Museums
Most museums open from Tuesday to Sunday
from 10 AM to 5 PM. On Sundays admission is usually free (though crowded). Few of
them have an extended schedule (like Anthropology Museum until 7 PM) or later (like
San Ildefonso and Childerns' Museum) on Wednsday or Thrusday. Ticket prices vary
from US $1.00 to $3.00.
MEXICAN VICEROYAL ART
- Colegio de San Ildefonso
A very fine group of buildings devoted to temporary exhibitions. 16 Justo Sierra
St., North of the Zocalo square.
- Culhuacan Old Monastery
One of the very rare examples of XVI Century architecture and fresco paintings.
10 Morelos St., (between Taxqueña y Tlahuac Ave.)
- Guadalupe Shrine Museum
Paintings, catholic art and --of course-- Guadalupe images from various centuries.
Just beside de old temple.
- National Viceroyal Museum
One of the largest and finest collections of mexican art from XVI to XIX Centuries
at the extraordinary Tepozotlan Jesuit Monastery. 99 Hidalgo Square, Tepozotlán,
Edo. de México. (30 km North-west Mexico City)
- Cathedral Museum
There you will find portraits of bishops and catholic Art. Just beside the Cathedral
building (due to restoration it is closed). Zocalo square, Zocalo.
- San Carlos Museum
Located in the severe and elegant palace of the Count of Buenavista design at
the end of the XVIII Century. There you will find paintings and sculptures that used
to belong to the National Academy of Fine Arts. 50 Puente de Alvarado Ave., Col.
Tabacalera.
- Franz
Mayer Museum
A XVI Century building was restorated and adapted to contain the vast and valuable
art collection from America, Asia and Europe of the german business-man Franz Mayer.
After its classification, the collection serves as Applied Arts Museum. It also has
a private library, conference room, cafeteria and organizes temporary exhibitions
during the year. 45 Hidalgo Ave., Alameda.
- National Art Museum
The impressive building from the turn of the XX Century has within its walls
a large collection of mexican art: viceroyal, XIX and XX Centuries. It has important
works of art an organizes temporary exhibitions. 8 Tacuba St., Historic Centre.
- National History Museum (temporarily closed for restoration)
It is located at the Chapultepec Castle (an XVIII C. proyect and XIX C. building).
A historical place by itself and a magnificent view of the city. Chapultepec
Hill, Reforma Avenue.
- Carmelitan Museum
Part of the XVIII Century monastery is an ideal place for a viceroyal art collection
and an exhibition of New Spain daily life within an excellent museography. No.6 Revolución
Ave., San Angel.
- Iturbide Palace
Architect Francisco Guerrero y Torres built this mansion for the Counts of San
Mateo de Valparaíso. It is one of the finest XVIII Century mexican architecture
example. Short term art exhibits. 44 Isabel la Católica St, Historic
Centre.
- Viceroyal Painting Gallery
Within the walls of a noble monastery there are many examples of spanish and
mexican painters works. 7 Doctor Mora St. Alameda area.
MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART
- Colegio de San Ildefonso
A magnificent building where arcades frame frescoes by Ramón Alva de la
Canal, Fermín Revueltas, José Clemente Orozco, Jean Charlot and Diego
Rivera. There are important temporary exhibitions as well.16 Justo Sierra, North
of the Zocalo square.
- Tamayo Art Museum
This museum, built in 1981 by Teodoro González de León and Abraham
Zabludovsky has several halls dedicated to contemporary artists works. During the
year it organizes international exhibitions. Paseo de la Reforma Ave. and Gandhi
St., Polanco.
- David Alfaro Siqueiros Public Hall
An artist biographical museum besides his library. 29 Tres Picos St., Polanco.
- Carrillo Gil Art Museum
A four storey building that shows mexican, european an japanese contemporary
art. It also has a library. 1608 Revolución Ave., San
Angel.
- Modern Art Museum
Rounded halls in a twin building serve for a complete painting exhibition of
the Mexican Art Movement of the XX Century. Works are valuable and temporary exhibitions
are worth visiting. Paseo de la Reforma Ave. and Gandhi St., Chapultepec Forest.
- Fine Arts Theatre Museum
This important building was begun in 1904 and finished during the twenties in
a nationalist style. It contains important wall paintings. Some of its halls are
used for special exhibitions and cultural activities. At the 3th floor is located
the National Architecture Museum. Juárez Ave. and Eje Central, Alameda.
- Cuevas Museum
The mexican painter José Luis Cuevas organized this contemporary art museum
at the old Santa Inés Ex-Convent. No. 1 Academia St., Historic Centre.
