Mexico is a country that few people know anything interesting about. Most inhabitants of the planet know this state as the place where such cinematic masterpieces as “Wild Rose”, “Simply Maria”, “The Rich Also Cry” and other soap operas were born, which won the hearts of millions of residents of post-Soviet territories in the nineties. Meanwhile, Mexico is a beautiful land, with an ancient and magical history, amazing sights inherited from the Mayan prophets and unsurpassed nature that has been formed over the centuries.
The very first civilizations
The area of Mexico is 1,972,550 km2. In addition, its territories include approximately 6,000 km 2 of islands located in the Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, the Mexican Ocean and Naturally, not all of these lands immediately belonged to the country. They were conquered, given away, returned back, and so on until the state known to modern man was formed. Excavations in 1947, carried out in Tepespan and other possessions of the country, proved that no less than 22 thousand years ago the first person appeared in this part of America. By the fifth-sixth century BC, the first settled civilizations were formed here. They grew legumes, pumpkins and maize.
Historians know several ancient cultures of Mexico. One of them is the Olmecs, who inhabited the modern area of Mexico somewhere from the 12th to the 5th century BC. e. The centers of this civilization were mainly located in Tres Zapotes, Cerro de las Mesas and La Venta. Today these are the states of Tabasco, Guerrero and Veracruz. The Olmecs had a fairly strong influence on civilizations that arose a little later. Their prosperity dates back to the 4th-9th centuries AD. Today these cultures are considered classic. These include the civilization of Teotihuacan, Zapotecs, Totonacs, and, of course, the Mayans.
Arrival of the Spaniards
Mexican lands were famous for their extraordinary wealth. The Spanish conquistadors had heard about their treasures. In 1511, a Spanish ship was wrecked near This was the first meeting between the peoples inhabiting Central America and Europeans. Jeronimo de Aguilar is a man who managed to survive that disaster. He stayed to live with the Mayans. Jerónimo mastered the language of this people, and eight years later he became a translator on an expedition led by Hernán Cortés.
Mexico is a country that was simultaneously explored and conquered in 1517. Diego Velazquez, the governor of Cuba, sent several expeditions here. The first of them was led in 1517 by Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba, the second was led by Juan de Grijalva in 1518. And the last one took place in 1519. Its head was Hernan Cortes. It was he who conquered the empire that belonged to the Aztecs and became the governor of those territories that he managed to subordinate to his laws.
Sights of Mexico
Mexico is a country that has experienced a lot of suffering in its lifetime. And the sights of the country are, of course, witnesses to all these trials. There are very, very many of them here. It is quite difficult to visit all these amazing places. But there are some special exhibits that simply need to be seen in person. One of these is This giant reached a height of 5636 meters and is considered the highest Mexican peak. Orizaba is mostly called a mountain, but in reality it is not. After all, this is a real volcano. The largest number of eruptions occurred at the border of the 16th-17th centuries. During this time there were as many as seven powerful explosions. After one of them in 1687, Orizaba fell asleep. The Aztecs called it Citlatepetl - the mountain that strives for the stars.
Fort San Diego is also a must-visit. This is a pentagonal building, shaped like a star. It is located in Acapulco. The fort was built to protect merchant ships and the city from pirates from Holland and England. San Diego was built back in the 17th century. This is the only historical landmark in Acapulco that has survived to this day.
Formation of the Mexican capital
The capital of Mexico is called Mexico City. But the city did not always bear this name. Previously it was called Tenochtitlan. The city was founded in 1325 by the Aztecs. There is a legend according to which Huitzilopochtli - the sun god - ordered the Indians to come here. He ordered the Aztecs to settle in the place where they would meet a proud eagle, who would sit on a tall cactus and hold a snake in its beak. The Indians searched for such a territory for a long time, but finally found it and founded a settlement there. This is how Tenochtitlan appeared on the western shore of Lake Texcoco. Later it became the capital of the Aztec power.
The capital of Mexico is indescribably beautiful. The first Europeans, who were struck by the splendor of Tenochtitlan, called it the Venice of the Aztecs. This unsurpassed city existed for almost two hundred years. It was conquered by the Spaniards, so it was greatly destroyed. In 1521, a new city was created on the site of the ruins - Mexico City.
City of contrasts
The capital of Mexico is a city full of contrasts. You either like him at first sight, or he causes irritation and a burning desire to leave him immediately and go somewhere a little calmer. Unparalleled museums and buildings coexist with poor neighborhoods, while ancient churches and fragrant parks, synonymous with the word “peace,” border noisy and busy streets. In short, Mexico City is a multifaceted city, it is special, unpredictable and fascinating, just like the country itself.
