Historic center of Mexico City

The historic center of Mexico City (Spanish: Centro Histórico de la Ciudad de México), also known as the Centro or Centro Histórico, is the central neighborhood in Mexico City, Mexico, focused on the Zócalo (or main plaza) and extending in all directions for a number of blocks, with its farthest extent being west to the Alameda Central. The Zocalo is the largest plaza in Latin America. It can hold up to nearly 100,000 people.

This area is part of the municipal borough of Cuauhtémoc, covering just over nine km² and 668 blocks. It holds 9,000 buildings, with 1,550 declared important for their history. Most of these buildings were built between the 16th and 20th centuries.

The historic center began in the 16th century when the Spaniards built what is now modern Mexico City on the ruins of Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec Empire. As the heart of both the Aztec Empire and the Spanish colony of New Spain, this area contains many important places and museums from both times. This rich history made it a World Heritage Site.

History

The historic downtown of Mexico City is built where the ancient Aztec city of Tenochtitlan once stood, founded around 1325. The Aztec city was planned carefully, with streets and canals running in straight lines. Important buildings like temples and schools were located near the center.

After the Spanish arrived, they kept many of the city's main streets but gave them new names. Wealthy families built large homes in the area, showing off their riches. Later, in the early 1900s, some streets were renamed to honor Latin American countries.

The Zócalo and surrounding sites

The Zócalo, or main plaza, is a special place for many events. It has hosted art shows, photo shoots, and big gatherings for young people. Every year, the Festival de México brings art and learning programs to the area.

Near the Zócalo are important buildings like the Palacio Nacional, which has offices for the leader of Mexico and beautiful wall paintings. The Metropolitan Cathedral stands at the north end of the Zócalo. The Templo Mayor, an ancient Aztec site, is close by and has an interesting museum. The Nacional Monte de Piedad building is a big shop where people can buy and sell items they own.

Notable sites north of the Zócalo

Santo Domingo includes a church and a plaza, both found three blocks north of the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral. The church, officially called the Señor de la Expiación Chapel, is one of the oldest buildings from the first convent in New Spain. Nearby is Plaza San Domingo, with a special area called Portal de Evangelistas where scribes offer help to people.

The San Ildefonso College is now a museum and cultural center and is known for starting the Mexican muralism movement. It was once a famous school and later became a museum in 1994. The museum shows many artworks and murals by famous artists like José Clemente Orozco and Diego Rivera.

Other important places nearby include:

• Secretaría de Educación Pública
• Centro Cultural de España
• Museum Archive of Photography
• Lirico Theatre
• Antigua Escuela de Economía
• Colegio Nacional
• Old Customs building
• Palace of the Inquisition (Museum of Mexican Medicine)

Notable sites south of the Zócalo

The Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation is located just off the Zócalo, on the corners of Pino Suárez and Carranza Streets. It was built between 1935 and 1941 by Antonio Muñoz Garcia. Before the Conquest, this site was used for a special dance called the "Dance of the Flyers", which is still done today in Papantla. Inside the building, there are beautiful paintings by José Clemente Orozco and a mural by American artist George Biddle.

Other important places nearby include:

• Temple of Saint Augustine on Avenida Republica de El Salvador
• The original El Palacio de Hierro store on Carranza and 20 de noviembre streets
• The original Liverpool department store on Carranza and 20 de noviembre streets
• Saint Augustine House on Republica de Uruguay and 5 de Febrero streets
• The Chapel of the Most Holy Conception of Tlaxcoaque, one of the oldest churches in Mexico City, on Fray Servando de Mier
• Church of San Bernardo near the Zócalo

Notable sites west of the Zocalo

The Palace of Iturbide is a grand old home on Madero Street, built in the 1700s for a special wedding. It later became important when Agustín de Iturbide lived there and became Mexico’s first leader after the country gained independence from Spain. Today, it is used for cultural events.

The Torre Latinoamericana is a famous tall building finished in 1956. It stands 182 meters tall and has stayed strong through big earthquakes. Nearby is the Museo Nacional de Arte, Mexico’s National Art Museum. It shows art from long ago up until the early 1900s and has a big statue outside.

The Palacio de Correos de Mexico is an old post office building designed to look like palaces in Italy. Many other interesting places are nearby, such as tiled houses, museums, and important government buildings.

Notable sites east of the Zócalo

The Museo de la Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público is an art museum located at Moneda Street #4. It is housed in what was the Palace of the Archbishopric, built in 1530 under Friar Juan de Zumárraga. The museum has exhibits about ancient gods and a large art collection.

La Santísima Church is located at the corner of La Santísima and Emiliano Zapata streets. The church was built between 1755 and 1783 and still serves its original purpose. Over time, the church has sunk almost three meters.

