Attractions in Mexico City are concentrated in three geographic areas of interest:

Historical Center: a compact area of 60 streets packed with colonial and Aztec influence, including the Zócalo, Avenida Madero / Juárez, Alameda Park, several museums and major historical sites can be visited through Turi BUS. In front of the Zócalo is located the Metropolitan Cathedral, the largest church in all of Latin America, which contains many art treasures of the colonial period and other important sites like the Church The Tabernacle, the Supreme Court Building, the Museum of City Mexico, the Church of Jesus, the Ministry of Education, “la casa de las constumbres”, a Dominican church and the “office of the Inquisition”. This area also include: The San Ildefonso Museum, the Iturbide Palace, the church of San Francisco, the National Art Museum and the imposing Palace of Fine Arts (www.balletmalia.com.mx). The whole area was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1980. The UN recognized the area in 1987 as a “site of world heritage. ”

Around the Alameda Park, is the Franz Mayer Museum with its eclectic collection of artifacts and antiques and is a former hospital of XVII century beautifully restored. It may also be of interest to visit the museum of Diego Rivera mural where it remains unmatched “Dream of a Sunday afternoon in Alameda Park” which shows the park’s history.

Tlatelolco: about 2 KM from Alameda is a historic area that served the Aztecs satellite city and in turn as the primary trading market, is also where the last battle was fought by the capture of the capital in 1521. The main historical attraction of this place is called “plaza of three cultures”, a fascinating site that dramatically portrays the history of the city. The square represents three periods of the history of the city, the remains of the Aztec temple, a church dating back to 1906 and the present modern building of foreign affairs.

A few miles north, lies the most visited religious shrine in the world. Known affectionately as “the village”, the Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe is the most sacred of all Mexico.

One of the art collections most impressive of Europe’s in this hemisphere is at the Colegio de San Carlos, east of the metro station “revolution” a few blocks north of Reforma.

The National Anthropological Museum. This 100,000 square foot museum houses artifacts from all over mexico and is divided into civilizations (Aztec, Mayan, Olmec, etc.) and subdivided into time periods. The two words which describe the museum could be used to describe Teotihuacan…huge and impressive! Either one would keep you going for an entire day. To say that this is one place that is a must see is not saying enough. . . And there is an entrance to the Metro right outside the museum, so there is not reason that you can’t get there easily.

Other notable attractions within the enormous Chapultepec park include . . .

• Castillo de Chapultepec : Now a museum, this historic spot was once an Aztec palace, then a Spanish hermitage, a gun powder plant, a military college and home of the Emperor Maximilian and leaders of Mexico through 1940.
• Museum of Modern Art and Rufino Tamayo Contemporary Art Museum.
• Chapultepec Zoo : This zoo has been here since the 1500s and continues today as one of the best stocked zoos in the world with many endangered species on display. Great place to take the kids.

Xochimilco : 21 km South you will find the popular floating gardens of Xochimilco. Take a ride on a Trajinera and cruise the canals while enjoying the unique experience of this place.