Mexico City, an expansive metropolis comprised of 16 boroughs (demarcation territories), is the nation’s capital and one of the world’s most populous cities.
Mexican architecture showcases its history and modernity with evidence of pre-Columbian roots evident among its architectural gems. Tultepec, located just north of Mexico City, is known as its fireworks capital.
Location
Mexico City lies at the core of Mexico and boasts over one-fifth of the population. This concentration of wealth and power has fostered an active cultural scene and wide disparities between rich and poor residents.
Mexico City offers numerous monuments, landmarks, and attractions that visitors will surely enjoy, including an expansive zoo, the world-famous Anthropology Museum, luxurious hotels, and a wide variety of venues for art, music, and theater lovers.
Mexico City is served by an advanced transportation system that includes an underground Metro system and an extensive bus network, while an emerging suburban rail network is currently under development. Mexico City serves as a shopping and commercial center with high-end malls and centers offering international brands; in 1551, it also became home to the National Autonomous University of Mexico – considered one of Latin America’s premier higher education institutions.
Architecture-wise, this city showcases world-class examples of contemporary design and more classic neighborhoods at a slower pace. Here are examples of past and future – international styles mixing with remnants from pre-Columbian cultures to form one incredible vision of urbanity.
Visitors who want an authentic feel of Mexico City will want to explore several historical districts. These include Coyoacan – home to Frida Kahlo’s house and museum; Polanco; and old Xochimilco, Mexico’s Little Venice.
Mexico City has long been considered the political, economic, and cultural epicenter of Mexico and continues to serve this purpose today. Due to its central location in the country, its central position makes it a natural trading hub between arid northern regions, ocean coasts of both the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Coast, as well as southern Mexico. Since 1997, its economy has seen significant diversification with manufacturing giving way to services, producing one of Latin America’s highest gross domestic products, boasting strong union organizations representing taxi drivers, telephone workers as well as electrical/industrial workers; political parties have battled over control between ruling PRI party ruling party and Partido de la Revolucion Democratica party since 1997 – although both political forces compete fiercely within.
Climate
Mexico City is one of the largest and densest urban centers on Earth. Serving as an epicenter of government, culture, and commerce – hosting over one-fifth of Mexico’s population who work, live, or play there – Mexico City never seems to sleep, gliding into it by night like floating above an expansive ocean of lights.
At the center of San Agustin lies Plaza de la Constitucion, more commonly referred to as its main square or “Zocalo,” the second-largest in the world after Moscow’s Red Square. Here, many historical sites such as Catedral Metropolitana and Palacio Nacional can be found; its surrounding area contains over 1,400 colonial buildings that make this space feel very Spanish since Spain built their capital upon the top of Tenochtitlan – destroyed by Aztecs centuries earlier.
Situated in Mexico’s Valley of Mexico at 2240 meters (7,400 feet), Mexico City lies at 2,240 meters (7,400 feet), surrounded by mountains and volcanoes. Once known as a floating city served by canals, Mexico City now comprises skyscrapers and traffic jams stretching over miles.
At any time of year, the climate in this city is generally temperate. Summer days tend to be hot and humid, with occasional monsoon-like rainstorms in the evening (they typically pass quickly and leave the night dry and cool). Winter day temperatures resemble spring-like conditions during daytime but become more relaxed at night; light clothing should be brought, especially during summertime trips.
Air pollution in cities has long been an acute challenge. Population growth, increasing motorization and industrial activity, limited basin space, and intense solar radiation all play a part in contributing to high concentrations of criteria pollutants such as lead, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and ozone in the environment.
Xochimilco, located within Iztapalapa borough, is famous for its “floating gardens” because boats on its 50-mile network of canals are decorated with flowers. This district serves as one of the city’s primary food markets and one of its direct fresh produce suppliers; Central de Abasto in Iztapalapa provides wholesale supplies to most “mercados” or supermarkets throughout Mexico City, and Mercado de San Angel is another marketplace known for jewelry and crafts sales.
