Historic center of Mexico City
Historic center of Mexico City
Centro Histórico de la Ciudad de México | |
---|---|
CDT ) | |
Official name | Historic Centre of Mexico City and Xochimilco |
Type | Cultural |
Criteria | ii, iii, iv, v |
Designated | 1987 (11th session) |
Reference no. | 412 |
Region | Latin America and the Caribbean |
The historic center of Mexico City (
This section of the capital lies in the municipal borough of Cuauhtémoc, has just over nine square km and occupies 668 blocks. It contains 9,000 buildings, 1,550 of which have been declared of historical importance. Most of these historic buildings were constructed between the 16th and 20th centuries. It is divided into two zones for preservation purposes. Zone A encompasses the pre-Hispanic city and its expansion from the Viceroy period until Independence. Zone B covers the areas all other constructions to the end of the 19th century that are considered indispensable to the preservation of the area's architectural and cultural heritage.[5]
This is where the Spaniards began to build what is now modern Mexico City in the 16th century on the ruins of the conquered Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire.[3] As the centre of the ancient Aztec Empire and the seat of power for the Spanish colony of New Spain, the Centro Historico contains most of the city's historic sites from both eras as well as a large number of museums. This has made it a World Heritage Site.[2]
History
What is now the historic downtown of Mexico City roughly correlates with the ancient Aztec city of Tenochtitlan, which was founded around 1325. During the prehispanic era, the city developed in a planned fashion, with streets and canals aligned with the cardinal directions, leading to orderly square blocks.
After the Spanish conquest, this design remained largely intact, mostly due to the efforts of Alonso Garcia Bravo, who supervised much of the rebuilding of the city. This reconstruction conserved many of the main thoroughfares such as Tenayuca, renamed Vallejo; Tlacopan, renamed México Tacuba, and Tepeyac, now called the Calzada de los Misterios. They also kept major divisions of the city adding Christian prefixes to the names such as San Juan Moyotla, Santa María Tlaquechiuacan, San Sebastián Atzacualco and San Pedro Teopan. In fact, most of the centro historicos is built with the rubble of the destroyed Aztec city.[5]
A number of people during this time, all Spaniards, accumulated vast wealth mostly through mining and commerce in the 17th and 18th centuries. This wealth is reflected in the various mansions scattered in the centro such as the
In the early part of the 20th century, as a result of the Latin American posture of then-Minister of Public Education José Vasconcelos, many of the streets to the north and west of the Zocalo were renamed after Latin American countries.[8]
The Zócalo and surrounding sites
Historically, the Zócalo, or main plaza, has been a venue for fine and popular cultural events. Some example of events held here recently are Spencer Tunick's photo shoot,[9] the Ashes and Snow Nomadic museum[10] and a skateboarding/BMX event that drew 50,000 young people on 24 August 2008.[11] The Festival de México is an annual event with programs dedicated to art (popular and high) and academia. In 2008, was the 24th Festival with 254 performances and shows from over 20 countries in 65 plazas and other locations in this section of the city.
