recreation areas - their guest can play as hard as they work. When work is done for the day, Mexico City has numerous options for enjoying downtime. Attendees have a large selection of restaurants from which to choose; entertainment options galore that include nightclub action and first-rate theater; shopping that's an attraction in its own right, with shops ranging from chic boutiques to colorful markets; and, of course, numerous historical sites and museums. For meeting attendees and incentive groups, excursions can be arranged within the city or to nearby cities and places of interest. BACK TO 'MEETINGS & CONVENTIONS' NIGHTLIFE Mexico City, nightlife runs the gamut from catching a streetside mariachi performance in Garibaldi Square, to a glittering night out at a trendy disco. Many of the major hotels feature live entertainment, as well as pleasant lobby bars to mix and mingle. Most clubs and discos don't open until after 10 p.m. Peak hours are from midnight until 2 a.m. Tip: Keep the number of a sitio, or radio cab company with you if you plan to be out late. Restaurants will be more than happy to call a cab for you. Do not flag a taxi in the evenings. Recommended lobby bars include those in the Presidente Inter-Continental, Camino Real, Sheraton Maria Isabel, JW Marriott, Westin Galeria Plaza, or Fiesta American Reforma. Other options include the Companario Bar, in the Hotel Majestic, offering great views of the Zocalo, while the restaurant-bar Tasca Manolo has a romantic setting complete with traditional Mexican music. Discos CERO CERO DYNASTY TA'IZZ HAVANA CLUB PASSAGE MAGIC CIRCUS Night owls will love Mexico City. Things start hopping after 11 p.m. at city nightclubs and keep going into the wee hours. Here are some of the more popular nightclubs: GITANERIAS PREMIER MAQUIAVELO SANTA
CECILIA TROPICAL MUSIC ANTILLANO'S SALON
MEXICO BOLIVA
12 TRADITIONAL NIGHTS For an authentic taste of Mexican culture, there are numerous restaurants, such as Arroyo and De Cortes that spotlight folkloric dancing and singing, while mariachi music accompanies diners at La Hacienda de los Morales and at Cafe Pavillion. For those seeking classical entertainment, the National Folkloric Ballet performs at the Palacio de Bellas Artes. SHOPPING The heart of Mexico City is also the heart of shopping. Visitors to Mexico City will be able to find almost anything in the capital - from handicrafts to designer items, and much more . You can browse through sleek shopping malls and department stores, famous-name boutiques, hip art galleries, colorful native market (where bargaining is welcome), and workshops where glass, silver, candles, and furniture are crafted. Throughout the city are Fonart store - state-run arts and handicrafts stores offering a wide selection of the best in Mexican folk art from every region in the country. A sampling includes carved-wood furniture from central Mexico, black pottery from Oaxaca, Talavera ceramics from Puebla, antique silver jewelry from Chihuahua. There are numerous shopping centers and malls sprinkled throughout the city. Several of the most popular are Centro Coyacan and Perisur, both located in the southern part of the city. Stores are open Monday through Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; malls are open on Sundays, as well. Mexico City's prime shopping districts are as follows: The
Historic Center LA
LAGUNILLA VICTOR
ARTES POPULARES THE
GREEN DOOR POLANCO An upscale residential and commercial district lined with high-end shops and elegant malls selling silver, Talavera pottery, china, and handicrafts. PRESIDENTE
MASARYK Zona Rosa This vibrant neighborhood is packed with boutiques, antique shops,art galleries, and stores selling leather, jewelry, silver, and handicrafts. The Zona Rosa also has a huge selection of chain stores - everything from ACA Joe to Cartier. INSURGENTES
MARKET BAZAAR
DEANTIGUEDADES San Angel BAZAR
SABADO San Angel is well-known for this bazaar which is actually three different markets - a crafts market, an arts market, and a slightly upscale market selling high-end crafts and goods. Dedicated shoppers can spend a whole day here examining fine work in silver, enamel, pottery, glass, and textiles. Shopping Outside the City Dedicated shoppers will enjoy day trips to local markets and shopping destinations only a short distance from Mexico City. Here you will find great buys while practicing your bargaining skills. Each market has its own distinctive atmosphere and range of offerings. Place to visit include: FRIDAY
MARKET IN TOULUCA SUNDAY
CRAFTS MARKET IN TEPOZTLAN THE