Mexico City Museums
The capital's museums are one of the main attractions of the city. Mexico, the capital Mexico City in particular, is simply oversaturated with them. The most beautiful and impressive institutions are located here. First of all, I would like to mention the Mexico City Museum. It is located in a palace made in the Baroque style. was built in the 18th century and belonged to the count family of Santiago de Calimaya, who was a descendant of the famous conquistador Cortes. The museum in this house opened only in 1964. There are 26 halls demonstrating the history of the development of the capital of Mexico from the time of the Aztecs to modern days.
The house-museum of Leon Trotsky is considered no less famous. The great publicist lived in it for the last few months of his existence, and here he was killed in 1940. The capital of Mexico is the city that provided political shelter to the famous revolutionary in 1937. On August 20, 1990, the house-museum was officially opened. There is a public library here, in which Trotsky’s works and some of his documents are carefully preserved.
Palaces of Mexico City
Among all the attractions of this city, I would like to note the palaces, which are majestically located in their honorary territories. The capital of Mexico (photos can be seen in our article) boasts the Chapultepec Palace. This is the most famous castle in all of North America. Emperors, presidents and governors of the country once stayed here. The palace is located on the hill of the same name, the height of which reaches 2325 meters above sea level. King Bernard de Galvez initiated the founding of the castle. Today, numerous excursions are held here, which appeal to all visitors without exception.
The Palace of Fine Arts is another attraction that has captured the hearts of many travelers. This is an opera house, and it is located in the very center of Mexico City. The building is the largest structure on the planet, for the construction of which Carrara marble was used. The domes of this architectural masterpiece are decorated with Italian marble. And the interior of the theater was created by Federico Mariscal.
Latin American Tower
As mentioned above, the country of Mexico (whose capital is Mexico City) is a state full of contrasts. But besides them, it is also filled with paradoxes. One of these is the Latin American Tower - a 183-meter building located in the center of the capital. This building is located in a seismic zone, but this did not prevent it from successfully surviving several powerful earthquakes.
The tower has 44 floors. And the structure was created not so long ago, in 1956. Today it is used as an office center. You can move from floor to floor using a high-speed elevator, of which, by the way, there are two: one takes you to the 37th floor in just half a minute, and the other reaches the 42nd floor, where the cafe and observation deck are located.
The day of the Dead
No, no, don't be afraid, it's traditional. Just if you are lucky enough to be in the country when it takes place, be sure to visit it. The country of Mexico (the capital in particular) celebrates this day on the first and second of November. These events are an occasion for the whole family and friends to gather to pray and remember those who are no longer around. Not a single bank is open in the country during the celebrations. So, people go to cemeteries, where they want to spend a little time with the souls of the departed. At the graves they build altars on which they display photographs, favorite drinks and dishes, and memorial items of the one who rests in the ground.
The skull is the main symbol of this holiday. People celebrating the Day of the Dead cover their faces with masks, wear skeleton costumes, make skulls out of chocolate or sugar, and write their names on the forehead of a unique dessert. Perhaps this is a little wild for us, but there it is in the order of things. Sweet skulls are given as souvenirs to both the living and the dead. The capital of Mexico is called Mexico City, and in the first two days of November it can be called a dead city.
You might be interested
Mexico is an amazing country, and the capital of Mexico is generally something unique. And there are things that will surprise every person for whom this region has even the slightest interest. So, here are some fun facts about this state:
- Every year it is visited by 20 million people.
- Brazil - Mexico is a football match that took place between these countries in the summer of 2014. The game ended with the score 0:0.
- The pyramid called Chichen Itza, which is one of the seven wonders of the world, is located in Mexico.
- uses 80 varieties of pepper.
Instead of a conclusion
Mexico is the birthplace of everyone's favorite chocolate. It is also the only Latin American country to host the Olympic Games. So pack your bags, an exciting journey awaits you!
And Belize (in the south). The shores of Mexico are washed on the west by the Gulf of California and the waters of the Pacific Ocean, on the east by the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. The capital of the country is Mexico City.
Population of Mexico
The country is home to 92 million people. 60% of them are mestizos, 30% are Indians, 10% come from other countries.
Nature
Mexico has a surprisingly diverse topography: lowlands on the coast, high plateaus, mountains, deserts and jungles. The Mexican Highlands occupy most of the country's territory. There are 43 volcanoes in Mexico, most of them extinct. The most famous and tallest of them are Orizaba, Popocatepetl, Iztaccihuatl.
Climate conditions of Mexico
The country is characterized by climatic contrasts. The Mexican highlands are characterized by a temperate, dry climate, with snow caps on the mountain tops, and the southern coastal areas will greet vacationers with heat and high humidity. In the north the climate is subtropical, in the south it is tropical. The average temperature in any season is +27...30°C.
Language
The official language is Spanish. Many sectors of the tourism sector understand English, and they are trying to resurrect the Mayan language, as evidenced by the release of the first TV series in this language at the beginning of 2013.
