SAINT MARY SANCTUARY OF GUADALUPE

Our Lady appeared to the Aztec Saint, Juan Diego, on the Tepeyac hill. It is said that, on the last day of the apparitions, on December 12, 1531, a painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe was made on a fragment of the Indian garment. This is the oldest Marian apparition officially recognized by the Catholic Church. From 1999, the Virgin of Guadalupe was venerated as Patron of the Americas. The liturgical memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Guadalupe falls on December 12th. We visit the New and the Old Basilica, the Church on the Hill and the Guadalupian gardens. There will also be time to buy souvenirs and devotional articles.

ZOCALO

the main square, the heart of Mexico City. It covers an area of 46,800 m² (195 m × 240 m) and is one of the largest squares in the world. The square was laid out by the conquistadors in the sixteenth century. It is a place where previously there were political and religious center of the Aztec’s capital (Tenochtitlán), the temple called by the Spaniards as the Templo Mayor – Moctezuma’s palace. A Metropolitan Cathedral was built next to the square.

CATHEDRAL

Standing in front of the cathedral, you can fully see its enormity. We are welcomed by two high towers, 55 meters high. After entering, you can watch the play of lights and shadows. The building has as many as 164 windows, each profiled in such a way as to ensure optimal lighting of the interior of the church. The cathedral is a cross between Renaissance, Baroque and neoclassicism. We will see the Altar of the Kings, the Altar of Forgiveness, the Monument of John Paul II and the Black Christ.

NATIONAL PALACE

the seat of the Mexican authorities. The building stands at Constitution Square (Zócalo), stretches over 200 meters, taking up its entire eastern frontage. The main tourist attractions of the palace are murals painted by Diego Rivera, decorating the interiors of the palace and presenting the history of Mexico from pre-Columbian times to nowadays.

TOWN OF LATIN AMERICA

one of the first skyscrapers in Mexico, 182 m high. The building was opened in 1956 and has 44 storeys. We go to the very top to admire the skyline of this huge city.

PALACE OF FAIN ART

Palacio de Bellas Artes has been named as “Department of Art in Mexico”. The exterior of the building is primarily neoclassicism and Art Nouveau, and the interior is primarily Art Deco. The building is best known for its murals by Diego Rivera, Siqueiros and others, as well as many exhibitions and theatrical performances including Ballet Folklórico of México.

MAIN POST OFFICE

Palacio de Correo exists from the days of President Porfirio Diaz, who inaugurated it in 1907. The project is an eclectic mix of styles with Moorish, Spanish and Venetian renaissance, neo-classicism and art deco.

CASA DE LOS AZULEJOS – HOUSE OF PAINTED TILES

is an eighteenth-century palace in Mexico. It was built by the family of Count del Valle de Orizaba and is distinguishable by a facade, which on three sides is covered with blue-white tiles imported from the state of Puebla.

* SQUARE GARIBALDI

evening out, good fun with the tequila show, mariachis, art and Mexican folk dances. Mariachi are traditional Mexican bands that initially played at weddings. Currently, they perform in squares and on premises, entertaining tourists and introducing them to original, local culture. The musicians are usually dressed in tight trousers with shiny decorations and wear wide-brimmed sombreros.