TOWN OF TAXCO SIGHTSEEING Mexico City, as huge as it is, is very much a city of neighborhoods. Travelers should plan accordingly, concentrating each day's sightseeing, dining, and shopping in a single neighborhood to make the most of your time. Here's a checklist of "must see" sights within the city: THE ZOCALO This is the city's main square and the perfect starting point for any city tour. Located in the city's Historic Center and declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO, the Zocalo is the second-largest in the world, after Moscow's Red Square. The National Palace, which occupies the exact site of Moctezuma's former palace, is one of the oldest government seats in the world. Of major interest here are the Diego Rivera murals that blazon the inner hallways of the building, depicting five centuries of Mexican history. The Metropolitan Cathedral, begun in1572 and finished 250 years later, is the largest Church in Latin America; it houses art treasures of the colonial period. At the northeast corner of the Aocalo is the incredible Templo Mayor, the ruins of the ancient city of Tenochtitlan. Other sights include the Palace of Iturbide, an elegant 18th century building wonderfully restored as a museum; the Church of San Francisco, site of the city's first convent and former site of Moctezuma's private zoo; and the 16th-century House of Tiles, one of the prettiest Baroque structures in Mexico, now home to a nice restaurant and a mural by famed artist Orozco. ALAMEDA PARK Established in 1541, Alameda Park, Mexico's Central Park (literally Promenade of the Poplars) is the oldest and most traditional park in the city. This urban oasis is decorated with numerous fountains, a Moorish kiosk imported from France, and a regal monument to former President Benito Juarez. TIALTELOLCO The major attraction today is the Plaza of Three Cultures, a sit depicting the three kay periods of the city's history: Found here are Aztec remains, a 17-th century church and the modern-day Foreign Ministry Building. Nearby lies the second most visited religious shrine in the world: La Villa, the Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe. PLAZA GARIBALDI Lovers of Mexico's Mariachi music will enjoy the outdoor musicians of the Plaza Garibqaldi. For the liveliest action, visit in the early evening. PASEA DE LA REFORMA This elegant byway spans downtown Mexico City from west to northeast. It is lined with modern office b8ildings, luxury hotels, several colonial mansions, and dozens of bronze statues and pedestrian promenades. Positioned along the boulevard are several historical monuments, including one of Christopher Columbus, and the Independence Monument - a slender column topped by a golden statue of the Goddess of Liberty. Zona Rosa The so-called "pink zone". this attractive 21-block neighborhood is filled with upscale jewelry stores, smart boutiques, antique shops and sidewalk cafes. CHAPULTEPEC PARK At 1,600 acres, Chapultepec Park is the world's largest park within a city. The park contains five of the country's finest museums, two lakes, a zoo with five Chinese panda bears, an amusement park with one of the world's largest roller-coasters, a miniature railroad, a botanical garden and the recently reopened Chapultepec Castle, as well as miles of peaceful walkways. POLANCO This stylish neighborhood north of Chapultepec Park is currently the most fashionable spot in town. The area is home to many of the capital's chic boutiques, trendy restaurants, and hip nightspots. Southern Mexico City SAN ANGEL This charming suburb of cobblestone streets and opulent mansions once served as the fashionable enclave of colonial aristocrats. The Convento del Carmen, built in 1615,houses a fine museum of art and an exhibit of mummies in the cellar; Bazaar del Sabado, a popular Saturday market; the Casa del Risco, with its remarkable fountain of broken porcelain, and its antique china plates. COYOACAN Located a mile east of San Angel, Coyocan is another suburb rich in colonial history. Here visitors can tour the Plaza Hidalgo and the adjoining Jardin Centenario, a large park lined with outdoor cafes; the Frida Kahlo Museum, Museo Anahuacalli, and the Leon Trotsky Museum. XOCHIMILCO The floating garden of Xochimilco (so-chee-MEEL-ko), a pre-Hispanic engineering marvel located in the southern part of the city, was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Xochimilco's recent restoration included the creation of the new Xochimilco Ecological Park. Thanks
for searching the Web with us! Mexico City Mexico
Home |
Page