Tourist guide: what to do and see in Mexico

mere hectare. That was the germ of these nurseries in Coyoacán, born thanks to the initiative of engineer Ángel de Quevedo, who in 1901 donated this area of land with the aim of creating the first nursery in the city. Passionate about flora and tireless researcher, he had to deal with the authorities to get them to join his project, which he managed to make a reality in 1907. Since then, surrounding land has been added, until completing the 40 hectares that it has today. As a memory of its founder, a statue in honor of what they called the 'tree angel' stands today in the center of the park. Floriculture exhibitions are held periodically in the nurseries and it is also possible to buy plants, soil and seeds. The nurseries are part of the great El Histórico Coyoacán National Park, within which you can walk, enjoying the aroma that the eucalyptus trees give off, while you follow with your eyes the running around of the squirrels. In recent years, it is common to find people running and groups doing yoga or tai chi in which the visitor is welcome to join. Keep in mind, however, that the five gates that give access to the venue close at 6:30 p.m.

About 40 minutes by car or one hour by public transport from the city centre there is this great forest and country area known as Los Dinamos National Park, within the Protected Natural Area of the Cañada Contreras forests. This is a park devoted to ecotourism, where the visitor can practice a number of sports, such as climbing, hiking, mountain biking, horse riding and fishing. Its attractions include the Magdalena river, which runs through the zone; 12 km of its course are navigable, with lovely falls and springs. It is precisely the activity that took place beside the river that gives its name to the park. In the days of the Porfirio Díaz government (1876-1910) there were four hydro-electric generators by the river, to power the textile factories in the town of La Magdalena. For a full experience, the best plan is to have lunch in one of its traditional palapas, palm-roofed huts selling traditional food and drinks at reasonable prices. The local speciality is trout, bred in hatcheries locally by the restaurants' owners.

The best way to get an idea of what Mexico was like a century ago without leaving the capital is to walk through the San Ángel area, today just another neighborhood in Mexico City but formerly a picturesque town away from the hustle and bustle of the capital. Its history dates back to pre-Hispanic times, as a small settlement called Tenanitla already existed there. However, it was in the 17th century when the Spanish began to use the place, mainly for the installation of convents and places of worship. The church of San Jacinto dates from that time, which has a beautiful interior altarpiece and in which its dome in the shape of a better half stands out. Later, well into the 18th century, the area became fashionable as a summer resort for wealthy families from Mexico City, and they built huge mansions there, some of which still stand today. Among the luxurious haciendas, the Casa del Mariscal de Castilla, the Casa de los Delfines – so called because of the presence of a huge fountain carved in stone with these animals as protagonists – or the Mansion del Risco, which today functions as an art exhibition, stand out. European and Mexican.

The history of Mexico is inseparable from that of Hernán Cortés, conqueror of the country and who managed to defeat the Aztec empire. Captain general and governor of New Spain, he ended up being removed from his posts and died in Spain in 1547. But it was his wish to return to Mexico, and his remains were transferred there, which today rest in the Temple of the Conception of Jesus Nazareno . Next to the church stands the Hospital of the same name, founded by Cortés in 1524 to care for wounded soldiers in the continuous battles with the Aztecs and where a bust of the conqueror, made by Manuel Tolsá, is preserved, one of the few statues that remain of him in Mexico. It took almost a century to build, but today it can boast of being the oldest in operation in all of America. To fully follow in the footsteps of the Extremaduran conqueror, you will have to travel to Cuernavaca, about 80 kilometers from the capital, where the Palacio de Cortés is located, an impressive, well-preserved castle that the Extremaduran conqueror had built in 1526 and served him well. as residence. Currently, it also houses the Museum of Anthropology of the City.

There's less than ten minutes' walk between one and the other, so when you talk to the locals, they tend to confuse them, or to think of them as one and the same. Placed between Colonia Roma and Colonia Condesa neighbourhoods, Parque España, designed by architect José Luis Cuevas, was created in 1921 on the former racecourse. It has big green areas and spaces for the children to play, and the neighbours go there in the hot summer afternoons to cool down and rest. In this park there is a monument to president Lázaro Cárdenas, presented by the Spanish Republic in exile, in appreciation of his support during the Spanish Civil War. A few years later, came the creation of Parque México (as everyone calls it, although its official name is Parque General San Martín), slightly bigger than the former one and with an extra attraction: it has a small, relaxing lake upon whose shore the Mexicans like to sit and read. Both are usually crowded during weekends and there is a bike rental service.

Emperor Maximilian lasted a few years on the Mexican throne, but he left this Paseo de la Reforma forever, about 12 kilometers long, designed in the image of the Parisian Champs-Elysees. Although his intention was to call it Paseo de La Emperatriz, in honor of his wife, its current name has been Paseo de la Reforma since 1872, in memory of the modernizing and liberal laws that were introduced in the country between 1855 and 1863. Since then, it seems that all the rulers have wanted to leave their mark by ordering the construction of a great monument on this road. So much so that here we find the Monument to Independence, the Diana Cazadora fountain, the monument to Cuauhtémoc and a host of others ranging from the Monument to the Estela de Luz (on the occasion of the celebration of the Second Centennial of Independence ) to the Fuente de Petróleos to commemorate the nationalization of this energy source in 1938. It is a long tree-lined avenue full of roundabouts with all kinds of monuments inside. A good place, therefore, to walk around and enjoy the typical atmosphere of the Mexican streets.

If you need a place to take refuge and rest after an exhausting day of sightseeing, come to this square, which has green areas and a relaxing fountain in the center of it. Sitting on one of its benches, you will realize something that is difficult to imagine walking through the concrete jungle that is Mexico City: the city is located on an ancient lagoon, which has meant that over the centuries some areas have been sinking, as is the case of this square. A very slow erosion, and of course imperceptible to the passerby, but which is evident in the inclination of certain buildings, such as the church that gives its name to the square: the parish of Santa Veracruz, inside which are the images of the Cristo de los Siete Velos and La Virgen de los Remedios, popularly known as “La Gachupina” and which presents another sample of Mexican Churrigueresque on its façade.