- Alameda Museum
The wall painting from Diego Rivera "A Sunday Evening Dream at the Alameda
Park" has a historical and simbolic figures. South-Western side of the
Alameda.
- Soumaya Museum
Inside an old paper factory that now is a commercial plaza in the San Angel Neighborhood
there is this small museum that exhibits mexican art and french sculptures, specially
Auguste Rodin's. Río Magdalena Rd. and Revolución Ave., San
Angel.
PRE-HISPANIC ART AND CULTURE
- Anahuacalli (¨The house of the land by the lake¨)
A building designed by Diego Rivera in a mexican fashion for his studio an collector's
place. Museo Street, Coyoacan area.
- The Great Temple Museum
Unique archeological objects found in the very central temple of the Aztecs at
Tenochtitlan. The museum has two areas,
each one devoted to material and spiritual world of the mexica culture. Just in front
of it remains the city foundations and in the back the contrasting christian cathedral.
No.8 Seminario St., Zocalo.
-
National Museum of Anthropology
The huge complex of this museum was designed to contain the large collection
of indian objects found during three centuries. In has 26 exhibition areas organized
to show every local culture through the time. Visitors have the chance of relaxing
after visiting every hall at the central open space or gardens. This spatial concept
allows to visit certain halls or the whole museum (better in a couple of days). Mexican
indians life and culture is shown at the first floor. It has conference room, temporary
exhibitions area, bookstore and souvenir shop.
Paseo de la Reforma Ave. and Gandhi St., Chapultepec Forest.
- Teotihuacan Archeological Museum
An important aid to understand Teotihuacan culture and an introduction to visit
the city of the goods. Km. 46. México-Teotihuacán motorway, San Juan
Teotihuacán, Edo. de México. Buses depart at North
Bus Station.
- Cuicuilco Archeological Museum
The elder culture in the Mexico Valley buried after Xitle volcano eruption is
shown in this small museum. Insurgentes Sur Ave. and Periferico. Tlalpan
area.
- Xochimilco Museum
Curious pieces found in the lake area in a building designed at the beguining
of this century for water pumping purposes. 17 Tenochtitlan St., Santa Cruz Acalpixpan,
Xochimilco.
- La Estrella Hill Museum
At the actual place where the ancient ceremony of the "New Fire" used
to happen during pre-hispanic times. Ermita-Iztapalapa Rd.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
- MarineCave
Entering an artificial cave children would appreciate water life. Atlantis Marine
Park, 3th. sector Chapultepec Forest.
- Medicine Historical Museum
Inside the once related Inquisition Palace building has been installed this historical
museum to show the medical practices, instruments and ways of healing during ancient
and modern times. 33 Brasil St., Santo Domingo Square, Historic
Centre.
- Botanic Garden
Valuable samples of plants from the Americas. National University Campus.
- Science and Technology Museum
In this building is shown basic phisics phenomena and their daily life applications
in an educational way. 2th sector, Chapultepec Forest.
- Geology Museum
In the elegant frame of a turn of the Century building there you will find rocks
and fossils plus the history of their discovery in Mexico. There are also some paintings
by the XIX Century landscape master José María Velasco. 176 Jaime Torres
Bodet St., Santa Ma. la Ribera.
- Natural History Museum
Inside various domes there you´ll be able to follow the manifestations
of nature, from insects to dinosaurs. 2th. sector Chapultepec
Forest.
- Childrens' Museum at "El Papalote"
An interactive museum where children and adults will experiment material world
phenomena in an amusing way. Big Screen show. 268 Constituyentes Ave., 2th sector
Chapultepec Forest.
- National University Museum for Art and Science
Inside the San Angel Campus this museum has a large collection of fine and pop
art from all over the world. Temporary exhibitions. Besides Architecture School at
National University.
- Luis Enrique Herro Planetary at El Politécnico
The show of the universe in a 365° dome. Instituto Politécnico Nacional,
Zacatenco area.
MISCELANEOUS COLLECTIONS
- The Comics Museum
In an XVII Century building, once Colegio de Christo, visitors will observe graphical
examples from 1840 until now. 99 Donceles St., Historic Centre.
- Museum of the Shoe
Exotic, rare and special shoe pieces from the ancient Greece to our times in
one show room. 36 Bolívar St., Historic Centre.
- Mexico City Wax Museum
Located in a classical turn of the century mansion designed by Antonio Rivas
Mercado. Mexican and world wide famous people. 10 Londres St., Col. Juárez.
- National Printing Museum
Large and valuable collection devoted to the historiy of printing in America.
