alltheflavorsandcolors: Discover Mexico City (Ciudad de Mexico): Part III

Ranked as the eighth richest city in the world, Mexico City is a great holiday destination for all those interested in arts, history and flavored local cuisine. If you decide to visit it, do not miss the chance to see some of the most picturesque places Mexico’s capital has to offer, such as Chapultepec area, Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe or the pyramids of Teotihuacan.

Chapultepec area

Placed in the very heart of the city, Chapultepec is the largest park on the western hemisphere, having more than 4 square km. It hosts a large Zoo, a castle, many museums, lakes, fountains and gardens. This area has played an important role in the history of Mexico, thus representing the cultural and leisure center of Mexico City.

Chapultepec castle

Chapultepec castle, located in the middle of Chapultepec Park, served many purposes along the centuries. It even became the official residence of Emperor Maximilian I during the Second Mexican Empire. In 1882, President Manuel González declared it the official residence of the President. Almost all succeeding presidents lived there until President Lázaro Cárdenas turned it into a museum (1939). It now houses the National History Museum (http://mnh.inah.gob.mx/).

Chapultepec Zoo

Chapultepec Zoo (Zoológico de Chapultepec) is a internationally renowned Zoo, founded in 1923 by Mexican biologist Alfonso Luis Herrera. The Zoo houses animals from more than 200 species and it is famous for its success in breeding programs of threatened species, including giant pandas and Mexican wolves.

Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe

The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe) houses the cloak containing the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, thus representing one of the most important pilgrimage sites of Catholicism. The Basilica is visited by several million people each year, especially around the date of 12 December - the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe (Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe).

The grounds of the Basilica comprise a national park, as well as several other churches and worship places.

Teotihuacan

After a two hours drive (50 km) from Mexico City you’ll reach the holy city of Teotihuacan ("The place where the gods were created") - the best preserved pyramids site in Mexico. This is the most visited archaeological site in Mexico and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987 (https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/414).

Built between the 1st and 7th centuries A.D., Teotihuacan is characterized by the impressive size of its monuments – especially the Pyramid of the Sun (one of the biggest pyramids in the word, built in 100 A.D.) and the Pyramid of the Moon (built between 200 and 450 A.D., offering beautiful views over Teotihuacan).