Languages spoken
Mexico City is at the core of Mexican politics, culture, and commerce, drawing over 1/5th of its population together to work and play. You’ll feel its buzz from every corner – mainly if you visit in the evening when the entire city has been illuminated like an ocean of lights!
Mexico City is the largest and most populous city in North America and one of the world’s most culturally vibrant centers, boasting some of the oldest and most impressive ruins and many of its country’s iconic museums and monuments. Furthermore, modern architecture, such as landmark buildings like Torre Latinoamericana and the World Trade Center, remind Mexico City remains at the forefront of 21st-century urban development.
But visitors to Mexico City still get a taste of traditional Mexico in its slow-paced neighborhoods, where most residents speak Spanish and still follow many of the same customs and traditions found elsewhere in rural areas of the country. Mexico City is divided into 16 boroughs called demarcation territories that further break down into neighborhoods known as colonies.
Most residents in the city primarily speak a mixture of Spanish and Mexican indigenous languages, with over 200 unique varieties still being told today. Spanish remains the official language, used by 90% of its population.
After Spain conquered Tenochtitlan in 1521, Spanish became the predominant language. Since then, however, American Spanish has developed distinctive characteristics that set it apart from European Spanish – much as American English differs from British English.
Mexico City has gone by many names throughout its history, from Mexica and later to its current moniker of Mexico City. This name reflects its long and continuous occupation as a capital city in North America. At its center lies Plaza de la Constitucion (locally referred to as El Zocalo); a planned monument commemorating Mexican independence from Spain in 1821 was intended for this plaza.
History
Mexico City (known locally as DF or Ciudad de Mexico) is Mexico’s capital and largest city and an internationally recognized center for finance, culture, tourism, and business activities.
Modern Mexico City was established by Spanish conquistadors in 1521 on the remnants of Tenochtitlan by Spanish conquest. Situated in the Valley of Mexico on the Mexican Central Plateau at an elevation of 2,240 meters (7,350 ft), Mexico City contains 16 boroughs or demarcations territories subdivided into neighborhoods called colonies.
At the height of Francisco Ignacio Madero’s Revolutionary government and counterrevolutionaries’ power struggle in Mexico during the early 19th century, militant revolutionary armies formed nationwide to combat both factions. One or more notable men led each region in Mexico; Alvaro Obregon represented smallholder farmers; in Chihuahua Emiliano, Zapata led an army that defended agrarian interests while Victoriano Huerta led his revolutionary army of workers – these groups quickly formed nationwide to fight each other’s revolutionary armies as they battled one another on both sides; militant revolutionary troops also began throughout each region as they came under attack by both groups – Alvaro Obregon represented smallholder media Campesina farmers; Chihuahua Emiliano Zapata led regime that protected agrarian interests while Victoriano Huerta lead his revolutionary army of workers defenders during Chihuahua; Emiliano Zapata led one such unit under Emiliano Zapata who then led an army that protected agrarian interests; while Victoriano Huerta lead another revolutionary army comprised workers who opposed Francisco Ignacio Madero led.
In Mexico’s 10-year war for independence, its central region generally avoided much of the violence; however, Mexico City was hit hard by artillery shelling during February 1913’s Decena Tragica or “Ten Tragic Days.”
The Centro Historico is at the core of Lima; its heart lies around Plaza de la Constitucion or Zocalo, one of the world’s largest squares–only Moscow’s Red Square surpasses it in size. Surrounding it are grand colonial buildings such as Catedral Metropolitana and Palacio Nacional, which make up its fabric.
Not far from Mexico City is Teotihuacan, an ancient pre-Colombian city that once served as the largest metropolis in North America and is now listed on UNESCO World Heritage sites. Additionally, the Xochimilco canal network features brightly decorated boats called trajineras that sail down a 50-mile network lined with fresh flowers and produce markets; there is also plenty of shopping, from artisan handicrafts sold at street vendors to top international fashion houses in Mexico City.