It is central to national level protests such as those staged by Lopez Obrador after the 2006 Presidential Elections[12] and the nationwide protest against crime held on August 30, 2008.[4]
Just off the Zócalo are the Palacio Nacional, the Cathedral Metropolitana, the Templo Mayor with its adjoining museum, and
Between 1989 and 2000 extensive engineering works were conducted to arrest and rectify damage and distortions caused to the structure by the uneven rate and extent of the sinking of the building provoked by the continuous settlement of the ground on which it stands. This began with the drainage of the lake of the Valley of Mexico initiated in 1607 and has continued with the reduction of the water-table caused by the pumping of water for use by Mexico City's rapidly expanding population. The last of the temporary props which had disfigured the interior of the building during the engineering works were removed on 28 November 2000.[2][16]
The
The Nacional Monte de Piedad building is the national pawn shop, founded in 1775 and one of the largest second-hand shops in the world.[2] On this site were houses that belonged to the last Aztec ruler, Moctezuma II, which Hernán Cortés took for his own after the Conquest. These houses originally stretched from modern-day Isabel la Catolica, Madero, Tacuba and Monte de Piedad streets, prompting one chronicler, Cervantes de Salazar to comment that the residence was not a palace but rather another city.[17]
Notable sites north of the Zócalo
Santo Domingo refers to the Church of Santo Domingo and the adjoining plaza. Both are located three blocks north of the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral following Republica de Brasil Street with Belisario Dominguez Street separating the two.[2] Officially known as the Señor de la Expiación Chapel, the church is located on the north side of Belisario Dominguez and faces the plaza. It is all that is left from the first convent to be established in New Spain.[18] To the south of the church is Plaza San Domingo. It is flanked to the west by the Portal de Evangelistas,[2] which is a Tuscan colonnade with round arches.[17] Scribes with typewriters and antique printing machines work in this Portal.[2] Scribes offer their services to illiterate clients, often offering services similar to that of lawyers, counselors, and financial consultants. A statue of Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez, a heroine of the Mexican War of Independence stands in a fountain in the middle of the plaza.[17]
The
- Secretaría de Educación Públicaat Calle Argentina
- Centro Cultural de España (Cultural Center of Spain), located on Republica de Guatemala street just north of the Mexico City Cathedral
- Museum Archive of Photography, located at the corner of Republica de Guatemala and Republica de Argentina Street
- Lirico Theatre, located on Republica de Cuba street
- Antigua Escuela de Economía (Old School of Economics), located on Republica de Cuba Street
- Colegio Nacional, located on The Colegio Nacional Building, located on Luis Gonzalez Obregon Street
- Old Customs building, on Republica de Brasil just off the Plaza Santo Domingo
- Palace of the Inquisition (Museum of Mexican Medicine)located on Republica de Brasil
Notable sites south of the Zócalo
The
- Temple of Saint Augustine Located on Avenida Republica de El Salvador
- The original El Palacio de Hierro store located on Carranza and 20 de noviembre streets
- The original Liverpooldepartment store on Carranza and 20 de noviembre streets
- Saint Augustine House Located 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 Bernardooff the Zocalo
Notable sites west of the Zocalo
The
The Torre Latinoamericana - This is one of the best-known skyscrapers in Latin America. It was begun in 1948 and completed in 1956 and is 182 meters tall, antennae included.[26] It is located on the corner of Eje Central and Juarez Streets. It was the tallest tower in Mexico prior to the construction of Torre Pemex. The building has survived two major earthquakes since it was built, one in 1957 and the other in 1985.[27]
The
The
- Casa de los Azulejos a former mansion completely covered in blue and white Puebla tile between Avenida Madero and Avenida Cinco de Mayo
- Colegio de Minería (College of Mining) on Tacuba Street
- Mexican Army Museum originally Bethlemites Hospital, located at Tacuba and Mata
- Garden of the Triple Alliance on corner of Tacuba and Mata
- Cámara de Senadoreson Xicoténcatl Street
- Museo de Estanquillo (cartoons and magazines) on corner of Isabel la Catolica and Madero
- Temple of San Felipe Neri "La Profesa"with collection of artwork from the 17th to 20th centuries, and guided tours on Saturdays from 1200 to 1400 hrs
- Interactive Museum of Economics on Tacuba Street
- Santa Clara church - Library of Congress on corner of Tacuba and Mata
- Senate of MexicoChambers on corner of Donceles and Xicotencatl streets
- Chamber of Deputies on Donceles Street
- Teatro de la Ciudad on Donceles Street
- Academia Mexicana on Donceles 66
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 Palacio del Arzobispado (Palace of the Archbishopric), built in 1530 under Friar Juan de Zumárraga on the base of the destroyed pyramid dedicated to the Aztec god Tezcatlipoca. It remained the archbishphoric until 1867 when the Finance Ministry Accountancy Department was established there.[28] The modern museum houses an exhibit dedicated to this god as well as a large art collection.[29]
La Santísima Church is located at the corner of La Santísima and Emiliano Zapata streets.[30] Its full name is Temple and Hospital of the Most Holy Trinity (Templo y Antiguo Hospital de la Santisíma Trinidad).[31] The church was built between 1755 and 1783 as a temple for the adjoining hospital/hospice for priests.[17] The church still retains its original function but the adjoining hospital and office sites have since moved into private hands with only parts of the original structures still intact and preserved. The church is also noted for the fact that it has sunk almost three meters since it was built.[31]
The José Luis Cuevas Museum is located just off the city's main plaza, or Zócalo, in a building that was the convent for the neighboring Church of Santa Ines (Agnes of Rome). This convent was founded in 1600 by Don Diego Caballero and his wife Doña Inés de Velasco. The convent existed until 1861, when, due to the Nationalization of Church Property Act, all convents and monasteries in the country were disbanded. The convent's church and residence hall where separated and the Church of Santa Inés still maintains its original function. The residence hall became private property, functioning mostly as tenements until artist José Luis Cuevas bought the property with the intention to restoring it and establishing the current museum dedicated to his art and art of contemporary Latin America.[32]
The
- Cathedral Nuestra Señora de Balvanera and Sanctuary of San Charbel, built in the 17th century located at Rep Uruguay and Correo Mayor.
