Mexico City, the oldest metropolis on the American continent, is perched atop a highland valley at about 7,392 feet above sea level. Towering high above the city’s southeast side are two volcanoes: Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl.
 Mexico City has two areas that were declared World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO. The first, the Centro Historico, has beautiful historic and religious buildings, such as the Catedral Metropolitano, one of the most important architectural structures in the Western Hemisphere.
The Palacio Nacional has spectacular Diego Rivera murals that chronicle Mexico’s history. And Palacio de Bellas Artes, which hosts the city’s most important cultural events, is a beautiful construction that blends art nouveau and art deco styles. The other World Heritage Site, Xochimilco Ecological Park, is often called the Venice of Mexico due to its beautiful canals. Flower-painted boats offer tours of the canals and floating gardens.
If you’re interested in cultural events, Mexico City offers a wide variety of museums, such as the Museo Nacional de Antropologia, the Museo Nacional de Arte and the Museo Nacional de Historia.
In north Mexico City, you can visit the Basilica de Guadalupe, one of the most visited basilicas in the world; in fact, it is second only to Saint Peter’s Basilica, in Vatican City, in the number of visitors it receives each year. This is a must-see for those who want to learn more about the city’s customs and traditions.
What’s more, Mexico City is a cosmopolitan metropolis, where new and old traditions coexist side by side. Here you can go shopping at bazaars and crafts markets in the Coyoacan and San Angel neighborhoods. Or you can go to exclusive boutiques and shopping centers in the posh communities of Santa Fe and Polanco, where you’ll be surrounded by the comfort of top-notch hotels and restaurants. |
