Mexico City Things to Do Tips by deadites

Museo Estudio Diego Rivera Musuems Review

The Rivera studio holds some of the artist's personal effects and mementos, sketches for the murals and smaller works.

Directions:
Corner of Calle Diego Rivera and Avenida Altavista
San Angel district. Right across the street from San Angel Inn.

Museo Frida Kahlo Musuems Review

The house is basically as Frida Hahlo left it, and as you wander through you get the overwhelming feeling for the life she and Diego Rivera lived. The couple's mementos are in every room, from the kitchen to the studi9o upstairs, whre a wheelchair sits next to the easel with a partially completed painting surrounded by paint brushes, palettes, books, photographs and other paraphenalia.

Directions: Londres 247

Phone: 5-658-5778

Diego Rivera Murals Cultural Experiences Review

Diego Rivera left a lasting impression on Mexico City's walls and through his painted political themes, affected the way millions view Mexican history.

The murals at the Palacio Nacional are a must see. The Legend of Quetzalcoatl depcts the famous legend of the flying serpent bringing a white man with a blond beard into the country. When Cortes arrived, many of the Aztecs remembered this legend and believed him to be Quetzalcoatl. American Invention tells the tale of American invaders marching into Mexico City and the young Mexican cadets who died fighting them during the Mexican War.

No matter what the theme, most of Rivera's murals incorporate ancient Mexican history, usually featuring Cortes and a cast of thousands.

Directions: Various locations: Palacio Nacional, Palacio des Bellas Artes, National Prepatory School, Department of Public Education, National School of Agriculture at Chapingo, Nation Institute of Cardiology and the Museo de la Alameda.

Museo Franz Mayer Musuems Review

This is one of the cities foremost museums. It houses a collection of antiques mostly from the 16th through 19th century owned by Franz Mayer.

Admission 20 pesos, free for Seniors (over 60) and children under twelve.

Free for all on Tuesdays

Directions: Hidalgo 45
Plaza de la Sta. Veracruz
Metro: Bellas Artes e Hidalgo

Other Contact: museo@franzmayer.org.mx

Phone: 55-18-22-66

Website: http://www.franzmayer.org.mx/

Catedral Metropolitana Religious Places Review

This is a truly beautiful cathedral that took 240 years to build (1573-1813). It has undergone many changes over the centuries.

The immense building has 14 chapels and 5 naves. You can take pictures inside but with no flash only so make sure you use a high ISO film for this treasure.

Directions: Facing the Zocalo

Museo del Templo Mayor Templo Mayor Review

The Templo Mayor is one of the most important religious sites of the old Aztec Capital. It's no small coincidence that the Spaniards built the Catedral Metropolitana right on or around the site.

Excavation of the site started in 1978 after a workman, digging on the east side of the Catedral found an Aztec stone carving of the Aztec Moon Goddess Coyolxauhqui. Although a small corner of the site had been exposed for years, it was the discovery of the carving that led to the more large-scale excavation. The Templo Mayor is also known as the Pyramid of Huitzilopochtli.

Address: Just off the Zocalo (behind the Cathedral)

Palacio des Belles Artes Bellas Artes Review

If you can, try and catch the Ballet Folklorico of Mexico. Ancient traditions and history of Mexico are brought to life through dance! A must see!

Castillo de Chapultepec Bosque de Chapultepec Review

Located in Bosque de Chapultepec. The Castle was home to Emperor Maximillian as well as several Mexican presidents..

For the curious, chapultepec is aztec for grasshopper hill.

Other Contact: 52 55 553 6246

Museo Nacional de Antropologia Musuems Review

One of the best (if not THE best) anthropology museums in the world..

Directions: Section 1 of Bosque de Chapultepec (Chapultepec Park)

Other Contact: 52 55 553 1902

San Angel Around Town Review

Another must see spot in Mexico City is San Angel.

Best to go on a Saturday so you can stroll through the Mercado Sabado in Parque San Jacinto.

Directions: Plaza San Jacinto 11

Phone: 5616-0082