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Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Maurice Marcellin~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
A colonia in the Cuauhtémoc borough, 2 km west of the historic center. This area was designated as a "Barrio Mágico" by the city in 2011. It was created in the late 19th century and reached its height between 1910 and 1930. In the 1930s, the middle class moved in and a new era of construction began. Today, the colonia is a mix of old mansions and homes (with over 1,000 categorized has having architectural or historic value), small shops and businesses, tenements and abandoned buildings.
Colonia Santa María la Ribera is a colonia located in the Cuauhtémoc borough of Mexico City, just west of the historic center. It was created in the late 19th century for the affluent who wanted homes outside of the city limits. The colonia reached its height between 1910 and 1930. In the 1930s, the middle class moved in and a new era of construction began. The colonia began to deteriorate in the 1950s, as the city grew around it and apartment buildings were constructed. Since the 1985 Mexico City earthquake, poorer residents have moved in and economic housing has been constructed. Today, the colonia is a mix of old mansions and homes, small shops and businesses, tenements and abandoned buildings. The colonia has one major park and two museums. This area was designated as a "Barrio Mágico" by the city in 2011.
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Housed in a 1906 Porfirian building in Santa María la Ribera, this museum showcases Mexico’s geological heritage with a mammoth skeleton, the dinosaur Isauria, and extensive mineral and fossil collections. Interactive exhibits and José María Velasco’s paintings enhance the experience.
This historic park, established in 1861, is the heart of Santa María la Ribera. Its centerpiece is the Kiosco Morisco, an Art Nouveau pavilion built in 1884 for the New Orleans World’s Fair and relocated here in 1910. Surrounded by jacaranda trees and tiled fountains, it hosts dance classes, markets, and music on weekends.
This late 19th-century Byzantine-style church in Santa María la Ribera, designed by Carlos Herrera, is a hidden gem. Its vibrant interior features murals by Pedro Cruz depicting the life of St. Joseph, Christ’s birth, and the flight to Egypt, alongside stunning stained-glass windows and unique woodwork. A serene space for reflection, it’s a cultural treasure in one of Mexico City’s historic neighborhoods.
Megabiblioteca
Next to Buenavista train station, it is the largest library in Mexico and functions as a central library for other libraries in the country. It is housed in an impressive modern building designed by architects Alberto Kalach and Juan Palomar. It is a must for visitors with an interest in architecture, not only for its stunning exterior design, but for its famous "floating stacks" that create the illusion of book shelves hanging from the ceiling. The library also houses a large contemporary art collection. The ground floor houses free temporary exhibits and the grounds include a botanical garden with native plants.
Housed in a striking 1902 iron-and-glass building by Enrique Norten, this UNAM-managed museum in Santa María la Ribera focuses on contemporary art. It features rotating exhibits of avant-garde works, performances, and workshops. A cultural hub with a modernist vibe.
Architecturally unique and utterly fascinating restored neoclassical mansion from the Porfiriato era of the 19th century with period furnishings. Guided tours (in Spanish).