The Mexico Attraction- Alameda Central Park

Alameda Central Park is a picturesque oasis located in the historic center of Mexico City. This city garden is recognized as the oldest in Mexico and America: it was laid out more than 400 years ago by order of the Viceroy of New Spain. The territory of the park is limited by four streets of the city: in the north – Avenida Hidalgo, in the east – Angela Peralta, in the south – Avenida Juarez, in the west – Doctor Mora. Alameda Central is a popular stroll. Comfortable benches, the rustle of emerald leaves, and cool shade – this is why tired travelers come here, who are bored with the roar of cars and the bustle of the capital.

Alameda Central became the symbol of the traditional Mexican park and gave the name to other urban gardens, which subsequently appeared throughout the country. However, they cannot be compared with the emerald pride of the inhabitants of Mexico City.

Sights

Amisiclo a Juarez is the most revered and notable monument of Alameda. This is a kind of symbolic burial place of the remains of Benito Juarez – “Mexican George Washington”, as the inhabitants of Mexico City call him. The monument was erected in 1910 by the order of Porfirio Diaz. The architect Guillermo de Heredia used Carrara marble, considered one of the most valuable. The Italian Lazzaroni worked on the sculptural composition.

Amiclo a Juarez is made in neoclassical style. At the dawn of its existence, the monument served as a landmark for meeting participants in rallies and marches. Now it serves as a symbolic entrance to Alameda Central. Nearby is the Biketitlan bike rental center for a tour of the Mexican capital.

Facing the monument, you can visually outline the park into two parts: left and right (there is no official division). This makes it easier to navigate while walking.

Behind the Emiciclo a Juarez is one of the most beautiful and largest fountains in the Alameda – Fuente de la Virgen (Fountain of the Virgin). Jets beat from carved parapets into the center, where a statue of a naked woman with an anchor in her left hand is located on a three-tiered sculpture. The first level is decorated with four figurines of babies, the second – with sculptures of seagulls. There is a newsstand a few steps from the fountain.

Left Sector

After reaching from the kiosk to Avenida Hidalgo and turning left, you can walk to Balderas Street, which branches off from the avenue and runs parallel to it. At the intersection, turn left again, straight to Fuente Heiser Hidalgo (Geyser Hidalgo), standing at the corner of Alameda Park. This is a small round fountain, from the center of which a stream of water rushes up one and a half meters.

Continuing along Doctor Mora Avenue, you can see two sights of Alameda at once – the sculpture of the German scientist-encyclopedist Alexander von Humboldt and Fuente de Mercurio (Mercury Fountain). The street leads to another corner of the park, where there is another geyser fountain (this time it is named after Juarez). The path directly behind it leads to Fuente de Neptuno (Neptune Fountain).

Standing next to it, you can see Emisiclo a Juarez saw through the tops of the trees, to which it is worth going.

Right sector

After going around the monument and turning to the right, tourists will approach Fuente de Venus (Fountain of Venus), from which two paths diverge in different directions. On one of them, you can get closer to the monument to the President of Mexico Francisco Ignacio Madero on horseback, on the other – to the monument to Ludwig van Beethoven.

In addition to the above-mentioned fountains and monuments, there are also less significant fountains in Alameda park. So don’t worry: there are really many colorful photographs to be taken in Alameda.

What to See Near the Park

Alameda Central is surrounded by several museums in the capital, where you can escape from the contemplation of the vegetation and the monotonous murmur of the park’s fountains.

Near the Beethoven monument, there is a magnificent view of the end of the marble building in the Art Deco and Beethoven styles. This is the Palace of Fine Arts – the most famous opera house in the capital. In addition to halls with impeccable acoustics, the Palace also houses museums: the National Museum of Architecture and the Museum of the Palace of Fine Arts. Those interested can get acquainted with the expositions free of charge by coming here on Sunday. On other days, the ticket price reaches 3 USD and 4 USD, respectively. You will have to pay 2 USD for the right to take photos and videos. Both museums are open from 10:00 to 18:00. Do not forget that Monday is a day off not only for the exhibitions of the Palace but also for many museums in Mexico City.

After going around the Opera House on Angela Peralta Street, turn right and cross to the opposite side. Moving along Avenida Hidalgo in the direction of the Catholic Church of Santa Veracruz and turning right, you can see two museums at once – the National Museum of Printing and the Franz Mayer Museum. The exposition of the first will delight those tourists who are interested in the history of Mexican graphics. Connoisseurs of applied art should visit the second museum. The ticket will cost 2 USD. The National Printing Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00, the Franz Mayer Museum is open on weekdays from 10:00 to 17:00, and on weekends from 11:00 to 17:00.

We cross again to the opposite side, returning to Alameda Central Park. We go around it along the perimeter and move along Doctor-Mora Avenue until it intersects with Christopher Columbus Street. Near Café Columbus, turn right to reach the Diego Rivera Museum, a collection of the painter’s colorful frescoes. Expositions are open all week from 10:00 to 18:00. The ticket costs 1 USD.

We return to Amisiclo a Juarez and head towards the pedestrian crossing. Opposite the cenotaph, on the other side of the street, there is the Museum of Memory and Tolerance, whose expositions tell the story of terrible crimes against humanity and force us to rethink the system of values ​​of the modern world. The museum is open on weekdays from 9:00 to 18:00 and on weekends from 10:00 to 19:00. The cost of the ticket is determined by your desire to take a guide or wander around the museum alone: ​​5 USD and 4 USD, respectively.