Sitting in this square or wandering about is a good way to learn at a glance the thrilling history of this country, Mexico. Before the arrival of the Spanish, this place was used by the Aztecs as a meeting point, with a gigantic marketplace where, according to chronicles, about 60,000 people gathered to exchange commodities. Back then this was the centre of the village of Tlatelolco, a name that is still given to the square, in which there is a small enclosed area in memory of the Aztec ceremonies. Regarding its architecture, we can easily distinguish the three stages of Mexican history that the square takes its name from. On one side there is a pyramid, a sample from pre-Hispanic times; a bit further back there's the church and convent of Santo Domingo, dating back to colonial days. Beside them is the concrete and glass building of the Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), representative of a new era in Mexico. Inside it, a small monument keeps alive the memory of what happened in October 1968, when the Government ordered troops to shoot a crowd of students who were protesting peacefully in the square, killing hundreds of them and arresting thousands more only ten days before the start of the Olympic Games in Mexico City that same year.

It is a quiet place in the very center of the city, ideal to sit down and have a coffee or read a book. It stands out for several things: because it is located on what was the palace of Cuauhtémoc, successor of Moctezuma, for which reason it is considered a historic square of the Aztec world; and for being one of the few that preserves almost intact the original layout with which it was designed in 1628. It is also known as 'Plaza de los scribes', because in its wide arcades these scribes whose mission was to put official communications in writing or write letters or petitions made by illiterate citizens. Continuing with the tradition, until a few decades ago typographers settled there, offering their services to print wedding invitations, advertising and even forged official titles, and it is still common to find some there today. In the square is the church of the same name, founded by the Dominicans, and the old Palace of the Inquisition, which currently functions as the Museum of Medicine after having housed the faculty of this specialty for a few years.

Colonial buildings still occupy the main places in the city. A good way to get to know them is wandering down its streets while looking at the buildings as you pass them by. Most of the Spanish cultural legacy is in the historical centre, where it is virtually impossible to walk along a street without running into something that was founded by the Spanish. Such is the case, for instance, when walking down Calle de la Moneda, to the Casa de las Campanas, where in 1563 was the first printing press in Latin America, and the old Archbishop's palace; the former Real Casa de la Moneda (Royal Mint), now the Museo Nacional de las Culturas, and the church of Santa Inés. On the same street, which changes name and becomes General Emiliano Zapata, you can find the old Academia de San Carlos, founded by king Carlos III, and where the Amor de Dios hospital stood for a while. A little further down you will see a Churrigueresca façade, in a very Spanish style. It's the Santísima Trinidad church, also built in colonial times.

The Museo de Antropología e Historia is the great museum of Mexico City, although if you're not familiar with pre-Hispanic history, you may find it a bit difficult. On a par with the greatest museums in the world, such as London's National Gallery, it has the largest collection of artefacts from Mesoamerican cultures and a careful visit can take several days. You may not have that much time, but still there are some not-to-be-missed pieces, like the Piedra del Sol (Sun Stone), a large carved stone disk, usually known as the "Aztec calendar", although that is not what it is. There are also dozens of masks and goddess sculptures, the Tlatilco figurines, a ring used in the traditional Beheaded Warrior Ball Game and a spectacular model of the city of Tenochtitlán. But of all the sculptures, the most impressive is the one you'll see before you enter the museum. A giant statue of the god Tláloc, weighing 168 tons, which was carried on a very slow trip from San Miguel de Coatlinchán.

Very few women in the world can boast to have a museum to celebrate their lives and works. Such is the case of Frida Kahlo, the great Mexican artist, icon of her times and probably the Latin American female artist best known at an international level. Her museum is also known as La Casa Azul (The Blue House), due to it being painted mostly in blue (Mexican king blue) and, as well as important works by Kahlo, who was born and died in this house, it also showcases her vast internal universe, in the place where she lived during some of the happier, more passionate years with Diego Rivera. Her personal objects include a picture of the artist taken by the American Nickolas Muray, with whom she maintained a long friendship; a small butterfly collection, a symbol of her interest in science and the pre-Hispanic urn in which her ashes rest. The garden is worth a little walk, as is the projection area, where it is possible to see documentaries and other audiovisual material about the painter.

In 1910, the Mexican Revolution took place. Its purpose was to put an end to the Porfirio Días's dictatorship, which had begun in 1876. It was an unprecedented fact that radically changed life in the country; however it was only in 1968 that this museum could finally become a reality. Here are also the graves of the Revolution heroes: the famous Pancho Villa, Madero the politician or the then-president-to-be Lázaro Cardenas. Curiously, the museum was placed in the lower part of a palace whose erection had been ordered by Porfirio Díaz, and the construction of which was interrupted by the Revolution. Inside, the museum has a very interesting permanent exhibition, organised chronologically, from the consolidation of independent Mexico to the years of Lázaro Cárdenas's presidency (1934-1940), with over 3,000 objects that help the visitor understand these four decades that have shaped today's Mexico.

Devoted to decorative arts and design, this museum, located in the former convent and hospital of San Juan de Dios, from the 18th century, has become one of the most important exhibition spaces in the capital. It has a huge art collection donated to the city by the businessman and stock market magnate Franz Meyer, who died in 1975 leaving all his possessions to the Mexican people. His collection, which he had been amassing throughout his lifetime, has about 10,000 pieces. Among them there is pottery, antique furniture, Chinese porcelain, sculpture, silverware... from around the world and from every corner of Mexico, covering all sorts of periods and styles. Open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday, it also has an important library, specialised in decorative arts but with other kinds of books as well, like a collection of different editions of Don Quixote. The library can be visited to consult the books or to admire its exhibitions. In the beautiful cloister of the old convent there are often temporary exhibitions, and through it you can get to a quiet cafeteria where the cakes are extremely good.

Mexico City is, in itself, an open air Diego Rivera museum, whose paintings can be found in the most unexpected places. But if you want to know more about the icon, founder of the Mexican muralismo, you should visit the Museo Mural de Diego Rivera (Diego Rivera's Mural Museum), which contains the mural painting "Sueño de una tarde dominical en la Alameda Central", a scene showing several important historical characters from local history. In addition to the mural, the museum offers temporary exhibitions related to the muralismo movement and contemporary art. Nowadays it is also possible to visit the Casa Estudio de Diego Rivera (Diego Rivera's Studio House), the place where he lived until his death in 1957. This is a curious building, one of the first examples of functional style, and it is basically two modules joined by a corridor. There we can see personal objects and mementos that belonged to the artist and his wife, the renowned Frida Kahlo, who was also an artist. And finally, to know even more about Diego Rivera, you can go to the Museo Diego Rivera Anahuacalli, conceived by the artist himself, where his collection of pre-Hispanic art is exhibited.

