Zócalo
The Zócalo, once the site of ceremonies and celebrations in Gran Tenochitlán, is now the site of symbols of national power, as well as being the main area for public demonstrations, and popular celebrations.
In this area there is also the Catedral Metropolitana, a perfect example of colonial architecture, with its baroque and neo-classical façade, five naves and an invaluable collection of paintings. Next to the cathedral, we come to the Palacio Nacional, with its beautiful patios and murals by Diego Rivera on its walls, where episodes of Mexican History are so exquisitely portrayed.In the middle of the city’s historic centre is the enormous paved Plaza de la Constitución, or Zócalo, the second largest city square in the world, and Mexico City’s centre of government and religion. The Zocalo brings together the rhythmic beating of drums, the ankle-rattles of the native dancers and the glowing incense of modern day medicine men. A point of reference, of protest, of ritual and of national celebration, by night it offers an imposing spectacle which culminates in the tumultuous popular festivities on the 15th of September (eve of Mexico’s Independence Day).
The Cathedral is one of the buildings subsiding into the soft ground on which the city is built and builders are continuously at work to prevent its uneven descent. The square itself is filled with activity, with vendors and buskers, informal traditional Aztec dance performances, family groups, workers on lunch break and passing tourists. It is also the place for demonstrations, government rallies and protest marches, as well as festivals and public holiday events. Every evening the presidential guards, in a show of great ceremony, lower the national flag from the central flagpole. And encircling the square is the continuous buzz of the ubiquitous green Volkswagen taxis.
Zocalo: Oaxaca City
The city square is called Plaza Principal or the Zocalo. Actually it is 2 squares: one is a park with a bandstand and trees for shade; while the other contains shops and outdoor cafes. On a typical day people from all walks of life are seen at the Zocalo including protesters, soldiers, bands and groups of singing children adding to the atmosphere. At night the area fills with street musicians and vendors who sell a variety of foods and crafts. The zocalo has been the heart of Oaxaca for nearly 500 years, since it was laid out by
Soledad Church near the Zocalo: Oaxaca City
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Zocalo, Acapulco
Acolman is 35 km northeast of Mexico City and is easily visited after La Basilica de Guadalupe and on the way to Teotihuacan. It has the formidable fortress-like convent and church of San Agusti'n. This dates from 1539-60, with much delicate detail on the facade and some interesting murals inside. Note the fine portal and the carved stone cross at the entrance to the atrium. An interesting architectural feature is the open-chapel just above and to the right of the main entrance. While Mass was being celebrated inside the monastery for the benefit of the Spaniards, the spiritual needs of
Of the original walls, seven of the baiuartes and an ancient fort (now rather dwarfed by two big white hotels on the seafront) remain. Some house museums.
The heart of the city is the Zocalo, where the austere Franciscan Cathedral (1540-1705) has an elaborately carved facade; inside is the Santo Entierro (Holy Burial), a sculpture of Christ on a mahogany sarcophagus with a silver trim. There is plenty of shade under the trees in the Zocalo, and a small pagoda with a snack bar. Right in front of the Zocalo is the Baluarte de la Soledad, the central bulwark of
Alameda Central [Historic District] : Mexico City
Alameda Central is a downtown oasis of greenery, fountains and statuary. The imposing Palacio de Bellas Artes, a performing arts venue and a must-see for its art-deco interior, is next to the park. In the part of the Centro Historico between Alameda Central and the Zocalo are several impressive buildings and museums, including the Palacio de Iturbide (an Italian baroque palace), Casa de Azulejos (the House of Tiles), the Correo Central (the lovely main post office), the Museo Nacional de Arte (a grand building with Mexican art exhibits) and Museo de Franz Mayer (religious
Take Route 160 from Cuernavaca via Yautepec to the semi-tropical town of Cuautla, meaning 'where trees abound'. This crowded weekend resort for the capital is a popular sulphur spring, known as aguas hediondas or stinking waters. Tourist Cuautla is divided from locals' Cuautla by a wide river and the locals have the best bargain; it is worth crossing the stream. The plaza is pleasant, traffic-free and well maintained.
There is a market in the narrow streets and alleyways around 5 de Mayo. The tourist office is opposite Hotel Cuautla, on Av Obregon. The Casa de la Cultura, three
Turmoil batters Mexico tourism
A human head washes up on an Acapulco beach. Protestors hassle visitors at makeshift checkpoints in the colonial city of Oaxaca. And in Mexico City, leftist demonstrators turn the tourist draws of Reforma Ave. and the Zocalo plaza into sprawling, ragtag protest camps.
Growing political unrest and drug violence are making foreigners think twice about visiting Mexico, where the $11.8 billion (U.S.) tourism industry is the countrys third-largest legal source of income, after oil and remittances from migrants in the United States.
Mexico has been struggling since last fall, when Hurricane Wilma hit the countrys biggest tourism
This charming town, southeast of Puebla, has a pleasant, sometimes cool, climate. Water from the mineral springs is bottled and sent all over the country by Garci Crespo san Lorenzo and Penafiel. From the small dam at Malpaso on the Rio Grande, an annual race is held for craft without motors as far as the village of
Quiotepec. The central plaza is pleasant and shaded. Museo de Minerologia Romero is in the ex-Convento del Carmen, Avenida Reforma, 7 Norte 356. It has one room with a good collection of minerals from all over the world, â– 0900-1200, 1600-1800, mornings
The excavated pyramid, a man-made mountain, has 8 km of tunnels and some recently discovered frescoes inside; 1 km of tunnel is open to the public, giving an idea of the layers that were superimposed to create the pyramid. The museum near the tunnel entrance has a copy of the frescoes (the originals are not open to the public). â– 1000-1700, US$2 weekdays, free on Sun and holidays, guides charge USS6.50, recommended as there are no signs inside (some guides speak English). From the Zocalo follow Avenida Morelos and cross the railway. The 16th-century chapel of Los Remedios on top
