My travel buddy, Sue, compiled this brief history:
Mexico City was settled by the Aztecs in the 1300s. Legend has it that the Aztecs were Nomads, who wandered seeking to fulfill the prophecy — that they would build a great nation on the place where the “eagle eats the snake, while perched on the cactus flower”. On a small spit of land in the center of lake Texcoco, they saw the snake. This prophecy is immortalized in the Mexican coat of arms, that appears on the flag.
Over the centuries the Aztecs land filled; building a thriving city of pyramids, commerce, religious edifices and residences. The lake was filled; the city thrived. Until Cortez arrived in early 1500 and brutally conquered the Aztecs. There are ancient ruins of the Aztec city right in the center of Mexico City — right near the government buildings & presidential palace.
Cortes brought in the Franciscan monks to convert the now subjugated Aztecs to Catholicism. The Franciscans were the good monks who also taught the native people crafts, skills and trades, to read & write in Spanish etc. Them came the Dominicans, and the brutal tactics of the inquisition.
We took the metro from our Condesa apartment and then walked through parts of the city including Chinatown. The living wall on the side of the bank building was a beautiful mural.
We joined our free tour walking group, with guide Eduardo, at the Zócalo in front of the cathedral.
The oldest part of the cathedral (inset) was constructed in 1573 on the remains of the Aztec Great Temple Teocalli of Tenochtitlan.
The organ is one of the largest 18th century organs in the Americas.
Altar of Forgiveness.
Altar of the Kings.
It wasn’t until 1978, after electricity workers happened on an 8-tonne stone-disc carving of the Aztec goddess Coyolxauhqui, that the decision was taken to demolish colonial buildings and excavate the Templo Mayor.
Buildings constructed using the basalt rock from temple ruins.
Eduardo told us if the Quinceanera celebration of a girl’s 15th birthday which includes extravagant dresses, limos and cakes! Young boys have roles as Chambelanes.
The main post office – Palacio Postal built in 1907 – neo-classic architecture with its flying staircase and gold plated ornamentation.
The mural, made in 1935, created using 34,000 stamps which were collected over a period of 30 years.
The Casa de los Azulejos or “House of Tiles” is an 18th century Baroque palace, built by the Count of the Valle de Orizaba family. The facade is covered on three sides with blue and white tiles from the Puebla state.
On the streets – bottom left – he is checking his lottery numbers.
Palacio de Bellas Artes – original construction was started in 1910, but it was torn down and rebuilt in 1932 giving it a distinct Art Deco style. We will be going to a Ballet Folklorico event on Sunday.
Purification ceremonies performed by Shamans near the cathedral.
Copal (a tree resin from the copal tree) is ceremonially burned incense used by pre-Columbian cultures. Copal is sometimes sold as “young amber”.
Palacio Nacional is the home to the offices of the President if Mexico and the Federal Treasury. The first palace was built on this spot by the Aztec emperor Moctezuma II in the early 16th century. Cortes destroyed the palace in 1521, rebuilding it as a fortress with three inner courtyards.
Between 1929 and 1950, Diego Rivera painted murals depicting the history of the Mexican people from their Aztec origins to the 20th century.
We ended the day, after walking close to 8 miles and 18,000 steps, with a beer on the rooftop of the Zócalo Hotel overlooking the cathedral and the square.
Tres amigas!