Mexico City was built through hundreds of years on the ruins of the Tenochtitlán, the Aztecs city that was found and later destroyed by Spanish conquistador Cortez. Today Mexico City is the capital of Mexico country, one of the most important cities in the South America and also on whole American continent. It is the city of culture, history, sport, government, industry and business.
Mexico City has around 9 million inhabitants but it is hard to define exact number. Counting the wider region too, would increase the number rapidly. City lies in a big valley on a very high altitude of almost 2.500 meters over the sea level, which makes it one of the highest standing capitals in the world.
Mexico was a host of summer Olympic games in the year 1968. Because of the altitude, the thin air was and important factor which made a huge influence, especially on the runners. That is one of the most important reasons why so many world records were set in athletics that year. Some of them weren’t equaled in next 20 years.
Palace de Bellas Artes in Mexico City
The tourists in Mexico City should feel relatively safe, especially in comparison to some other places in this great country. The biggest problem of Mexico is still the big fight against drug cartels, but they mostly don’t influence the foreign visitors. Still you have to be careful in this big city. Crime, corruption and also a pollution are huge negative factors. Only in last few years, many improvements were made, especially for the environment care, making some new green areas, like Tezozomoc park. Also they try to recover some city lakes that were somehow lost in the process of building a city.
Where tourist should go in Mexico City?
While walking around the city or using public transport system, which also features a metro, you can discover many interesting sites. The most important buildings that are huge attractions are the governmental seats in the Zocalo, the National palace and city hall. Some new skyscrapers are very modern. They come in all sizes, shapes and colors and could also be well worth visiting. One of them is the Stock Exchange building. Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary and Church at Santa Cecilia Tepetlapa are the most important religios objects, but there are many many more. Especially worth visiting is the Xochimilco district, which has been put on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Over 150 kilometers long system of canals on which you can ride a “gondola” boat, is the pre-Hispanic period area and therefore telling a history on its own.
Cathedral in Mexico City
There are many museums in the city that are worth visiting, many buildings worth taking a picture (the great city concerts hall or the monument arch of the revolution). Also you can visit some Aztec period temple ruins or walk around the city and try some local food in their very good restaurants.
Best Mexico City attractions
City Hall, central area of Xochimilco (UNESCO World Heritage), Governmental buildings at Zocalo, National palace, Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary, Mexico City museum, Museum of National Art, Jose Luis Cuevas Museum, Church at Santa Cecilia Tepetlapa Stock Exchange, Little Horse sculpture
