Interestingly, tourists in Mexico City walk around in tank tops—and it makes sense, as it’s really HOT during the day—while locals, especially in the morning, wear puffer jackets. It’s a big, powerful city! The city center is very beautiful. Pedestrian streets lined with shops make it hard to tell where you are—Barcelona? Cologne? The same stores, the same atmosphere. During the day, of course, it doesn’t feel scary at all! It’s calm and fascinating. We REALLY liked the historic center of Mexico City! We first headed toward the main square, walking along a huge park with fountains and sculptures, while modern life buzzed on both sides!
Central pedestrian street:
Central square – featuring the National/Presidential Palace, the Cathedral, and a massive flag! But there’s not enough wind for it to wave.
The Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral was built over nearly 400 years, from the 16th century to the early 20th century. As a result, it blends various architectural styles, from Gothic to Baroque. It is one of the largest cathedrals in Latin America and stands on the site of an ancient Aztec temple.
Right next to it are the ruins of the ancient Aztec city of Tenochtitlán. Around the temple, people live, protest for various causes… and cacti grow!
Then, following tradition, we visited the post office, telephone, and telegraph buildings. In our case, the post office was still functioning!
We also stopped by the Ministry of Education, adorned with Diego Rivera’s frescoes from the 1920s—pure social realism in our style. And finally, the former Ministry of Communications, which now houses the Mexican Museum of Art.
The museum deserves a special mention! The early 20th-century building itself is a masterpiece! And for just 5 pesos, they gave me a ticket with a “finger” tag, meaning I could take photos!
We all really loved the museum! It felt so fresh! 🖼️ It had works from the 17th century, showcasing the Spanish school, and by the late 19th century, there was a lot of historical painting—like Montezuma and Cortés, and similar themes.
There were also paintings with captions, like “from a white person and an indigenous woman, mulattos are born,” featuring many different variations. Unexpectedly strong sculptures and contemporary art as well!
And then there were the city sketches—people cleaning the floors in the park, garbage trucks rolling by, benches… and an icon in the church that really caught my attention. The everyday life of the city, mixed with these quiet moments, really added a unique touch to the experience!
In the evening, we took a stroll around the area of the main boulevard. There’s the Monument to the Revolution, along with other statues and fountains. The atmosphere there is vibrant, with a mix of history and life around every corner!
Around it, everything is modern—glass and concrete buildings that stand in contrast to the historical monuments. The blend of old and new makes the area feel dynamic and alive, with a real sense of progress alongside the past.
But it’s not all perfect. Amidst the luxury, you can find abandoned buildings, even some with broken windows. Along the streets, there are endless stalls, adding a mix of hustle and imperfection to the otherwise sleek surroundings. It’s like a reminder that there’s always more to a city than meets the eye.
I wanted to add that, as it should be, all the churches are free to enter (hello, Italy!). In the cathedral, even the pinacoteca is free, and several museums we visited (apart from the art one) were also free! There were a lot of school groups—kudos to them! It’s great to see young people exploring culture and history.