Mexican cuisine
Mexican cuisine is one of the most delicious and original in the world. This is explained primarily by the mixing of recipes from French and Spanish cuisine with a strong influence of Aztec traditions. Typical Mexican dishes are tacos - a tortilla baked over coals with filling, tamales - steamed corn dumplings seasoned with hot sauce, posoles - fried meat breaded in corn flour, burritos - meat filling with hot sauce in a corn tortilla. The hallmark of the national cuisine is more than 80 types of hot peppers.
Currency
Time
Local time is 9 hours behind Moscow.
Religion of Mexico
The vast majority of residents (87%) are Catholics, about 6% are Protestants. The remaining 7% comes from adherents of other religions and atheists.
Holidays in Mexico
The main national holiday is September 16 – Independence Day, December 12 – Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, December 25 – Christmas.
Major resorts in Mexico
Cancun is considered the most famous resort in the Caribbean. Tourists are attracted here by sandy beaches and intriguing ruins of Mayan Indian settlements. The sea off the coast here is always warm and surprisingly clean. Temperature all year round +28...30°C. Thousands of diving enthusiasts come every year to see the famous Black Coral Reef, discovered by J. I. Cousteau two decades ago.
Acapulco is one of the most charming resorts in Mexico. The turquoise sea and soft contours of the coastal hills have made the resort popular among Hollywood stars. Today Acapulco is a large resort city with fashionable hotels, numerous shops and vibrant nightlife.
Fans of wildlife and eco-tourism will love the island of Cozumel. The island is famous for the diversity of the underwater world off the coast and a huge coral reef, 700 km long, and the most popular (and most dangerous) diving sites are Barracuda Reef, Sanat Rosa, Punta Sur. Sandy beaches occupy a very small percentage of the land; the rest of the territory is covered by a national park.
Sights of Mexico
Tourists are attracted to Mexico primarily by the rich archaeological monuments left by the ancient Mayan and Aztec peoples. These are numerous Mayan pyramids. Only a few of them are accessible for viewing; the rest are buried under a thick layer of earth or lush tropical vegetation. The most famous pyramids are: Teotihuacan, Cholula, the Mitle and Monte Alban groups of pyramids. The ancient cities of the Indians are priceless monuments of antiquity. The ruins of the city of Chichen Itza with its group of thousand columns, the temple of warriors and the temple of jaguars, unique statues of deities and decorative reliefs made this place lost in the jungle famous throughout the world.
For those interested in more recent history, a visit to the country's capital, Mexico City, with its National Palace, the majestic Plaza El Zocalo, the Palace of Cortez and the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe will be of interest. Visit the intimate, souvenir-like city of Taxco, nicknamed the “silver capital of Mexico.” Its narrow cobbled streets climb from the foot of the mountain to the very top and at every step there are jewelers' workshops or silver shops.
Mexico is the most mysterious country in the world. In its air there are echoes of ancient legends and the spirit of the former owners of this land - the warlike Aztecs. Try the exotic chayote fruit, drink aromatic hot chocolate and watch the sunrise at the very top of the nine-step Kukulcan Temple - and perhaps the curtain of an ancient secret will lift.
1. The Mexico City metro has special cars for women and children. A part of the platform is allocated for these cars at most stations. The entrance to this part of the platform is separated by special fences and is guarded by police during rush hour. This was done in order to protect women from the harassment they are subjected to in the crowded carriages of the metropolis.
Also, unofficially, the last car of the metro train is considered the gay car, and straight men prefer not to go there.
2. Another interesting fact about the metro of the Mexican capital is the pictograms for each station. In Mexico City, each metro station not only has a name, but also has its own logo. They say this was done so that part of the population who cannot read could navigate public transport. But to me, this kind of conceptual branding for each station is just a really cool idea. After several days in the Mexico City metro, you stop reading the names of the stations and start navigating by pictures.
3. In addition, trains in the Mexico City metro ride on wheels with tires on special flat metal rails. The metro of the Mexican capital can hardly be called an underground - most of the stations are located on the surface, and if underground, it is very shallow. The metro here is not very crowded, but in the carriages, just like in Russia, they constantly sell all sorts of crap: from music CDs to chewing gum. The same goes for transitions. By the way, the transitions between lines in the Mexico City metro are simply very long: sometimes such a journey can take 20 minutes!
4. In Mexico, as in some other Latin American countries, a girl’s 15th birthday is celebrated on a huge scale. This holiday is equivalent in scale to a wedding: the girl dresses up in a huge fluffy dress, goes to the altar in front of the whole family, where the priest blesses her and declares that from now on she has ceased to be a child and has become a woman. On this day, a luxurious banquet is held, and the hero of the occasion travels in a huge limousine with four men of her family or friends chosen by her. An obligatory part of the holiday is a giant multi-tiered cake, dancing and toasts. In general, everything is like at a big wedding, only without the groom.