Notwithstanding its gripping collection, you could visit this museum just to wander around its splendid rooms. This great palace was designed by architect Silvio Contri in 1904, and it was originally the country's Secretariat of Communications and Public Works. Popularly known as MUNAL, this centre opened in 1982 and has over 30 exhibition rooms, for which reason we recommend joining one of the guided tours organised everyday at 12 am and 2 pm. The permanent collection encompasses the last five centuries and is divided in several periods: the Spanish domination, the first century of independence and the "new nation" that arose after the 1910 revolution. Among the over 6,000 works of art in its collection, we would like to draw your attention to "Virgen del Apocalipsis" (Our Lady of the Apocalypse), by Miguel Cabrera, a large canvas measuring 3.5m squared. In its cafeteria, Finca Santa Veracruz, you can have coffee, pastries and traditional Mexican hot chocolate. And during weekends, there are free concerts in the Salón de Recepciones, a unique experience for the senses, due to the great decoration and the good acoustics in the room.

The museum, housed in the unique Castillo de Chapultepec, opened in 1944 and through its 20 rooms, offers adetailed view of the long history of the country, from the Spanish conquest to the Mexican Revolution, thanks to its 65,000 piece collection. To get an idea of how daily life was at various different times, you can visit the 12 rooms exhibiting displays about life through history by means of its collection of furniture, sculpture, clothing, carriages, letters and numismatics, among others. The Alcázar, for instance, is where the Emperor Maximiliano chose to live, and several of its rooms (tea room, reading room or games area) recreate the way they looked during his time there. A good part of the collection, which continues to grow, belonged to Ramón Alcázar who, during his lifetime gathered over 30,000 pieces from different periods, places and styles. Some of the rooms are decorated with large mural paintings by artists like Juan O'Gorman and David Alfaro Siqueiros, thus completing the tour of Mexican history. Last but not least, there is a lovely gift shop where reproductions of ceramics, folk art, and silver objects can be bought. Open Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 am to 5 pm.

It is curious to see how some of the current circulation axes in Mexico City fully coincide with the roads built by the Aztecs. This and other aspects of the capital's past can be seen in the City Museum, a sample of its history since pre-Hispanic times. A center that houses historical documents, objects related to music, culture or social movements to show the visitor how life in the city has changed. Located at 30 Pino Suárez street, the museum is located in a colonial palace, which was built in 1536 and belonged to the Counts of Calimaya for decades. It was in 1960 when this building was chosen to become the headquarters of the City Museum. As a curiosity, it should be noted that the impressionist painter Joaquín Clausell lived in the upper part of the building, who turned it into his studio and painted numerous murals on its walls. Thus, in this corner, more than 1,000 small scenes painted in oil are preserved today, in which we find landscapes, symbolism, spirits and mythological characters, representative of this great impressionist painter.

Situated in the historical centre of the city, this great museum has pieces representing every culture and period of mankind, from the Pacific to the Mediterranean, with special attention given to Ancient Greece, Rome, Mesopotamia and Persia. It opened in 1956 and is located in the former Real Casa de la Moneda de la Nueva España (Royal Mint of Nueva España), a baroque building that was declared an Historical Monument in 1931. In its permanent collection alone, the museum has 14,000 pieces, a real treat for the visitor, who will hardly have enough time to see them all. The admission is free and it is open every day, except Mondays. The charm of this museum is that the variety of its pieces offers a vision of the world without leaving home. The temporary exhibitions only add more to this. One of its finest works is the mural called "Revolución" (Revolution), an ode to that time of the history of Mexico, painted in 1938 by Rufino Tamayo. The mural is beside the entrance to the impressive museum library, named in honour of the Spanish-Mexican historian Pedro Bosch Gimpera, in which there are books, specialist magazines, music and documentaries, all of which have turned it into a unique reference for researchers and anthropologists from Mexico and abroad.

in Mexico, during the 14th and 15th centuries and until the arrival of the Spanish conquerors, the great empire of the Mexicas or Aztecs grew. They had their capital in the city of Tenochtitlan, nowadays Mexico City. In the city there was the Main Temple, the largest structure in the city and economic, political and religious centre of their civilisation. Today, the museum that bears its name, inaugurated in 1987, keeps and exhibits the archaeological material that has been found during decades of work in the area, thousands of objects that help us to understand more about Aztec culture. The museum's building has been constructed following the Templo Mayor's plan, so it has two main sections, one devoted to the cult of Huitzilopochtli (war god) and another one for Tláloc (rain god). In its eight rooms are represented the main traits of this civilisation: rituals and sacrifices, commerce, their expansion routes, the taxes they demanded from other nations... In short, a full tour by this ancient civilisation, although the most important archaeological artefacts are in the Museo de Antropología e Historia (Museum of Anthropology and History). Located beside the metropolitan Cathedral, it is open from Tuesday to Sunday and its website offers an interesting virtual visit. (http://aztlan.inah.gob.mx:8080/teopantli/)

Roses, daffodils, hydrangeas, azaleas or daisies: whatever the flower you are looking for, you'll find it in the great Mercado de Jamaica, one of the most visited spots by the tourists who come attracted by scents and colours. Over 5,000 flowers from around the world, plants, seeds, bouquets, decoration for weddings or funerals... Opened on 23rd of September, 1957, the explosion of colour and aroma also includes fruit, vegetables and traditional Mexican fare that is served in the food area. And, since early 2013, the market has added a new attraction to its list. On its southern façade there is now a huge mural painting, created by the group Germen. This work covers 1,380 m2 and it is the first by this group, formed by 15 artists, most of them graffitti artists, who do what has been called "neomuralismo urbano" (new urban muralism). Here they have represented the market's immensely long history - 500 years ago there was already a commodity exchange in this location, trading mostly flowers and pulses.

