Though the idea of a vacation in Mexico usually brings to mind images of margaritas on white-sand beaches, it seems the country is slowly but surely gaining recognition in other aspects as well. Among the most populated urban cities in Latin America and the world – not to mention The New York Times' number one "Place to Go in 2016" – Mexico City offers a particular cultural diversity evident both in its traditions and in its architecture. Considering it's the main tourist, educational, cultural, economic and political center of Mexico, it makes sense that it's the perfect scenario for the social encounters of its multicultural inhabitants and tourists.
The sites of architectural interest alone are worth the visit, with prehispanic, classic, modern and contemporary examples ranging from Juan O'Gorman and Luis Barragán to Felix Candela and David Chipperfield. Add to that the fact that its gastronomic scene has garnered much praise and attention in recent years, and you've got a perfect combo. Below is a carefully curated list of 30 sites that every architect should know and visit.
(Disclaimer: though roughly half the links direct to our Spanish site, the pictures are worth the click, we promise!)
01. Ciudad Universitaria / Mario Pani + Enrique del Moral - Biblioteca Central / Juan O´Gorman
Address: Avenida Universidad 3000
02. Casa Barragán / Luis Barragán
Address: General Francisco Ramírez 12-14
03. Casa Gilardi / Luis Barragán
Address: Calle General Antonio León 82
04. Casa O´Gorman / Juan O´Gorman
Address: Calle Diego Rivera & Avenida Altavista
05. Museo Casa Estudio Diego Rivera y Frida Kahlo / Juan O´Gorman
Address: Calle Diego Rivera & Avenida Altavista
06. Torre Latinoamericana / Augusto H. Álvarez
Address: Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas 2
07. Museo de Antropología / Pedro Ramirez Vázquez, Rafael Mijares, Jorge Campuzano
Address: Avenida Paseo de la Reforma & Calzada Mahatma Gandhi
08. Museo del Templo Mayor / Pedro Ramírez Vázquez y Jorge Ramírez Campuzan
Address: Acceso desde Plaza Seminario, Zócalo
09. Palacio de Bellas Artes / Adamo Boari - Federico Ernesto Mariscal Piña
Address: Avenida Juárez & Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas
10. Monumento a la Revolución / Carlos Obregón Santacilia
Address: Plaza de la República s/n
11. Plaza de las Tres Culturas
Address: Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas & Avenida Ricardo Flores Magón
12. Torre Insignia / Mario Pani
Address: Avenida Ricardo Flores Magón & Avenida Insurgentes Norte
13. Los Manantiales / Félix Candela
Address: Calle 27, 60, Xochimilco
14. Jose Vasconcelos Library / Alberto Kalach
Address: Eje 1 Norte Mosqueta & Calle Juan Aldama
15. Palmas 555 / Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos
Address: Paseo de Las Palmas 555
16. Museo Tamayo / Abraham Zabludovsky & Teodoro Gonzalez
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Address: Paseo de la Reforma 51
17. Reforma 27 / Alberto Kalach
Address: Paseo de la Reforma 27
18. Museo Jumex / David Chipperfield Architects
Address: Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra 303
19. Museo Soumaya / FR-EE / Fernando Romero Enterprise
Address: Boulevard Cervantes Saavedra esq. Presa Falcón
20. Cineteca Nacional Siglo XXI / Rojkind Arquitectos
Address: Avenida México Coyoacán 389
21. Casa Azul - Museo Frida Kahlo
Address: Londres 247
22. Elena Garro Cultural Center / Fernanda Canales + arquitectura 911sc
Address: Calle Fernández Leal 43
23. "Los Clubes" - Cuadra San Cristóbal y Fuente de los Amantes / Luis Barragán
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Address: Manantial Oriente 20, Atizapán de Zaragoza
24. Torres de Satélite / Mathias Goeritz en colaboración con Luis Barragán
Address: Perif. Boulervard Manuel Ávila Camacho & Paseo de la Primavera
25. Catedral Metropolitana de la Ciudad de México
Address: Plaza de la Constitución S/N
26. Basílica de Santa María de Guadalupe / Pedro Ramírez Vázquez
Address: Calzada de los Misterios & Zumarraga
27. Torre BBVA Bancomer / LEGORRETA + LEGORRETA + Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners
Address: Paseo de la Reforma & Lieja
28. Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso
Address: Justo Sierra 16
29. Castillo de Chapultepec
Address: Bosque de Chapultepec / Acceso por Paseo de la Reforma
30. Museo de Anahuacalli / Diego Rivera
Address: Museo 150
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