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Mexico City is an exciting
combination of Aztec, Spanish colonial and modern
art and architecture. It's also a family friendly
city. If you're traveling with children to Mexico
City be sure to drop in at some of these enjoyable
places. These places are meant to entertain the
whole family.
La Feria (Chapultepec - Polanco
Neighborhood) :
The Feria (Fair) is undoubtedly one of the most
popular and famous places for kids in Mexico City.
It has a total of 56 rides, including the legendary
"Montaqa Rusa" (rollercoaster), dating back to the
60s. The exciting Pase Magico (Magic Pass) is 15
pesos, and gives you access to 30 selected fun rides.
The Pase Ecolim (Ecolim Pass), gives you access
to 53 rides for 70 pesos, and the Super Ecolim allows
you to ride on all of the attractions, as well as
a lunch, and all for 145 pesos. It's a not-to-be-missed
place in Mexico City !
2a seccisn of the Forest
of Chapultepec,Next to the( Museum Chapultepec -Polanco),Mexico
City
Call (525) 230 2121 for more details.
Six Flags Mexico:
The largest amusement park in Latin America. It
has become part of the well-known US amusement conglomerate
Six Flags Amusement Park . Known as Six Flags Mexico,
Mexico City incorporated the exhilarating rides
and themes of its sister concern. This fantastic
amusement park houses the thrilling ride such as
Adventure Kingdom, dizzying roller coasters, and
many other fun shows. There are dining facilities
available on premises.
Entry fees to the park is charged as:
General: MXN210
Children under 1.20 meters:
MXN120
Highway Picacho to the
Ajusco km 1.5,Colony Heroes of Padierna Mexico,Mexico
City
Call
(52 5 7-28 7222) for more details.
Zscalo / Plaza de la Constitucisn :
This is the main public plaza of Mexico City and
venue for major events, festivals and protests.
The plaza is equally recognized as the Zscalo that
means pedestal. At one time it was considered to
be a monument symbolizing Independence. Though it
was planned it was never built thus, the name remained.
The Spaniards erected their main institutions, between
the 16th and 18th centuries, around the plaza, built
on the former ceremonial site of Tenochtitlan. Daily
flag ceremonies take place at 6 am and 6 pm.
Downtown Mexico City.
Centro Hist�ico (Historic Center):
Centro Hist�ico meaning the 'Historic Center' located
in Mexico City, exhibits the finest colonial buildings
and historic sites. It is home to the Z�alo, the
Plaza de la Constituci� -plaza of powers-to-be. On
its east side is the grand museum Palacio Nacional,
built on the site of an Aztec palace, which now holds
the offices of the president, a museum and the historical
murals of Diego Rivera. On the northern part of the
plaza is the Catedral Metropolitana (built by the
Spaniards in the 1520s on the site of the Aztecs'
Tzompantli), while on the south you'll find the offices
of the Distrito Federal government. Daily the huge
Mexican flag located in the middle of the Z�alo is
ceremonially lowered by the Mexican army and carried
into the Palacio Nacional.
The Z�alo :
Mexico City is incomplete without a look at the Z�alo,
the second largest public square in the world. It
is also known as the The Plaza de la Constitucion.
The word 'z�alo' means base or plinth and arose after
a monument to Independence in the square was constructed
only to that stage. Z�alo , is considered to be the
heart of Mexico City since the Aztecs' rule. The Z�alo,
Mexico City is also the main venue for national celebrations.
On most days you can see Indian dancers performing
cultural acts. At the time of Moctezuma I, palaces
and temples surrounded this area.
Catedral Metropolitana
:
This is the largest cathedral in Latin America, built
in 1567 and constructed over 250 years. Built in a
fanciful baroque style known as churrigueresque, it's
filled with exquisite details and has many small,
lavishly embellished chapels. It also hosts concerts
on special occasions. Open daily. Free of cost.
Templo Mayor (Main Temple)
:
Templo Mayor is site of the Great Temple of Tenochtitl�,
ancient capital of the Aztecs. It is an excavated
temple located in the vincity of Zo`calo, Mexico City.