Its official name is "Bazar del Sábado" (Saturday's Bazaar), although many call it "Mercado de San Jacinto", after the name of the square it is on, and it's a must-see visit for anyone coming to Mexico City. A select group of artisans has been meeting their customers once a week -hence its name- in this square since the 60s. Initially, there were only 15 artisans in the group that started the tradition, but currently they are over 60, among which there are famous artists and craftsmen. In its corridors we can find jewellery, ceramics, lead figurines, regional dolls, antiques, wood crafts, leather goods and unusual products such as natural flower encapsulating, handmade shoes, miniature bicycles and even an exclusive confectioner's shop. The market has also a restaurant, which specialises in quesadillas and where every meal is accompanied by live music, following the best Mexican traditions. In the surrounding area there are many artists and cartoonists selling their creations, in particular colourful traditional scenes, in the place known as the square or Jardín de los Pintores (Artists' Garden). (http://www.elbazaarsabado.com/)

“De Sonora a Yucatán se usan sombreros Tardán” (From Sonora to Yucatán, everyone wears Tardán hats), claims the slogan of this ancient establishment, located in the Portal de Mercaderes (Merchant's Colonnade). "Casa Tardán", founded in 1847, is surrounded by the hustle and bustle of this colonnade, which has been a shopping area since as far back as 1532. This age-old hat shop started by importing hats from Europe and the United States, but eventually they managed to set up their own factory to provide hats, a product that during the Porfirio Diaz age was considered as being almost essential for well-to-do families. The shop shares the colonnade with dozens of jewellery shops, which seem to have found that this area is the best place to display and sell the typical Mexican silverware. Of these, the most noteworthy are the "Centro Joyero Zócalo" and the first shop in the Bizarro jewellery chain (16 de septiembre street), which nowadays has over 30 branches around the country.

It is difficult to highlight a specialty of this great market to which the chilangos, as the citizens of the capital are colloquially known, usually come for the wide variety of products it offers. For the tourist, it is worth visiting for its wide range of handicrafts, but it is also worth noting the fresh products it sells and the multitude of fast food places that it hides among its galleries. Among the latter, the establishment "Tostadas Coyoacán" is mythical, a very large local -it has been getting bigger due to its popularity- that has three bars to serve, almost always packed, and where you will find all kinds of seafood. Everything is in plain sight, in large containers, and the toasts are prepared in no time at all, hardly keeping the customer waiting. _x000D_ The market, created in 1956, houses more than 450 stores where you will also find wickerwork, fruit, vegetables, flowers, toys and costumes. A perfect place to find and try different flavors and products, truly typical of the country, and watch the busy day of shopkeepers and buyers go by who, nevertheless, always find a moment to chat with the visitor. _x000D_

Before these coffee-bookstores became popular in other countries, in Mexico there was already a small specialised chain in what has been called "cafebrerías" (coffe and bookstore). As we said before, in 1993 the "Cafebrería El Péndulo" opened, where not only can you have a coffee or find a book, but also you can buy arthouse films, enjoy a concert or do a literature-related course. The chain, which specialises in art, literature and humanities, has already opened six shops, notable by their trademark piped music, their luminous interiors and their eclectic décor. Another similar chain is "Librerías Gandhi", although this one began as a small coffee shop with cultural activities. Founded by the late Mauricio Achar, it was a revolution in the cultural Mexican landscape because, along with "Librería El Parnaso" (closed in 2011), they were the first to "take the books out to the streets", as opposed to traditional book stores, where books were shown in glass cabinets and covered in plastic. Achar's purpose was spreading culture rather than selling more, but he achieved both, and his small shop has now become a big chain with 12 premises in the capital, and as many more in the rest of the country.

Mexico is a country of deep Catholic beliefs, but superstitions are also widely rooted among the population. Proof of this is the Mercado de Sonora, a commercial gallery where you can find all kinds of products –from toys to porcelain– but whose fame is due to the gallery dedicated to esotericism. Nationals and foreigners come to this area in search of candles, stones for amulets, incense, talismans, essences, soaps, lotions for rituals and a multitude of books that explain how to get what one wants. In addition, we can find figures, images, stuffed animals -such as the traditional rattlesnake- and, of course, all kinds of tarot decks to practice the divinatory arts. If what you are looking for are specialists in these conflicts, the market brings together dozens of people who claim to have different powers or abilities, from clairvoyants to healers, who offer the most diverse solutions to whatever your problem may be.

The Zona Rosa (first called Zona Dorada and later Lila) began to be known by this name in the sixties due, according to some researchers, to the painter José Luis Cuevas, who would have said of this neighborhood that it was red at night and white at night. day, resulting in this pink color. Others believe that it is due to the large number of establishments for gays that are found on Antwerp street, but be that as it may, the fact is that this area is the most important shopping and leisure area in the city, since in its streets we find centers shops, art galleries, bookstores and shops of all kinds, although generally of high standing. Wealthy families and diplomats lived here at the end of the 19th century, who wanted to give the neighborhood a European touch. So much so that its streets take the name of the great capitals of the Old Continent and there are many French baroque-style mansions and ostentatious houses in which special roofs for snow were built..., of course useless in Mexico.

How would you like to be able to buy oranges or a kilo of meat while looking at an impressive mural painted by Diego Rivera? This curious mixture is only possible in the Abelardo Rodríguez Market, in Mexico City, a place designed to literally bring culture to the common people. What better way to do that than to build the Teatro del Pueblo in the same building as the market and decorate everything with paintings by the best muralists of the time. This was the idea of Mexican President Abelardo L. Rodríguez, who gives the market its name and who inaugurated it on November 24, 1934. Conceived as part of a broader project to regenerate the historic center, very impoverished at that time, the building Its exterior presents a varied mix of architectural styles and was at the time the largest in the city. The murals are located at the entrances and corridors of the market and are a total of more than 1,000 square meters in which a dozen muralists participated, including the American Pablo O'Higgins and the Japanese Isamu Noguchi. As a market, it is basically a gallery of food stalls and fresh products, although there are also small canteens where you can have a snack. http://teatrodelpueblocentro.jimdo.com/ _x000D_

If you like traditional handcrafts and you are prepared to bargain, this is your shopping destination in Mexico City. In its more than 350 small stalls you will find folk art from every part of the country. The quality is generally very good but, since it is essentially a tourist-oriented market, the prices tend to be a bit high, so do not hesitate to bargain. Wandering through these alleys you will find blown glass figures, masks, fabrics, clay figurines, hand made corn husk dolls, leather bags, typical Mexican toys, stone necklaces and bracelets... The market, which opened for the Olympic Games in 1968, was conceived as place where artisans from all corners of Mexico could showcase their work to the world. It was so successful that it was kept for the 1970 Football World Cup and, after that, it became a permanent feature. Recently, the Government had considered selling the land on which it is located, but for the time being, the market is still up and running. Some of its artisans have started a petition to request that it is considered Mexican Cultural Heritage.

