Spend A Day In Mexico City's Historic Center

Mexico City's historical center is extremely important as a hub of culture, government, art and historical significance. Here you will find the National Palace, the seat of Mexico's government, a thriving business community, and Zocalo, Mexico's prized city square. Especially for a visitor's first time to Mexico City, spending a day in the city center will provide valuable context for Mexican culture and will be especially interesting for history buffs and art enthusiasts.

The National Palace
Plaza de la Constitución S/N
Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06066
Ciudad de México, D.F., Mexico
+52 55 3688 1255
www.hacienda.gob.mx

One of the most important places to see in Mexico City's world famous historical city is the National Palace, which serves as the nation's capital. The National Palace has been the ruling seat of Mexico since as far back as the the Aztec Empire. The building itself is a gorgeous blend of Aztec and colonial Spanish styles, which aptly represent Mexico's history in architectural form. From the Zocalo, city square, below the National Palace balcony, Mexicans can gather to witness speeches and important presidential statements, including the annual Independence Day Celebration speech.

All City Canvas
Distrito Federal
Centro, 06010
Ciudad de México, D.F., Mexico
arto.mx

Mexico City features some of the most influential street art in the world. Diego Rivera's famous works in the early 20th century inspired a generation of artists and political activists. To honor Mexico City as an art capital of the world, the All City Canvas project started in 2011. For the project, nine world renowned mural painters and street artists descended upon Mexico City and created nine beautiful works, many of which can be found in Mexico City's historic center. The artists were invited to work on the facades and sides of the Distrito Federal's prime real estate to create culturally important street art. While enjoying other activities in Mexico City center, definitely take a moment to regard these incredible new works.

Garibaldi Night Tour 
www.viator.com

Enjoy Zocalo after the sun goes down by participating in a Garibaldi Night Tour. In the evenings in Mexico City's historical district, all of the monuments and important historical structures in the surrounding area are beautifully lit, which makes this area fun to explore. During this guided tour, visitors will learn about each of these important landmarks and enjoy traditional mariachi music as street bands begin to perform in the evening. This tour is a great way to combine history, nightlife, music and, of course, food. Admission to the walking tour also includes a folkloric show at a local restaurant and a complimentary beverage. For convenience, admission to the tour includes transportation to and from your party's hotel.

Related: Best Markets To Shop In Mexico City

Museo Nacional de Arte, Mexico City
Calle Tacuba 8
Cuauhtemoc, Centro Histórico, 06010
Ciudad de México, D.F., Mexico
+52 55 8647 5430
www.munal.com.mx

While exploring Mexico City's historical center, the National Art Museum is an absolute must-see. Near the National Palace, this museum has an incredible collection of more than 3,000 works with a particular focus on Aztec, Mayan and meso-American Artifacts. The museum opened in 1982 and quickly gained a reputation as one of the most comprehensive art museums in the world, so make sure to allot a decent amount of time to visiting this huge, wonderful place.

Paseo de la Reforma
Paseo de la Reforma
Ciudad de México, D.F., Mexico

Mexico City's famous shopping boulevard, Paseo de la Reforma, also traverses the historical district of Mexico City. Paseo de la Reforma was designed by Spanish colonists to mimic similar roads to old European cities. Today, it serves as the main street through the center of the city and passes historical monuments, government buildings and museums. It was designed by Ferdinand von Rosenzweig in the 1860s and is a beautiful example of architecture and infrastructure. The entire length of the Paseo de la Reforma is just over nine miles from the residential neighborhoods all the way through the heart of the city.

Related: Guide To Mexico City's National Museum Of Anthropology

Cameron Bruns is the founder of BostonGreenBlog.com and co-author of Just Us Gals Boston. She lives in Boston's North End, where her goal is to promote ethical, stylish, and sustainable lifestyle choices to all Boston residents. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.