- Palacio de la Autonomia de UNAM, (Palace of UNAM's Autonomy) located off of Moneda Street.
- Departamento de Estadistica Nacional (Dept. of National Statistics) building on Correo Mayor
Around the Alameda Central
- Palacio de Bellas Artes on Juárez Street
- Teatro Hidalgo on Hidalgo Street north of the Alameda Central
- Parish of Santa Cruz, Mexico City on Hidalgo Street
- Museo Nacional de la Estampa (National Print Museum) located on Hidalgo Street
- Franz Mayer Museum on Hidalgo Street
- Parish of La Santa Vera Cruz de San Juan de Dios on Hidalgo Street
- Ex Temple of Corpus Christion Juarez Street
Barrio Chino
Mexico City's Chinatown, known locally as "Barrio Chino", is located on two blocks of Dolores Street, just south of the Palacio de Bellas Artes. It is very small, consisting only of a number of restaurants and businesses that import goods. Its diminished size is because most descendants of Chinese immigrants to Mexico in the late 19th and early 20th centuries either intermarried with the local Mexican population and/or were expelled from the country in the 1930s. Despite this, it is considered the nucleus of the approximately 3,000 families with Chinese heritage in the city.[35]
Architecture
Even though Spanish colonial buildings make up most of Centro histórico there are examples of different architectural styles
- Baroque: Palacio de Iturbide, Casa de los Azulejos, Palacio Nacional and Palacio de los Condes de Valparaíso
- Neoclassical: Palacio de Mineria
- Italiante style: Palacio de Correos
- Art Nouveau Palacio de Bellas Artes
- Beaux-Arts: Museo Nacional de Arte, Banco de México
- Art Deco Banco de Mexico, Interior of Palacio de Bellas Artes
- Functionalist: Torre Latinoamericana
Education
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Primary and secondary schools:
20th and 21st centuries
Deterioration of the area
From Aztec times, the Centro Historico used to be where the wealthy and elite lived. However, in the early 20th century, these classes began to move to areas west and southwest of the Centro, to neighbourhoods such as
By the 1980s, so many had fled the Centro that many of its former mansions were either abandoned or turned into tenements for the poor,
Deterioration of religious buildings
Many of historic churches in the oldest parts of the city are in serious disrepair and are in danger of being lost. Efforts to save these churches are hampered by disagreements between the
Some of the disagreement is over the extent of the deterioration. Conaculta does not believe that any of the 68 religious buildings in the oldest part of city are in imminent danger of collapse. However the
Revitalization
Starting in the early 2000s, the government has infused 500 million Mexican pesos (US$55 million) into the Historic Center Trust[36] and entered into a partnership with the Fundación Centro Histórico, an organization established by Carlos Slim, to buy dozens of centuries-old buildings for rehabilitation.[37] The significance of this effort was recognized when, in 2006, the Historic Center was included in the 2006 World Monuments Watch by the World Monuments Fund.[40] Work began with the beautification of 34 blocks just north of the Zócalo, digging up the antiquated drainage system and improving water supply. An architect was put in charge of each of the thirteen main streets to restore the facades of more than 500 buildings.[36] The latest infrastructure projects of this type have focused on the southwest portions of the area, on República de El Salvador, Talavera, Correo Mayor, Mesones and Pino Suárez streets, mostly focusing on repaving and improving the outdated drainage systems. In the process, artifacts dating from as early as the pre-Hispanic period have been unearthed.[41][42][43]