Despite its name having no relation with the mythical king of the jungle, the park certainly deserves a visit, but be warned: there is no desert there either. Quite on the contrary, the water from its springs was used to supply Mexico City for many years. Located about 48 km from the capital, it has become a tourist destination in itself and many Mexicans and foreigners come here, either to stay for a few restful days or for a private celebration, like weddings, birthday parties or quinceañera celebrations - a girl's 15th birthday is big news in Mexico. Within the park there is also the old Carmelitas Descalzos convent, built in Renassaince style, although these days the central chapel is nearly in ruins. The park administration offers some environmentally-oriented activities, mostly for children, but it is possible to play all sorts of sports or just enjoy the natural surroundings while tasting the typical local quesadillas.

Mexico is, leaving Spain aside, the country where bullfighting is most popular. So much so, that the largest bullring in the world is precisely here, in the capital. With capacity for 41,000 people and a 43 metre arena, this place has been the making of many great bullfighters. This building was started in April 1944, as part of a larger project that included the creation of a great City of Sports, and was inaugurated on 5th of February, 1946, with a bullfight featuring the most famous torero of the time, Manuel Rodríguez, also known as Manolete. An enormous mural will greet you at the main entrance. This work of art shows a number of bullfighters and assistants that were famous back then, giving place of honour to the three matadores who performed on the opening day, and also to the Lebanese businessman who built the bullring; behind all this, some images pertaining to pre-Hispanic times can also be seen. The result is an aesthetically curious composition that will surely not leave the visitor cold. The Feria Grande takes place between November and February.

reminder of how advanced the Aztec civilization became, the canals are maintained in this neighborhood in the south of Mexico City, Xochimilco, whose name means "the place of flowers" in the Nahuatl language. Today, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco for its ecological, cultural and historical value, it has become a must-see for tourists and nationals who, without leaving Mexico, can feel like they are in Venice. All thanks to the trajineras (boats) in which you can take a pleasant water ride, most of the time accompanied by musicians willing to adapt to the tastes of the user: from rancheras to the simple sound of the harp or the marimba (percussion instrument ) for romantic walks. Without leaving the neighborhood, but already on the mainland, you will find the Bosque de Nativitas, which has tables and space for barbecues, as well as a multitude of traditional food stalls. It is also worth visiting the Xochimilco Ecological Park and, since it is in the area, visiting the church of San Bernardino.

city as large and populated as Mexico needs places to relax and breathe fresh air, and that is precisely what we find in Chapultepec Park, the true lung of the capital and home to the Zoo. If you can choose, come one morning every day and you will find free boats to row quietly through one of its two large lakes, take a walk or even encourage yourself to run along the tracks created for it. And don't worry about the children, they will be safe in the "La Tapatia" children's play area, designed for minors and where your children will find everything they can imagine, from swings to trampolines. You can also dedicate yourself simply to walking, admiring the monumental fountains found in the park, seven in total, among which the Tláloc Fountain or Las Víboras Fountain stands out, topped by four enormous snakes that in turn are inserted to form a viper. The first, impressive whether viewed from above or approached, offers a relief sculpture (but horizontally, as if it stood out over the water) of the mythical god Tlaloc, in a sculpture made from mosaics and stone from colors.

With its 30 kilometers long (50, if the last extensions are counted), the Avenida de los Insurgentes crosses the city from north to south and is the great artery of Mexico City. Born as Vía del Centenario in 1900 and renamed at the end of the 40s in honor of the Army of the Insurgents (guerrillas) whose work was essential for Independence, walking along its sidewalks is doing it through the history and present of the country. At number 1587 you will find a spectacular mosaic made by Diego Rivera that occupies more than 40 meters long and has an oval shape. That the building houses a theater is quickly clear, since in the very close-up we see a large carnival mask and hands encased in gala gloves, but if we look back we find an immense scene, made up of a number of characters, in which represents the history of theater in Mexico. Opened in 1953, the theater has a capacity for 1,000 people and plays are performed inside at quite affordable prices.

As its name suggests, this versatile space has room for every cultural and artistic expression in the city, thanks to its various large rooms: the Foro Cultural (Cultural Forum), the Espacio de Arte Emergente (Space for Budding Art), and a Theatre which, unlike most current theatres, stays true to the original circular shape (not semi-circular) the Greeks gave it. Conceived as a dodecahedron, each one of its external "sides" shows a mural painting representing different themes: allegories about leadership, religious images, homages to ecology and pictures against war, and a sort of altar where the artist has chosen to honour the greatest mural painting artists. Inside, an enormous mural -the largest in the world, larger even that the Sistine Chapel, covers the roof and represents the march of humankind ("La Marcha de la Humanidad"). The author is David Alfaro Siqueiros, the great Mexican artist after whom the centre is named. It is worth paying a visit to this place, if only to take a look at this masterpiece of Mexican mural art, but you are sure to find other interesting modern art exhibitions and a tempting shop with an exclusive selection of art and design pieces.

Colonia Condesa is one of the hottest areas for a night out. A typical bohemian neighbourhood, where artists and writers choose to live and whose streets are chocked full of trees, bars and outside tables, perfect for a drink with friends. "El Caradura" is one of the best known bars. There is live music from Wednesday to Sunday, mostly rock but other styles are also welcome - from punk to Mexican pop - while Fridays are exclusively for electronic music. An old, brick walled and steel beamed building with a very personal style, much preferred by the regulars to the minimalist décor of other bars in the area, where the price of drinks is twice as much.

Mexico City occupies almost 1,500 square kilometers and is home to close to nine million souls (which becomes 21 if we add all its outer neighborhoods), so the views, no matter how high one is, are never of "the whole" city . However, if you go up to the 44th floor of the Torre Latinoamericana http://www.torrelatino.com/ you can enjoy one of the most impressive views of the capital. Although today it has become small in front of the World Trade Center in Mexico, in its day it was the tallest building in the world outside the United States. Erected in 1956, the tower stands slender and proud, displaying its 182-meter height (including the antenna) and its steel and glass cladding. Designed by the Mexican architect Augusto Álvarez, it originally housed the La Latinoamericana insurance company, which gave the company its name and great fame, for unperturbedly resisting the strong earthquakes that the city has suffered ever since. It currently houses a wide variety of companies, but its highest floors have been reserved for this viewpoint that is open 365 days a year and also hosts special events and exhibitions.

