Photo: Mexch, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
A famous venue for lucha libre (Mexican wrestling) and boxing.
Arena Coliseo is an indoor arena in Mexico City, Mexico, located at República del Perú 77 in the Cuauhtémoc borough. The arena is primarily used for professional wrestling shows promoted by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). The building was completed in 1943, built by Salvador Lutteroth, founder and owner of CMLL and served as the main venue for CMLL from 1943 until 1953 when Arena México was completed and became the main venue for Lutteroth's promotion. It has a seating capacity of 5,550 when configured for professional wrestling or boxing events.
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Antiguo Palacio de la Inquisición / Palace of the Inquisition
This museum managed by the Medicine Faculty of the National University shows the history of health care in Mexico. Features a great replica of an old pharmacy and reconstructed labs of influential medical researchers. Signage is in Spanish only. It is housed in the Inquisition Palace, built between 1732 and 1737, which was the head office of the Holy Inquisition, the religious authority famous for torturing heretic people.
The second largest square in Centro Histórico after the Zócalo. It is surrounded by various important buildings such as the Palacio de la Inquisición, Santo Domingo convent and the old Customs House.
formerly Secretaría de Educación Pública/Ministry of Public Education
This museum is housed in a former convent from 1729 that later became headquarters for the Education Secretariat. In 1923, the department commissioned the up-and-coming Diego Rivera to decorate the building with 124 mural panels, extending over two city blocks and filling three levels. There are elaborate panels of traditional Mexican life on the ground floor, state seals on the second floor, and themes of revolution and class inequality on the third level. There is also a David Alfaro Siqueiros mural in the main stairwell. In 2024, the building became a museum dedicated to Mexican murals, with additional exhibits. Photography permitted, no flash.
Esperanza Iris
Historic theatre that was built to resemble La Scala in Milan. It is a huge theatre with stacks of balcony levels looking onto the stage below. The best seats are on the 1st balcony level (better than main level seats). The theatre hosts a range of performances, many plays, but also dance, music, and other forms.
La Enseñanza Church
Tucked away on a side street, this very narrow gem of a church was built in the 1770s and is notable for being an outstanding example of Mexican Churrigueresque architecture. Even more remarkable than the façade, however, are the nine gilt retablos inside.
Caricature Museum
Depicting the history of Mexican cartoons (political and amusing cartoons).