Its excavation commenced after electricity workers
happened upon a buried eight-ton stone-disc carving
of the Aztec goddess Coyolxauhqui in 1978. The temple
is thought to be on the exact spot where the Aztecs
saw their symbolic eagle with a snake in its beak
perching on a cactus - still the symbol of Mexico
City today. In Aztec belief this was literally the
center of the universe. What we see today are sections
of several of the temple's different phases. Museo
del Templo Mayor, an excellent museum within the Templo
Mayor site, houses artifacts from the site and gives
a good overview (in Spanish) of Aztec civilization.
The ancient city of Teotihuac�:
It
is one of the exquisite archaeological sites and a
must-see site if you're in Mexico City. The ancient
city of Teotihuac� is known for its scale, both in
the size of the Pyramid of the Sun (the third largest
pyramid in the world) and the majesty of the Calle
de los Muertos (Street of the Dead) - flanked by temples,
palaces and platforms. Look for amazingly well preserved
murals in the Palace of the Jaguars or the Palace
of the Quetzal-butterfly and bold sculptures in the
Temple of Quetzalco�l.
Museo Nacional de Historia (National
History Museum) :
Museo
Nacional de Historia is housed in Chapultepec Castle,
Mexico City. It is filled with hundreds of paintings,
murals, ceramics, furniture and carriages depicting
the history of Mexico from the Aztecs to today, with
an emphasis on the colonial era and military history.
The rooms and exhibits of the Museo Nacional de Historia,Mexico
City are more interesting when viewed with some historical
explanation. Open daily. Tickets are priced at M$16.
Chapultepec
Park, Mexico City
Call (5286) 0700 for more
details.
Museo
del Palacio de Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts):
It is a principal opera house and home of the National
Folkloric Ballet located in Mexico City. Museo del
Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico City is a magnificent
structure made entirely from the heavy Carrara marble.
Beautiful Tiffany glass curtain depict scenes of the
volcanoes outside Mexico City. This is the place to
see if you're mad about murals --some of Mexico's
finest are found upon the immense wall spaces of the
monument. Works by Rufino Tamayo, David Alfaro Siqueiros,
Jos�Clemente Orozco and Diego Rivera are among the
highlights.
Av. Juarez y Eje Central L�aro C�denas, Centro Hist�ico,
M�ico City
Call (525) 704-2111 for more details
Museo Mural
Diego Riveria :
The Museo Mural Diego Rivera is a popular museum built
in 1986 in Mexico City.. Works of the legendary Mexican
muralist Diego Rivera are exhibited here. Some of
his famous works include the marvelous Sue� de una
Tarde Dominical en la Alameda (Dream of a Sunday Afternoon
in the Alameda) also his works reflected the history
of Mexico. The museum has a space for temporary exhibitions.
Avenue.. Pino Su�ez, (facing the Z�alo), Mexico
City.
Xochimilco
:
Xochimilco is a popular tourist attraction located
about 20km south of downtown Mexico City. Xochimilco
means the 'Place where Flowers Grow' is known for
its canals. Hundreds of colorful trajineras (gondolas),
cruise the canals with parties of merrymakers and
tourists. You can board one at one of the embarcaderos
(boat landings) near the center of Xochimilco, Mexico
City. Weekdays are more rejuvenating. On weekends,
a fiesta atmosphere takes over and the waterways become
jam-packed with boats, and people. Definitely, a fun
place to be at!
Coyoac� :
About 10km south of downtown Mexico City lies
the Coyoac� - Cort�' base after the fall of Tenochtitl�.
It is located nearby the fascinating Museo (museum)
Frida Kahlo and the Museo L�n Trotsky. It is marked
by the presence of narrow colonial-era streets, plazas,
caf� and a lively atmosphere. Especially on the weekends,
assorted musicians, mimes and craft markets draw large
relaxed crowds from all walks of life to Coyoac�'s
central plazas. For those seeking total solitude head
to the, Viveros de Coyoac� (Coyoac� Nurseries) meadows
of total greenery for a soulful treat. If you are
a cinema lover Cineteca Nacional has four theatres
devoted to a Mexican and international selection of
films. Art in capital letters can be enjoyed at the
National Arts Center where Dance, Theatre and Classical
Music have their contemporary homage.
San �gel :Decades ago,
San `Angel was a village in Mexico City known for
is splendid countryside ... Today it's one of the
city's most charming suburbs. It is marked by the
quiet neighborhood lined up with colonial houses and
modern ones. San �gel,Mexico City boasts of whirlwind
activites to do. Every Saturday the Bazar S�ado brings
a festive atmosphere, masses of color and crowds of
people to San �gel's pretty little Plaza San Jacinto.