The José Luis Cuevas Museum is located near the city's main plaza, the Zócalo, in a building that was once a convent. The convent was founded in 1600 and later became private property. Artist José Luis Cuevas bought the building to create a museum for his art and the art of contemporary Latin America.

The House of the First Print Shop in the Americas marks the spot where the first printing press in the New World was located. The house was built in 1524 by Gerónimo de Aguilar.

• Cathedral Nuestra Señora de Balvanera and Sanctuary of San Charbel, built in the 17th century
• Palacio_de_la_Autonomía de UNAM, located off of Moneda Street
• Departamento de Estadistica Nacional building on Correo Mayor

Around the Alameda Central

Alameda Central is a lovely public park next to the Palacio de Bellas Artes. It lies between Juarez Avenue and Hidalgo Avenue and features green gardens, paved paths, and beautiful fountains and statues. This park is often where important community events take place. Long ago, this area was an Aztec marketplace. The park was officially created in 1592 by Viceroy Luis de Velasco as a place for people to enjoy. Its name comes from the Spanish word álamo, meaning poplar tree, because these trees were planted there. By the late 1800s, the park had a bandstand and lamps that later changed from gas to electric lights. On the south side of the park, you can find the Hemiciclo a Juárez, a big white curved monument honoring Benito Juárez, one of Mexico’s favorite leaders.

Nearby, you’ll find several interesting places such as the Palacio de Bellas Artes on Juárez Street, Teatro Hidalgo on Hidalgo Street, the Parish of Santa Cruz, Mexico City, the Museo Nacional de la Estampa (National Print Museum), the Franz Mayer Museum, the Parish of La Santa Vera Cruz de San Juan de Dios, and the Ex Temple of Corpus Christi on Juarez Street.

Barrio Chino

Mexico City's Chinatown, called "Barrio Chino", is found on two blocks of Dolores Street, just south of the Palacio de Bellas Artes. It is a small area with several restaurants and shops that bring in goods. It became smaller over time because many people whose families came from China either married into local Mexican families or left the country in the 1930s. Even so, it is still important to about 3,000 families in the city who have Chinese roots.

Architecture

The historic center of Mexico City has many beautiful buildings from different times and styles. You can see Baroque style at places like the Palacio de Iturbide and the Palacio Nacional. There are also Neoclassical buildings such as the Palacio de Mineria, and Art Nouveau design in the Palacio de Bellas Artes. Other styles include Beaux-Arts, Art Deco, and even Functionalist architecture like the Torre Latinoamericana.

Education

The historic center of Mexico City has schools for children. One of these schools is called Colegio de San Ignacio de Loyola Vizcaínas.

20th and 21st centuries

Deterioration of the area

In the early 1900s, wealthy families moved away from the historic center of Mexico City to newer neighborhoods like Colonia Juárez, Colonia Cuauhtémoc, Colonia Roma, and Colonia Condesa. Even though it stayed important for business and government, the area began to decline. Rules that kept rent prices very low for many years stopped landlords from fixing their buildings. An earthquake in 1985 also damaged many structures. Because of these problems, many people moved away, and the area became quiet at night.

Deterioration of religious buildings

Many old churches in the city were falling apart and needed repairs. There were disagreements about how to save them because they are important for both religion and history. Some church leaders said the buildings were in serious danger, but government groups did not agree. A few churches had pieces fall off, but no one was hurt. With fewer people living nearby, it was hard for the church to pay for repairs.

Revitalization

In the early 2000s, the government began efforts to bring life back to the historic center. They spent a lot of money to buy and fix old buildings, with help from a group started by Carlos Slim. Work included cleaning streets, improving water systems, and restoring building faces. Streets were made for walking only, and new museums opened. Vendors were moved to other areas, and modern services were added, including security cameras. These changes brought new restaurants, shops, and young people moving into the area. By 2004, a lot of money had been invested, creating jobs and encouraging more improvements.

Transportation

Tour buses, called "Turibuses", are a popular way for visitors to get around the historic center and other parts of the city. They take people to different places of interest and cultural spots. Locals mostly use the Mexico City Metro to travel to the historic center. The area has many metro stations, including Zócalo/Tenochtitlan metro station for the main plaza, Allende station for the northern part, Bellas Artes, Hidalgo, and Juárez for the Alameda area, and San Juan de Letrán, Salto del Agua, Isabel la Católica, Pino Suárez, and Merced for the southern zones. The Mexico City Metrobús also serves the area with its Line 4. Taxis, regulated by the city government and available through the "Mi Taxi" app, are another common way to get around. Cycle rickshaws, known locally as "ciclotaxis" or cycle taxis, were once popular but are used much less often now.