All over the historic center, streets have been pedestrianized, buildings have been restored, and new museums opened. In the 1990s, after many years of controversy, protests and even riots, most street vendors were evicted to other parts of the city.[2] The impetus to bring things back to the city center included the construction of the new mayoral residence just off the Zócalo.[38] The government has buried electric and telephone cables in the area, and replaced old asphalt with paving stones. It has also installed nearly 100 security cameras to help with crime issues.[37] This paved the way for the opening of upscale eateries, bars and fashionable stores.[2] Also, young people are moving into downtown lofts. To attract more tourists, there are new red double-decker buses.[37]
As of 2004, investment in the city center has climbed to over 5 billion pesos or 438 million U.S. dollars. According to the Historic Center of Mexico City Trust, this has led to the creation of 15,000 jobs and property owners in the area are showing interest in improving on their investments here. It has also attracted outside investment into the area.[44]
Transportation
Tour buses, locally known as "Turibuses", are the most commonly used transportation for tourism in the historical center as well as many other parts of the city. This is a paid service which transports visitors to different tourist attractions and cultural points in the city center.[45] The Mexico City Metro is the most commonly used means of transport for locals to visit the spaces of the historic center. The area is serviced by several stations. The Zócalo is served by Zócalo/Tenochtitlan metro station; Allende station the northern zone; Bellas Artes, Hidalgo and Juárez stations cover the Alameda area; and San Juan de Letrán, Salto del Agua, Isabel la Católica, Pino Suárez and Merced stations cover the southern zones.[46] The Mexico City Metrobús service also covers the zone with the Line 4 route. Another commonly used form of transportation is the taxi service. These are regulated by the Mexico City government and can be summoned by the government app "Mi Taxi".[47][48] Cycle rickshaws, known in Mexico as "ciclotaxi" (English for cycle taxi) were a commonly used means of transport to visit the spaces of the historic center, however their usage decreased significantly in the late 2010s.[49][50][51]
See also
- List of pre-columbian archaeological sites in Mexico City
- List of colonial churches in Mexico City
- Barrios Mágicos of Mexico City
References
- ^ Delegación Cuauhtémoc. "Delegación Cuauhtémoc Entorno" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2018-06-17.
- ^ ISBN 1864500875.
- ^ a b "UNESCO World Heritage Sites Mexico City Historic Centre and Xochimilco". Retrieved 2008-08-30.
- ^ a b "Mexicans protest nationwide against crime wave". Fox News. August 30, 2008. Archived from the original on September 1, 2008. Retrieved August 31, 2008.
- ^ a b c Valdez Krieg, Adriana (September 2004). "Al rescate del centro histórico". Mexico Desconocido. 331. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
- ISBN 968-32-0540-2.
- ISBN 84-01-61896-7.
- ISBN 968-5437-29-7.
- ^ "Spencer Tunick en Mexico". Archived from the original on 2008-08-31. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
- ^ "Exposicion Ciudad de Mexico". Retrieved 2008-08-31.
- ^ Barba, Jesus (24 August 2008). "Concierto del Zocalo dejó 70 jovenes lesionados". Noticias Televisa. Retrieved 2008-08-31.
- ^ "Leftist's supporters paralyze Mexico City Center". NBC News. August 1, 2006. Retrieved 2008-08-31.
- ^ Castellanos, Montiel Martín, Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico City, Editorial Octavio Antonio Colmenares y Vargas, Mexico City (2012), pp.15-20
- ^ Toussaint, Manuel, La Catedral de México, Porrúa, México (1973), p.43.
- ^ See the program of events on the cathedral's official website accessed 28 March 2015.
