Sights
Walking the streets of Mexico City’s historic center reveals each chapter of this country’s remarkable history.
The colonial-era streets that surround the central square, the Zócalo, were constructed out of the rubble of the former Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, that once stood on this land. Although the Aztec city was destroyed by the conquistadors, remnants of the Templo Mayor and a wealth of archeological discoveries have been uncovered below the Zócalo.
Steps away from the ruins are the grand buildings of the Spanish colonial capital, including the imposing Metropolitan Cathedral. The story of Mexico’s post-independence history can be seen in the Monument to the Revolution, which commemorates the civil war that transformed Mexico, or in the lavishly opulent Palacio de Bellas Artes.
Today, the Centro Histórico is home to world-class museums and art galleries. The area throngs with crowds packing into the numerous markets and small shops that line the streets of this district.
