With the United States to the north, the Gulf of Mexico to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west, Mexico is a place of true beauty. The pre-Colombian history of Mexico dates back to at least 8000 BC with some of the most advanced pre-European civilizations living here like the Aztecs and Mayans. Mexico has great weather, amazing beaches, old history and some of the earth’s most cherished cuisine so it is no wonder why so many people every year travel to Mexico to see the sights and take in the culture. Even the accommodations are incredible, with plenty of Airbnb Luxe apartments and party resorts to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a break at some of the beaches or you’re out exploring the cities, there is always something cool to see in Mexico. Here are some of the most famous buildings in Mexico.
1. Luis Barragán House, Mexico City
Luis Barragán House is located in the Hidalgo district in Mexico City. It is the former home of the iconic Mexican architect, Luis Barragan and where his former studio is also located. The house itself is truly something to take in with amazing designs and stylistic choices that are unique and inspiring. Along with that is the fact that the home is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and museum with a lot of Barragan’s collection on display showcasing plenty of Mexican artists.
Luis Barragán House
Address: Gral. Francisco Ramírez 12-14, Ampliación Daniel Garza, Amp Daniel Garza, Miguel Hidalgo, 11840 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Website: Luis Barragán House
Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (daily)
Price: 8 USD
2. Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral, Mexico City
Perhaps one of the most iconic landmarks not only in Mexico City but in the country as a whole is the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral. The church is located in an ancient Aztec sacred area in the middle of downtown Mexico City and took over 200 years to complete with construction beginning in 1573. It took so long to build the structure that as a result, it can be seen exhibiting various styles of architecture based on what was popular at the time. This is what makes Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral unique and a great place to visit.
Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral
Address: Plaza de la Constitución S/N, Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06000 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Website: Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral
Opening hours: 8am - 8pm (daily)
Price: Free
3. Museo Soumaya, Mexico City
Museo Soumaya is also an important Mexico City museum and has over 60,000 pieces of art spanning over 30 centuries, from Meso-American populations to pre-hispanic America, colonial-era Mexico, and the modern age. In addition to many Mexican artists, there is also a host of artists from all over the world including works from Rodin, Miro, Monet, Picasso, and Dali, just to name a few. Recognized for its odd shape, it is one of the top museums and also one of the best places you have to visit while in Mexico.
Museo Soumaya
Address: Blvd. Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Granada, Miguel Hidalgo, 11529 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Website: Museo Soumaya
Opening hours: 10:30am - 6:30pm (daily)
Price: Free
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4. Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco, Taxco
The Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco is a colonial-era monument built in the 1700s in Taxco. The church was built under the funding of one of Taxco’s wealthiest mine owners and was even for a short time the largest building in the country. Despite the opulent decor of the church, the endeavor nearly bankrupted the mine owner. After years of nearby mining operations and work in the surrounding area, a restoration project began in 1997 when cracks in the foundation started to show.
Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco
Address: José de La Borda 1, CNOP, 40200 Taxco, Gro., Mexico
Website: Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 9am - 7pm; Sun: 10am - 8:15pm
Price: Free
5. Templo Mayor Museum, Mexico City
“Templo Mayor” when translated to in English is “Greater Temple” and it is here that the Mexica people had their main temple in Tenochtitlan, which is present-day Mexico City. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and since being discovered in 1978 has been an important part of history for the people of Mexico and the world’s understanding of pre-Colombian civilizations. The site was destroyed by the Spanish in the 1500s and although people knew of it, it was largely forgotten and its location was unknown. The museum on site has a collection of artifacts and objects that were found hereafter archeological digs were done.
Templo Mayor Museum
Address: Seminario 8, Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06060 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Website: Templo Mayor Museum
Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 9am - 5pm (closed on Mon)
Price: 12 USD
6. Zona Arqueológica de Cholula, Puebla
Located in Cholula, Mexico the Zona Arqueológica de Cholula is another archaeological center of importance for Mexican culture. From a distance, the structure looks like a pyramid standing on a hill but up close the site is much more complex than that with several zones and buildings that once stood there as well. The pyramid here is actually the largest one in the world with excavations beginning in the 1930s and continuing throughout until the 1950s. The Zona Arqueológica de Cholula has information on the history and use of the structure as well as a collection of findings during the digs.
Zona Arqueológica de Cholula
Address: Calle 14 Pte. S/N, San Miguel, Zona Arqueológica San Andrés Cholula, 72760 San Andrés Cholula, Pue., Mexico
Website: Zona Arqueológica de Cholula
Opening hours: 9am - 5:30pm (daily)
Price: 15 USD
7. Museo Jumex, Mexico City
Visiting museums is always one of the best things to do. Mexico has a lot of important museums dedicated to the preservation of Mexican art and culture but their contemporary art museums should not be passed up either! Museo Jumex once started as a private collection and is now one of Mexico city’s biggest contemporary art institutions. Featuring works from Damien Hirst, Andy Warhol, Jeff Coons, and many others, Museo Jumex opened in 2013 to critical acclaim.
Museo Jumex
Address: Blvd. Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra 303, Granada, Miguel Hidalgo, 11520 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Website: Museo Jumex
Opening hours: Tue - Thu: 10am - 7pm; Fri - Sat: 9am - 9pm; Sun: 9am - 7pm (closed on Mon)
Price: 1.50 - 3 USD
8. Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico City (from USD 33.0)
The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe is one of the most important places in Mexico and one of the most visited shrines in Catholicism. It is the national shrine of Mexico and houses the cloak of Saint Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin which has an image of the virgin mary within it. Since the 1500s the site has been a place of pilgrimage especially coinciding with Our Lady of Guadalupe’s feast day, December 12th.
Mexico City: Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe Tour
Duration: 5.0 hour
9. Arcos Bosques, Mexico City
Arcos Bosques is a pair of buildings that you really can’t miss if you’re in the Hidalgo district in Mexico City. The buildings are modern skyscrapers with businesses and shopping centers in them but what really makes them stand out is the design. The building consists of two parallel buildings with a lintel between them. At the time it was the largest building in the area and has a range of luxury brands stores inside like Lacoste, Marc Jacobs, and Swarovski.
Arcos Bosques
Address: Paseo de Los Tamarindos 90, Bosques de las Lomas, Cuajimalpa de Morelos, 05110 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Website: Arcos Bosques
Opening hours: 11am - 9pm (daily)
Price: Free
10. Calakmul Building, Mexico City
Known as the “washing machine” by local residents of Mexico City, the Calakmul Building building is one of the city’s most unusual looking places. Named after the Mayan capital “Calakmul” is named in their honor and although the building is odd-looking it is favorite of the people of Mexico City as it’s purpose was to revitalize the neighborhood and area which was once the site of a local dump.
Calakmul Building
Address: Calakmul Building, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico.
Opening hours: 9am - 5pm (daily)
Price: Free
See the quirky architecture of Mexico
The people, the cities, the food, and the culture are all things that make up a city and things that make a city interesting and worth getting to know. In addition to national parks and beautiful beaches, Mexico also has a ton of fascinating buildings both historical and cultural that are absolutely worth a trip.
History
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