- ^ For a description of the works see Castellanos, Montiel Martín, Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico City, Editorial Octavio Antonio Colmenares y Vargas, Mexico City (2012), pp.141-150.
- ^ ISBN 968-5437-29-7.
- ISBN 968-5437-29-7.
- ^ ISBN 968-5437-29-7.
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- ^ "San Ildefonso en el tiempo". Archived from the original on 2009-02-26. Retrieved 2009-04-24.
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- ^ ISBN 968-5437-29-7.
- ISBN 968-5437-29-7.
- ^ "Palacio de Cultura Banamex". Archived from the original on 2004-02-15. Retrieved 2009-03-23.
- ^ "SkyscraperPage.com Torre Latinoamericana". Retrieved 2009-03-25.
- ^ "CiudadMexico.com.mx Torre Latinoamericana" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2009-03-25.
- ISBN 968-5437-29-7.
- ^ "Museo de la Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público. Antiguo Palacio del Arzobispado". Archived from the original on 2009-07-24. Retrieved 2008-09-11.
- ISBN 968-5437-29-7.
- ^ a b Palacios Rangel, Rosa Maria. "Templo de la Santisima Trinidad y Hospital de San Pedro" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
- ^ Cuevas, Beatriz del Carmen. "Historia del Convento de Sta. Ines y creación del Museo JLC". Retrieved 2009-03-28.
- ISBN 968-5437-29-7.
- ^ "Casa de a la Primera Imprenta de America" (in Spanish). May 2002. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2009-03-25.
- ^ Campos Rico, Ivonne Virginia (2003). La Formación de la Comunidad China en México: políticas, migración, antichinismo y relaciones socioculturales (thesis) (in Spanish). Mexico City: Escuela Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH-SEP). pp. 119–121.
- ^ a b c d e Butler, Ron (September 2002). "Center of Belated Attention". Economist. 364 (8290): 37.
- ^ a b c d e f Smith, Geri (May 2004). "Mexico City gets a face-lift". Business Week (3884). 00077135.
- ^ a b Butler, Ron (Nov–Dec 1999). "A New Face for the Zocalo". Americas. 51 (6): 4–6. 03790940.
- ^ a b c "En riesgo templos del Centro Histórico del DF". El Siglo de Torreón. Notimex. 2008-07-28. Retrieved April 29, 2009.
- ^ World Monuments Fund - Mexico City Historic Center
- ^ Alejandro, Cruz (2008-08-30). "Arrasa con vestigios prehispánicos rescate del Centro Histórico". La Jornada. Archived from the original on 2009-03-06. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
- ^ "El Zócalo de la Ciudad de México entre los 10 puntos más visitados del planeta". MXCITY (in Spanish). 19 December 2018. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
- ^ "Centro Histórico de la Ciudad de México". cultura.gob (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-02-24.
- ^ "Investment in Historic Center of Mexico City climbs to 5bn pesos". Highbeam Research. Internet Securities. Notimex/Comtex. 2004-09-24. Retrieved May 1, 2009.[dead link]
- ^ "Turibús CDMX | Experiencias, Circuitos, Turitour - www.turibus.com.mx". www.turibus.com.mx. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
- ^ "Qué estaciones del Metro, Metrobús y Trolebús estarán cerradas durante el Desfile de Día de Muertos en la CDMX". Infobae (in Spanish). 30 October 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
- ^ "Mi Taxi de la App CDMX: te decimos el paso a paso". www.wibe.com (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2021-12-14.
- ^ CDMX. "CDMX". CDMX (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-12-14.
- ^ Marco Antonio (2016-08-16). "Bicitaxis y tándems, opciones en lugar de micros en Zócalo: Mancera". Quadratin CDMX (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-02-24.
- ^ Ramón Arizmendi and Óscar Martínez Corona (2018-06-07). "Los bicitaxis en el Centro Histórico" [The bicitaxis in the historical center]. Cycle City (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2021-04-21. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
- El Sol de México(in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-02-23.
External links
- Media related to Historic centre of Mexico City at Wikimedia Commons