
Photo: Arturo de Albornoz, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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.
The Teatro de la Ciudad was built as the Teatro Esperanza Iris in 1918 and is now one of Mexico City’s public venues for cultural events. The theater is located in the historic center of Mexico City on Donceles Street 36.
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MUNAL / National Art Museum
Housed in the former Palace of Telecommunications, this beautiful Porfirian-style building was built in 1904 by architect Silvio Contri. The museum presents a permanent collection of paintings and sculptures from the 16th century through the early 20th century, including a large number of very early Mexican paintings. The museum is famous for its enormous and ostentatiously decorated Reception Hall and for its Patio de los Leones, which houses much of its sculpture collection. The museum is very large with over 3,000 objects on display. It often hosts temporary exhibits on special subjects. Allow at least a half day to fully explore its many galleries.
In this beautiful square you can find the statue of Spanish king Charles IV also known as El Caballito (the little horse).
Palace of Mining
Formerly the Mining College, this building dated from 1792 features an old library and a chapel. It serves as venue for the yearly Mexico City Book Fair.
La Profesa
Baroque-style church established by the Jesuit order in the late 16th century and completed in 1610. The church is famous for its extensive art collection, some of which is on display for public viewing in an attached art gallery. The art was commissioned by the Jesuits during their first two centuries in Mexico. The collection remained intact when the Jesuits were expelled from all lands of the Spanish Empire during the 18th century. The building itself is admired for its early baroque architecture, which was more restrained than the effusive opulence of later churches, but that restraint did not extend to the church interior, which features many sculptures and period oil paintings, as well as architectural details like the extravangant Neoclassical main altar (designed by Manuel Tolsa to replace the original altar), covered in gold leaf. The art collection is one of the largest collections of early Mexican art and the gallery features four salons. Salon 1 contains the earliest works in the collection, mostly by well-known artists in Spain. Salon 2 boldly features a huge painting of Saint Philip Neri and the room is dedicated to works associated with the saint, as well as portraits of 11 popes. Salon 3 is a historical perspective of religious art from the 17th through 19th century with paintings depicting Biblical scenes and portraits of saints from those centuries. Salon 4 features works from the 18th century with two prominent paintings by Miguel Correa, one showing the torments of hell and the second showing judgment day as the good are separated from the evil.
Housed in the Postal Palace, features old postal stationery and mail boxes.
Palacio de Correos / Correos Mayor
One of the most beautiful buildings in the country and considered a National Heritage Building. Built in 1906, this European style building houses the main post office. Most of the materials used to build it were brought from Italy.