Plaza Loreto is an attractive mall located south of
Plaza San Jacinto, Mexico City. It was converted from
an old paper factory a few years ago. This mall is
not just a regular mall. but it also has a mini-amphitheater
for performances, two multi screen cinemas, a variety
of eateries. San �gel, Mexico City also takes pride
in the excellent Museo (museum) Soumaya, which houses
one of the world's three major works of French sculptor
Auguste Rodin, Degas Matisse, Renoir, Tamayo and others.
To get the complete
feel of a Mexican vacation,step outside your apartments
into the sunny weather for some fresh air.. Seriously,
though, many of the outlying areas are just as fascinating
as the City.
Teotihuacan
:
Teotihuacan is a great place for outdoors, located
31 miles northeast of Mexico City. It is one of the
largest archaeological attractions in Mexico City.
The original city reached its zenith of influence
in 500 AD and died out for unknown reasons about 250
years later. Archaeologists are still baffled as to
why one of the greatest cities in the entire world
just ceased to exist. The most striking features about
Teotihuacan are the pyramids of the Sun and Moon,
the Ciudadela (the citadel), the Temple of Quetzalcoatl
(the Plumed Serpent - a god that appears in other
parts of Mexico. It seems that religion centering
around this god was carried all over Mexico by migrating
peoples.), and the Palace of Quetzalpapalotl (the
Plumed Butterfly) all built along the broad Avenue
of the Dead. According to astrological directions.
The Avenue of the Dead was made to line up exactly
with Cerro Gordo north-south basis. The river San
Juan also mysteriously lies perfectly perpendicular
to the Avenue of the Dead in accordance with certain
astrological patterns.
Puebla :
Puebla is Mexico's fourth largest city and the center
of production for famous hand-made and exquisitely
beautiful Talavera tile. Pottery and tiles from here
make a great gift or as accessory in the kitchen.
Talavera tile is also reasonably priced. So it really
is worth arranging a day trip or two to see what the
Mexican countryside has to offer. As you wander through
the streets of Puebla, looking into stores here and
there, and occasionally ducking into a cafe or restaurant
for the local specialties, you'll come upon many churches
and museums. The main religious center here is the
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception made up of
14 chapels and 2 bell towers.
Chapel of Santo Domingo:
It is as well known chapel located two blocks away
from the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The
decor is beautifully done up with the walls and ceilings
decorated in tile and gold leaf. There are also the
housing niches for many sculptures and statues.
Secret Convent of Santa Monica:
It is a serene chapel located in the vincity of the
Chapel of Santo Domingo. The reason it's called "secret"
is that in 1857, convents were abolished, so the Santa
Monica carried out its religious affairs clandestinely.
It now serves as a museum displaying colonial paintings
and relics from this and dozens of other clandestine
churches of the era.
Regional Museum of Puebla:
It is a popular museum located in the Casa del Alfenique,
Mexico City. Mansion of Pubela dates back to the 18th
century. It showcases historical pieces, artifacts
and a replica of a colonial home spanning the entire
second floor.
Amparo Museum:
Amparo Museum located just off the main square, Mexico
City. It houses a vast collection of colonial and
pre-Columbian art, masterfully displayed and explained
with state of the art audio-visual systems. Puebla
is also packed with many other historical sites: the
Plaza of the Americas, the Church of San Francisco,
the forts of Loreto and Guadalupe, and the Museum
of Popular Arts. Puebla
Market:
Stop by this market to pick up a souvenir from this
trip to Mexico City. The embroidered textiles and
artistic pottery are also the hottest selling products
here... If you're looking for cool pieces of jewllery
try the reasonably priced Onyx carvings.
Taxco:
It is a small town located only two hours drive away
from Mexico City. It is the city of world-renowned
silversmiths and silver jewelry designers. The Santa
Prisca Basilica is a beautiful mall completed in 1759.It
was built because of one silver prospector's gratitude.
He struck it rich and built the basilica to thank
God for His gift. In fact, silver barons" that made
their fortunes here constructed buildings around town
that are now preserved marvelously.
Alvaro Cuevas :
One of the most reputed shops in Mexico City. It sells
original jewelry designs, many of which are inspired
by pre-Columbian artifacts. They take orders for jewelry
and have arrangements for shipping.
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