| Historic center of Mexico City (Mexico City) | |
 | |
Location  | |
| State | Mexico |
|---|---|
| Region | Central Mexico |
The Historic center of Mexico City is the original nucleus of the capital of Mexico.
To know
Geographical notes
Also known as city of palaces, this area is located around the Piazza della Costituzione, the main square of Mexico City and the fourth largest square in the world.
Background
The Historic Center, the original nucleus of Mexico City, was built on the ruins of the city Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec empire, founded around 1320 and destroyed by the Spanish conquistadors in 1521. Inside there are countless buildings dating back to the sixteenth century. Due to its historical importance, UNESCO declared the Historic Center of Mexico City a World Heritage Site in 1987, together with the delegation of Xochimilco.
How to orient yourself
Historic center of Mexico City: full screen map.How to get
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By subway
The subway is probably the fastest way to reach the historic center, however it is good to pay attention to pickpockets, as the stations are always very crowded.
There are several subway lines that connect the historic center to the rest of the city.
- Line 1 (pink): stations 1 Pino Suarez, 2 Isabel La Católica is 3 Salto del Agua.
- Line 2 (blue): stations Pino Suarez, 4 Zocalo (closest to the Constitution Square), 5 Allende, 6 Bellas Artes, 7 Hidalgo is 8 Revolucion.
- Line 3 (light green): stations Hidalgo, 9 Juárez is 10 Balderas.
- Line 8 (dark green): stations 11 Garibaldi, Bellas Artes, 12 San Juan de Letrán is Salto del Agua
By tourist bus
The double-decker tourist bus stops north of the Constitution Square, on Monte de Piedad street, west of the cathedral. The day ticket costs $ 140 MXN (160 for the guided tour in English).
With the metrobus
The Metrobus is a Bus Rapid Transit type public transit system for buses in Mexico City, which has been operating since June 19, 2005 with service hours Monday to Saturday from 4.30 to 0.00; Sundays and holidays from 5.00 to 0.00.
Line 4 (orange) of the Metrobus has two branches that cross the Historic Center. Both cover the route from the Buenavista train station to the San Lazaro train station, adjacent to the Oriente bus station. On both branches there are a few marked buses that continue past San Lazaro to Mexico City Airport (both terminals). Buses to and from the airport cost $ 30 MXN instead of the regular $ 6 MXN Metrobus fare.
By trolleybus
The trolleybus runs along the Lázaro Cárdenas street: ask the driver to drop you off in the Madero street.
By car
This is the least recommended means of transport to move around the historic center due to the streets always clogged with traffic, especially during weekdays.
There are several paid parking lots in the area that cost $ 14 MXN per hour.
Warning! Sunday is "bicycle day": on this occasion Paseo de la Reforma is closed to motor vehicles.
How to get around
On foot
The best way to move around the historic center is on foot: all the monuments and tourist attractions are within easy reach.
By tourist bus
The tourist bus (in SpanishTourist tramway) starts from 13 Avenida Juarez 66, between Alameda Central and the Palace of Fine Arts.
The journey takes about 45 minutes and touches various places of interest in the area. The service is active from 10:00 to 17:00.
What see
- 1 Constitution Square (Plaza de la Constitución - El Zócalo). 240 meters long on each side, El Zócalo is one of the largest squares in the world. It is bordered by the Metropolitan Cathedral to the north, the National Palace to the east and the Town Hall to the south. A large Mexican flag flies in the center of the square: every day, at 18:00, it is lowered and then hoisted again. The square hosts a wide variety of events, including concerts and demonstrations. Every New Year practitioners of Mexico's various indigenous religions gather here to bless believers for the New Year. On 15 and 16 September the square hosts the celebrations for the Independence Day.
- 2 Metropolitan Cathedral (Templo Mayor), Plaza de la Constitución, ☎ 52 55 4040 5600, @[email protected].
$ 59 MXN, free for under 12s and students with valid ID. 
Wed-Sun 09: 00-17: 00. It is located on the area where a temple dedicated to the god Tenochtitlan (or Xipe) once stood; this was destroyed in 1521 by conquistadors Spaniards, who erected the present cathedral. A museum has been set up inside the large sacristy. - 3 National Palace (Palacio Nacional), Plaza de la Constitución. Free admission with valid identity document. Mon-Sun 09: 00-17: 00. It stands on 40,000 m² of land and is the seat of the executive power of the United Mexican States. The construction of the building dates back to 1563 on the land that was occupied by the house of Hernán Cortés built in 1523. The original use of the palace was that of the viceroy's accommodation. The first viceroy to live there was Luis de Velasco. Later the palace was renovated to also house the courts and the prison of the Royal Court. The original building, with a medieval appearance, began to take its current appearance of Baroque construction, after several fires that occurred in the seventeenth century, the work ended only in the following century.
$ 59 MXN, free for under 12s and students with valid ID. 
Wed-Sun 09: 00-17: 00. It is located on the area where a temple dedicated to the god Tenochtitlan (or Xipe) once stood; this was destroyed in 1521 by conquistadors Spaniards, who erected the present cathedral. A museum has been set up inside the large sacristy.What to do
Shopping
How to have fun
Where to eat
Where stay
How to keep in touch
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Historic center of Mexico City
Commons contains images or other files on Historic center of Mexico City
