Mexico City, a City of Three Cultures

Mexico City is not only the capital of Mexico it is the home of three cultures. In Mexico City you will find elements and descendants of the pre-Columbian cultures, you will find the architecture and design of the colonization of the New World, and you will find a modern metropolis of over 8 million people. Mexico City was originally founded in 1325 on a small island in the middle of Lake Texcoco. As the Mexico City grew, the lake was filled in, and each generation built on top of the previous generation, literally.

The main square of Mexico, known as the Zocalo, is surrounded by the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral, National Palace, and the ancient remains of the Templo Mayor. The Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral was built on top ancient Aztec ceremonial structures and uses some of the original building material from the ancient temples and palaces of the Aztecs. In addition to being the seat of the President of Mexico, the National Palace houses murals painted by Diego Rivera. The mural depicts the history of Mexico, from its pre-Colombian past, colonial history, to the modern democratic state. The Templo Mayor is the remains of the main pyramid temple complex of the Aztecs. The Templo Mayor itself was built on top the temples of the previous generations.

Within the city limits of Mexico City are the floating gardens of Xochimilco. Mexico was built on a Lake and in Xochimilco you can navigate through the canals of the remains of the lake as Mexico City has outgrown the original island it was founded in. Navigating through the canals in Xochimilco feels like going through the passages of time.

When visiting Mexico City, it is highly recommended to visit the area around Chapultepec Park. Think of the Chapultepec Park, as the Golden Gate Park or the Central Park of Mexico City. Chapultepec Park is home to the Chapultepec Zoo, many museums including the Tamayo Contemporary Art Museum, and Chapultepec Castle, the former residence of Maximilian I of Mexico. Perhaps the best museum in the area is that of the National Museum of Anthropology. The National Museum of Anthropology is the home of the Aztec calendar stone. The National Museum of Anthropology houses thousands of pre-Colombian artifacts from all the distinct peoples that live in the boundaries of modern Mexico.

No trip to Mexico City is complete without visiting the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The area surrounding the Basilica houses several older churches. The modern basilica is built on the side of the hill of Tepeyac, a sacred mount of the ancient Aztec people.