Zocalo & Historic Center

One of the largest public squares in the world at 46,800 square meters. It sits directly atop the ceremonial center of Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital that Hernan Cortes conquered in 1521. The name 'Zocalo' (pedestal) comes from an unfinished monument to independence — only the base was built before the project was abandoned, but the name stuck. The massive Mexican flag at the center is lowered and raised daily in an elaborate military ceremony. The square has hosted protests of over a million people, concerts, ice rinks, and Day of the Dead altars. Beneath it lie undiscovered Aztec ruins.

The flag ceremony at 6 PM is impressive and free. The Palacio Nacional on the east side has free entry and Diego Rivera's epic murals inside.

The ruins of the main Aztec temple of Tenochtitlan, accidentally rediscovered in 1978 by electrical workers and subsequently excavated from beneath colonial buildings. The temple was the spiritual center of the Aztec empire, dedicated to Huitzilopochtli (war god) and Tlaloc (rain god). Seven successive temples were built one atop another over 200 years. Human sacrifice occurred at the summit. The adjacent museum displays over 7,000 artifacts, including the extraordinary 3.25-meter Coyolxauhqui stone disk depicting the dismembered moon goddess. The Spanish built their cathedral using stones from this very temple.

The museum is included in the site ticket and is exceptional — the Coyolxauhqui stone and the Tzompantli (skull rack) room are highlights. The Aztec ruins visible at street level around the neighborhood are constantly expanding as new excavations continue.