Yes, it may be a cliché but who wouldn't love to be awaken by a group of mariachis singing under their window? Good or bad, it would certainly be an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience that can really only happen in Mexico. To avoid any unpleasant surprises, you can always go to Plaza de Garibaldi, in the north of the historical centre, to check out the singers' quality in situ. You will find groups of various styles willing to give you a sample of their art for a few banknotes. And, should you want to hire them for an event, they are reasonably priced. It is not clear why they gather in this square, but at any time, be it day or night, there are always mariachi groups - on occasion, also northern groups or from other regions, like Veracruz - with their instruments ready and their traditional spotless suits. At number 12 of this square is the "Salón Tenampa" (www.salontenampa.com), whose name means "walled place", a venue that opened in 1925. The greatest Mexican singers - Chavela Vargas, Juan Gabriel... - have played here, and the walls are covered in their portraits.

It is hard to imagine a better place for fine arts. This impressive, exquisite palace, with its rounded line and its unmistakable orange- and yellow-hued domes, was declared an Artistic Monument by Unesco in 1987. Inside, there is a large theatre, where the show begins before the curtain is drawn. It is indeed the immense curtain that is first thing that will capture the visitor's attention, due to the two big volcanoes painted on it. The best artists and musicians in the country perform on this stage, since this is where the Compañía Nacional de Danza (National Ballet), the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional (National Symphonic Orchestra) and the Compañía Nacional de Teatro (National Theatre Group) première their work. The palace is also the home of the Museo Nacional de Arquitectura (National Architecture Museum) and the Museo de Bellas Artes (Fine Arts Museum). Its construction began in 1904, but it took three decades to complete, its opening taking place on the 29th of September 1934. Watching a show in this theatre is a true pleasure but, if this is not possible, we still recommend a visit to wander inside it and admire the enormous lights, the mural paintings and stained glass panels.

You will find chocolate in any possible style and variety, because it is a local product, unknown in Europe until the first conquerors brought it back from Mexico. It is quite common for chocolate bars in Mexico to include cinnamon and crushed almonds, which lends it a very distinctive flavour, quite unlike what we are used to having. When drunk in a cup, it generally has milk and sugar, like they do it Spain, but the Mexican version is mixed in a small mill, so that the final result is somewhat different. Mexicans also have chocolate mixed with a corn paste, the way it was drunk before the arrival of the Spanish, as a thick drink known as champurrado. A good place for a champurrado is the "Café de Tacuba" (www.cafedetacuba.com.mx). Founded in 1912, in an old 17th century stately home, the Café is still decorated with colourful tiles and large oil paintings. Another interesting work of art in the Café is the large chocolate mural painting representing the history of cocoa, from pre-Hispanic times to its adoption by Europeans to make all sorts of sweets and baked goods.

Either curiosity, snobbism or genuine interest leads many tourists to the places where the so-called Mexican haute cuisine, in which the fried Oacaxa chapulines are one of the main attractions, sprinkled with lemon juice and salt or with garlic mojo (sauce). They were part of the pre-Hispanic diet, but they were gradually left aside, until they were rediscovered as a gourmet dish. Other exotic recipes include jumiles (stink bugs), maguey worms and escamoles (ant eggs). If you would like to try some of these particular delicacies, go to the "Corazón de Maguey" restaurant (http://corazondemaguey.com), in the Coyoacán area. This is a place that takes pride in offering native dishes, such as guacamole with sautéed chapulines in pasilla or zacahuil de charales. Another restaurant is "Los Girasoles" (www.restaurantelosgirasoles.com), in the old part of the city, where you may try, among other delights, the Mosaico Azteca, a dish presented as a mosaic, where all these things can be found: worms, ant eggs and grasshoppers, with guacamole on the side. _x000D_

Ice cream shops or ice cream shops is the term that has traditionally been used in Mexico to refer to what is now also called ice cream parlors. The first name comes from the traditional popsicles, made with water, and the second from the name given to the ice cream, since they spoke of a strawberry or chocolate ice cream. There are many establishments of this type that you will find in the capital, but without a doubt the best known is "La especial de París" http://laespecialdeparis.com/. The business began in 1921 at the hands of an enthusiastic young man, Domingo Lozada, who began touring the streets with a small cart in which the ice cream shop with vanilla ice cream and lemon ice cream was installed. At the corner of Calle Artes and Calle París he found refuge for his street stall, and there he managed to settle, already in a wooden stall and today his descendants continue the tradition on the same avenue. Another option is to go to "La Michoacana" http://www.lamichoacanaweb.com.mx/, which takes its name from the place where it was born (Tocumbo, in Michoacán) back in the 40s in a humble establishment. Today it is a large chain with more than 1,000 stores in Mexico City alone.

The best coffees in the world are produced in Veracruz, one of which, of course, can be found in every bar in the capital, where they also prepare it in a very special way. You won't see it in every cafeteria, but some of them still prepare coffee a la olla, that is, in an old clay pan and served with brown sugar, known here as piloncillo. Waiters are particularly skilful when it comes to serving coffee. You can also order cream, and it will be served on the side. A place with a long tradition is the "Café La Blanca" (Avenue 5 de Mayo; www.cafelablanca.com), an establishment founded in 1915 by the Asturian émigré Higinio Gutiérrez Peláez, who named it after the dairy he also owned, "La Blanca". In this café, the white-clad waiters make a stark contrast against the orange of the upholstery and the period furniture.

Condesa and Polanco are the most 'chic' neighborhoods in the city, perfect places to enjoy a good restaurant with European influences, almost recent arrivals from Paris. Because French influence, despite the fact that it was only five years of occupation (in 1862, Napoleon III invaded the country, imposing Maximilian as monarch, but the adventure was short-lived, as the Mexicans organized guerrillas and threw the occupier out in 1867) is still very present in Mexican cuisine. On occasions it has been mixed with the native flavors of the area, but there are still exclusive French haute cuisine restaurants that maintain all their charm. One of them is called “The discreet charm of eating” (Calle Orizaba, 76), a luxurious establishment set up in a building from the early 20th century where you can savor a Roquefort mousse, sea bass fillets, prawns and exclusive desserts based on sweet fig. Another good restaurant to go to is "Les Mustaches" http://www.lesmoustaches.com.mx/, one of the most sophisticated in the city where you can have lunch or dinner enjoying the large manor house in which it is located, with tables in an elegant courtyard and accompanied by violin and piano music.

