Famous Sites

Constitution Plaza called the Zocoulo is Mexico City's chief plaza. It covers the site of the old Aztec capital's main square, where the emperor's palace and the Great Temple once stood. Today City Hall, National Cathedral, National Palace, The National Pawn Shop and the Supreme Court of Justice all surround the Zocalo.

The National Pawn Shop which was founded in 1775, offers loans on personal property at low rates of interest. The National Palace was built during the 1600's as the Spanish governors home. It now contains the offices of the President and other officials. Paintings by the Mexican artist Diego Rivera are on the walls. Mexico's Liberty Bell is hanging over the main entrance. On Mexico's Independence day, September 15, the President rings the bell.

In the middle of Mexico City towards the west of Zocalo there is the Paseo de la Reforma. It is one of the most beautiful boulevards in the world. On the boulevard there is the Palace of Fine Arts. In the Palace there is the National Theater. There are dance programs, operas, and plays that are performed. There are also art galleries and auditoriums. The Palace was built from almost all of marble. The weight of the Palace caused it to sink about 15 feet into the ground. Near the Palace there is the Latin American Tower. It is 44 stories tall and one of the highest buildings.

Mexico has many beautiful ruins that remain from the Aztec and Mayan Indians. The ruins of Chichén Itzá are located between Cancun and Merdia. It is one of the most visited sites in Mexico's Yucatan of the Mayan people. In the site there is the Pyramid of Kukulakan. It is 79 feet high and has 91 steps on each of its four sides plus it has a platform. This makes a total of 365 steps one for each day of the year.

Tulum is the most visited Mayan city in the Yucatan. The ruins there are not as large as those in Chichén Itzá but they are located by the Caribbean. El Castillo is a large ruin in Tulum. It was probably used as a watchtower over the land and sea. Below El Castillo is a small beach where the Mayans probably had their canoes.

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Picture of El Castillo locate in Tulum, Mexico