No. 8 Mar Ararufa St., Tacuba area.
- Juan Pablos Printing Museum
Placed in a 50´s house to show ancient seals, spanish playing cards thechnical
objects and the history of mexican printers. 101 Galileo St., Polanco.
- National Museum of Engraving
Just in front of Alameda Park, in the Santa Veracruz Square you can see fine
examples of artistic and newspaper printings from the XVI to the XX Century. 39 Hidalgo
Ave., Alameda area.
- The legal and false coin museums
A couple of small museums inside the Guardiola Building: a functionalist middle
of the Century building that belongs to the Bank of Mexico. The first shows coins
and currency from other times, and the second one is devoted to criminal alterations.
No 2. Marconi St. 1st. y 4th. floors. Alameda area.
- Central Postal Museum
Neovenetian bilding, still in function called The Postal Palace where a small
museum shows stamps and parafernalia. Tacuba St. and Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas,
Alameda.
ETHNOLOGY
- Culturas Populares Museum
A special museum for long term exhibitions about mexican life and popular manifestations.
Researchers material made easy to understand. 289 Hidalgo St, , Col. del Carmen,
Coyoacán.
- Charrería Art Museum
Part of the ancient Monserrat monastery is now the home of mexican cowboys and
land owners called "Charros". 108 Isabel la Católica St., Historic
Centre.
- Mexican Attire Museum
Two rooms are used to show the original collection of indian clothes plus a small
exhibition of feather work samples. 33 Madero St., Historic Centre.
- World Cultures Museum
As a secction of the National Palace of Mexico it owns a large collection of
objects that represent the people and customes of various countries. 13 Moneda St.,
Zocalo.
- Frida Kahlo's House
Original furniture, letters, objects and Frida´s dresses. Through them
it is easier to live her love to popular art ; her intelectual life beside Diego
Rivera and health difficulties. It has become a kind of devotional site known as
The Blue House. 247 Londres St., Coyoacán.
HISTORY
- Trotsky's House
Small museum and cultural center where the soviet leader lived his last days.
45 Viena St. and Río Churubusco Ave., Coyoacán.
- El Caracol Historical Gallery
Miniature scenographic show cases work as a time travellers gide. 1st. sector
Chapultepec Forest just before the Castle.
- Mexico City Museum
Placed in the lavish mansion of the Counts of Santiago de Calimaya, a fine mexican
baroque example. Through its rooms is shown the development of the city and historical
highligts. 30 Pino Suárez Ave., Historic Centre.
- National Army Museum
Now located at the ancient temple and halls of the Betlemitas college. It has
a historical collection of weapons and war material of the National Military School.
Tacuba St. and Filomeno Mata, Historic Centre.
- The Great Temple Museum
Unique archeological objects found in the very central temple of the Aztecs at
Tenochtitlan. The museum has two areas each one devoted
to material and spiritual world of the mexica culture. Just in front of it remains
the city foundations and in the back the contrasting christian cathedral. No.8 Seminario
St., Zocalo.
- National Museum of Foreign Invations
At the Churubusco Monastery adapted to this particular exhibition of original
objects that remind the life during Spanish, American and French invations in Mexico.
Calle 20 de Agosto St. and Av. General Anaya. Coyoacán.
- National Museum of History (closed for restoration)
The Chapultepec Castle was a vicerroyal proyect, military school and Porfirio
Díaz palace. After being the revolutionary leaders oficial house it become
a museum. It contains very important objects from the vicerroyal, Independence war,
and XIX republican struggles. It is accessed up-hill by a short road. 1st. sector
Chapultepec Forest.
- Museum of the Congress
An old theatre became the National Congress Hall after revolutionary movement
during the 20´s. Now it functions as the City Congress and shows its historical
documents. Allende St. and Donceles, Historic Centre.
LITERATURE
- Sor Juana Museum
The old San Jerónimo convent has been restorated to become a cultural
center and museum. Archeological discoverys, objects and colonial furniture rebilds
Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz life and poetry back to the XVII Century. 47 San
Jerónimo St., Historic Centre.
- Alfonso Reyes House
Library and museum at the house of the writer and diplomat Alfonso Reyes. 122
Benjamín Hill St., Col. Hipódromo Condesa
- The Poet´s Home
An amazing room creates the atmosphere that lived Ramón López Velarde,
and enters a voyage through his poetical memories. Private library, cafè-bar
and city tours. 48 Alvaro Obregón Ave., Col. Roma.
Useful links:
www.mexicanArt.com.mx/maps.html
National Arts Council
|