The agave is an American plant found mainly in Mexico, where its inhabitants have managed to extract all of its properties. By fermenting it and distilling it, Mexicans have created not just the well-known tequila, but also other drinks like mezcal and pulque, which are homemade and can be found in the cantinas (bars) around the city. These drinks are so popular that bars are also known as pulquerías (pulque bars). One of the best known in the Mexico city is "La Hija de los Apaches", a very popular establishment with a great atmosphere, where it is traditional to serve pulque with a pinch of cinnamon on top. This bar organises rock and salsa music nights, and its stage has been the starting point of many a musical career for Mexican bands. Another traditional place to enjoy a good drink is "Bar La Ópera" (www.barlaopera.com), a bar with classic French-style decor that first opened in 1876. Grab a seat at its long wooden bar and order an Opera cocktail. Its ingredients are a secret!

Ideal for eating mid-morning, mid-afternoon or late at night, when leaving the bars and clubs, the word "antojitos" designates all the appetizers that we can find in the street stalls of the city. Most of them are made from corn, and usually also have fried foods or sauces. They can be found anywhere, but a good place to eat them is the Mercado de Antojitos (Calle Giguera, corner with Plaza Hidalgo): fried quesadillas, pozole (a traditional ground corn-based stew whose name means "foam", as it appeared at boiling the corn, a process used to separate the grain from the husk); esquites (cooked corn usually served with mayonnaise), tamales and flautas (fried chicken tacos that you can accompany with any sauce). They are found in most bars and taco shops, but they are very typical in El rey de las ahogadas (Av. Coyoacán 360).

Those with a sweet tooth will enjoy Mexico: a country with a suggestive pastry offer that is worth discovering. There are many typical sweets, perhaps the most representative being alegrías, since it is made with amaranth seeds, native to the country, honey and raisins. You will also easily find palanquetas, a traditional sweet made from roasted nuts (most commonly peanuts) and covered in honey. The result is a kind of cake, thick and, beware, not recommended for delicate teeth, since they are usually quite hard. Also noteworthy are the cocadas, which are prepared from grated coconut, sugar, egg yolks and almonds: a delicacy that is eaten crunchy. La Dulcería de Celaya is one of the most traditional places when it comes to confectionery, since it has existed since 1874. In the original premises, located on Avenida 5 de Mayo, golden colors and marbles predominate, with an Art Nouveau style that gives elegance and lordship. Its showcases, perfectly placed each morning, are a gift for the eyes and a sure draw to whet the visitor's appetite, which has more than 140 recipes to choose from.

Although very strong tequila is one of the hallmarks of Mexico's identity throughout the world, the country also has a long tradition of non-alcoholic beverages: juices (juices to be understood), aguas frescas -a kind of infusion among which the 'jamaica' stands out–, horchatas, sorbets and milkshakes. You will find them in bars and restaurants, but above all in small street stalls where the juices are made at the moment and where you can observe the genre and choose the one you prefer. If you like horchata, keep in mind that the Mexican one is made with rice, and if you are going to order lemonade, remember that here they make it with lime, which gives it a characteristic acid aftertaste that not everyone likes. . Shakes are known as “liquefied” and are generally made with fruit, yogurt, and honey. If you are not convinced by the idea of drinking juices on the street and you prefer an establishment, you can go to any of the franchises in the city of Colima, www.laciudaddecolima.com.mx, in operation since 1950. You can find more than 20 types of different juice.

Tacos are flat flour cakes - generally corn flour, but they can also be made of wheat - filled with meat, crackling pork rind, mole sauce, cheese... A thousand styles and a common denominator: the salsa you can add at will. Perfect for chile pepper and hot food lovers! It is a basic staple of Mexican gastronomy, you can have a taco at any time: there are taquerías (taco restaurants) everywhere and the price of tacos (which you will order by the unit) is very affordable. Taquerias are often tiny places without even seating space. We can recommend a few to you: the hundred-year-old "Taquería Beatriz" (www.tacosbeatriz.com), "El Tizoncito" (which claims to have invented the taco al pastor - shepherd's style -) and "El Charco de las Ranas".

Arriving in Teotihuacan, 50 km from Mexico City, is like going back to the times before the Spanish conquest, and even before the Aztec empire, because some of the artefacts found at the city of gods are several thousand years old, which makes this place one of the most important in the world, from an archaeological point of view. The site is extremely large, but visitors can do two different routes covering about 2.5 km2. The Monumental route is one of two suggested itineraries. It goes through the Calzada de los Muertos (Road of the Dead), visiting several architectural ensembles, such as the Ciudadela (Citadel), the Pirámide del Sol (Pyramid of the Sun) and the great Plaza de la Luna (Moon Square). Another option is to follow the Ruta de la Pintura Mural (Mural Painting route), devoted to pre-Hispanic paintings, their techniques and materials. The site also has a Museo de la Cultura Teotihuacana (Museum of the Teotihuacan Culture) and a building where the latest archaeological findings in the area are presented to the public. It is possible to do day trips, or to stay in one of the towns nearby, Teotihuacan de Arista or San Martín de las Pirámides, where there are hotels, camp sites and a wide range of gastronomical delights on offer.

Some Mexicans say that, rather than Catholic, they are ‘Guadalupanos’; such is the devotion this country feels towards Our Lady of Guadalupe. Located on the Tepeyac hill, the place where the Virgin appeared to Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, the new Basilica is an immense circular temple, designed to let the sacred image to be seen from every angle, and with capacity for 50,000 people. Which is not big enough on the 12th of December when, to commemorate the apparition, millions of pilgrims gather on this hill to pray and to see for themselves the original image of the Virgin kept in the Basilica. Inaugurated in 1976, this modern building, easily recognisable for its grandeur and its copper-covered roof, is very close to the old Basilica, built in the 18th century, which was greatly damaged. They are part of a larger religious ensemble, including several chapels, the church and convent of the Capuchinas nuns and the Tepeyec cemetery.

The castle itself is located on the highest part of the Chapultepec hill, in the park of the same name. Its construction began in 1785, as a summer house for the Viceroy of Nueva España. Since then, it has been used for a number of purposes, from residence for the president to fortress and even Military Academy. Inside is quite magnificent, still boasting the decoration that Emperor Maximiliano ordered to be brought from abroad. At its foot there is an Altar a la Patria (Altar to the Fatherland), six columns surrounding a sculpture, in memory of the child heroes who died defending the castle from the Americans. At times, this palace was abandoned; to avoid this, in 1944 it was decided to use it permanently to house the collection of the Museo Nacional de Historia (National History Museum). In addition to the works of art, the castle is famous for its splendid, manicured gardens, with straight lines and geometric shapes that take the traveller back to the best European courts of the 18th century.

This arrowless statue of the goddess Diana has seen the change in Mexican mentality since she suffered "in her own flesh" the puritanism that was the norm when first exhibited to the public. This sculpture was the work of artist Juan Fernando Olaguíbel, who conceived her as the "Shooter of the Stars in the North", back in 1942. But her nakedness provoked the criticism of the most conservative parts of society, who demanded her private parts were covered. Their insistence was such that the artist had to make a sort of cloth shape in bronze to cover her. The sculpture stayed like that for two decades, until the winds of freedom of the 60s, and in particular, the Olympic Games in 1968, restored the figure to its original state. Nowadays, it is one of the most loved and admired fountains for the Mexicans who, during the 90s, requested that it was moved to its current location in the Paseo de la Reforma avenue, instead of the out-of-the-way garden where it stayed hidden during the 70s.

City icon and meeting point, the Monumento a la Independencia (Momument to Independence), also known as El Ángel, is an emblematic place. Inaugurated in 1910 by the then president Porfirio Díaz to celebrate the centenary of independence, it is made up of a pedestal with several allegorical figures referring to the independence, a long column and, on top of it, a winged victory. This last figure was sculpted by the Italian artist Enrique Alciati, then cast in bronze and covered in gold. Its left hand carries a broken chain - a symbol of liberty - and in the right one, a bay leaf crown. The monument is 90 metres high and easily seen from most of the city, and a immense work of art for an immense roundabout in the Paseo de la Reforma avenue. Right below the main statue there is a small belvedere, which can be visited by previous appointment at the city's tourist office.

Two hundred murals by the well-known Diego Rivera and other artists such as Jean Charlot and Amado de la Cueva decorate the two interior courtyards of the Ministry of Public Education. A building-museum, which allows the visitor to enjoy the paintings while learning about the Revolution and the daily life of Mexicans at the beginning of the century. There are, in total, three floors in which the vivid colors typical of Rivera's painting stand out. For the first floor, Rivera decided to represent the different regions of the country, while the second -smaller- was dedicated to the arts, science and intellectual work. Created between 1923 and 1928, the murals are just the icing on the cake of this colonial building, where the Ibero-American Library is currently located. The SEP, as Mexicans know it, was founded in 1921, at the initiative of José Vasconcelos, who presented it as an integral organism for education through which libraries, rural literacy campaigns and the creation of cultural institutions were launched. Vasconcelos, aware that it was not easy to educate the impoverished and illiterate population, decided to lean on the great painters of the moment, to offer the vision of a new Mexico, proud of its national identity.

King Carlos IV died outside of Spain, exiled by his own son, and his equestrian monument in Mexico was about to be melted down to make cannons once independence was achieved. He was finally saved from the flames, but perhaps to strip him of all his former power, the Mexicans call the statue by the diminutive name of El Caballito. Today, after various changes in location, the figure of the monarch, created by the architect and sculptor Manuel Tolsá, presides over the Plaza dedicated to the Valencian artist himself, the architect of numerous projects that left a deep mark on the city. His works include the Palacio de la Minería (open to the public from Monday to Friday, only in the morning), which is located in the same square, and is considered the best exponent of the neoclassical style in the city. Inside the small square, some markets are usually set up on certain dates.

Considered one of the jewels of the Mexican Baroque, what is now called the Iturbide Palace was born as a residence for the national high bourgeoisie, and in 1785 it stood as the first four-story private house in all of New Spain. Its name comes from the years after independence, when Agustín de Iturbide, a hero and independence leader who soon proclaimed himself emperor of Mexico (1822), settled in the palace, precisely from one of the palace balconies. Later it functioned as a hotel until 1930, when it was converted into the headquarters of a transport company, until it was acquired by the large conglomerate Banco Nacional de México (Banamex), which restored it as part of its social work to install inside the Banamex Cultural Palace Museum, a cultural initiative in which there is a wide collection of works of sacred and popular art, as well as photography, and in whose halls concerts, conferences and seminars are organized. In addition, a part of the space has been reserved to gather the history of the palace itself and inside it has a lavish patio.

The national palace has been throughout its history a symbol of power in Mexico. Built by Spanish troops in 1522 after taking possession of the city, Hernán Cortés settled there and was later used as the residence of the Viceroy of New Spain. Since then, several reforms have been carried out and it has had different institutional uses (legislative, judicial...) until today, which is the official seat of the Presidency of the Republic (although not the residence of the president). It occupies 40,000 square meters and is a mammoth building with three large interior patios, one of which contains various murals by Diego Rivera that tell the story of Mexico. Every September 16, the president climbs to the top of the National Palace and rings the Dolores bell, with which the priest Manuel Hidalgo made the first call for revolt against the Spanish, giving rise to the War of Independence against the occupants. Located in the Plaza de la Constitución, admission is free and it is one of the most visited buildings in the country.

The Zócalo, as everyone calls this square, was originally named after the Cadiz Constitution and has been the heart of the city since Aztec times. In fact, it was built using the stones of the Aztec Empire's Templo Mayor (Main Temple), which was located in exactly the same spot and was destroyed during the siege. This is a very large square: its sides are each 240 metres long, which puts it amongst the largest in the world. Its inner area is surprisingly uncluttered, with just an enormous Mexican flag flying in its centre. Around it, however, there are important buildings, such as the Metropolitan Cathedral, the largest in Latin America, which shows at least four different styles on its façade, due to the fact that it was built over three centuries (1567 - 1813). Inside, the cathedral is quite spacious. The outstanding Altar de los Reyes (Altar of the Kings) is a real jewel, for the beauty of its carvings and for its dimensions, which make it the largest Mexican altarpiece. Nowadays, the Plaza de la Constitución is the place where big events take place, like Independence Day or New Year's celebrations, but it is also a popular venue for concerts or demonstrations.