This custom has existed for many centuries, and made sense in those days when girls were supposed to get married at 15 years old. Today, this holiday is simply a tribute to tradition, so some advanced girls refuse to spend money like crazy and prefer to buy something useful with it, such as a laptop. However, most Mexican girls dream about their 15th birthday since childhood.
5. Mexico also celebrates another strange holiday for us - Day of the Dead. Day of the Dead is a holiday dedicated to the memory of the dead, which is celebrated annually on November 1st and 2nd not only in Mexico, but also in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. According to legend, on these days the souls of deceased relatives visit their home. Therefore, for the Day of the Dead, cemeteries are decorated with ribbons and flowers, streets and houses are lit with candles and hung with flags so that the deceased can find his way home.
On these days, a carnival is organized, sweets are prepared in the form of skulls and figurines of dressed female skeletons, private altars are created in the houses in honor of the deceased, including sugar skulls, verbena, favorite foods and drinks of the deceased, with these gifts a visit to the grave is required. What is noteworthy is that in 2003 the holiday was included by UNESCO in the list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
6. The country's main university, the National Autonomous University of Mexico, is considered the largest university in North and South America by number of students. Each department of the university holds a variety of open classes every day for everyone. For example, at 7 am, if you wish, you can go to yoga for free.
The university makes a lasting impression. Students do whatever they want, even drink beer and smoke weed in the university's huge main square, which is a cross between a park and a football field. Here everyone is having fun, everyone is relaxed, no one rushes home or to work after classes, as was the case with me at the university. There's a party here: someone is practicing dancing on canvases, someone is sunbathing, someone is eating, someone is playing chess...
7. In Mexico, the stoves are a little different from the ones we use. In the middle of the stove, between two rows of burners, there is a special surface for preparing tortillas - the national Mexican corn cakes. Such stoves are installed in almost all apartments in the country.
8. By the way, these same tortillas are a Mexican fetish. They are eaten with all dishes, it is something like our bread. The tortillas are absolutely tasteless, and for a foreigner unaccustomed to corn baked goods, tortillas may seem like disgusting stuff. However, in combination with meat and cheese, they are quite good, but for me, our pita breads, for example, are much tastier, because... Corn gives the tortillas a very specific smell.
9. The most popular dish in Mexico is tacos. Tacos are tortillas with a variety of fillings: minced meat, chicken, sliced and fried sausages, and so on. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of variations of fillings. As a rule, tacos are topped with chopped onions, parsley, you can add beans and, of course, many different spicy sauces that can make you feel like a dragon. Tacos are sold in all cities and towns in Mexico 24 hours a day.
10. In general, Mexican cuisine is a separate matter. Mexican cuisine is recognized as a world heritage. Mexico gave the world chocolate, chili and corn. Today street food is very cheap, tasty, but at the same time fatty, spicy and very filling. Often on the streets they sell seafood in various forms: cocktails, tostados, ceviche.
Despite the popularity of national eateries, in Mexico, as elsewhere in Latin America, Chinese restaurants are very common.
11. Mexico is a country of delicious pastries. Supermarkets have huge sections of fresh buns, muffins, donuts and a variety of breads. There are often bakeries on the streets that you can’t help but visit. The freshest cheesecakes, sweet and savory pies, cakes... Whatever your heart desires! Also, bakeries often sell all sorts of delicious jellies, which are not even jelly, but works of art.
12. The Mexican habit of eating everything with chili causes a gastronomic shock. By “everything” I mean everything! Fruits are sprinkled with chili, candy is sprinkled with chili, coconut is sold in chili, and even fried grasshoppers are cooked with chili.
13. Yes, yes, in Mexico they eat grasshoppers, but only in some regions (Mexico City, Oaxaca). Here they are called "chapulines" and are sold fried with garlic, chili or other seasonings. They are usually served with lime juice.In Mexico, they also cook cacti and ant eggs.
14. There are a lot of bookstores in Mexico. There are entire neighborhoods in Mexico City where every house is a giant bookstore. Books are sold in underground passages, at metro exits, in stalls, small and large shops. During my first days in Mexico, I was amazed at the number of bookstores. By the way, no people were seen reading in public places.
15. Every Sunday, Mexicans have free entry to all museums and archaeological sites in the country. For this reason, kilometer-long queues line up at popular museums. If you want, a foreigner can enter for free. For example, together with a crowd of Mexicans or just silently - no one checks passports.
16. Small magnitude earthquakes often occur in Mexico City. You can feel small tremors almost every day. Locals are used to this, and automatically go outside at the sound of a siren. The city has special markings on the asphalt - green circles with white arrows pointing to the center. These are safe areas to stand in during a major earthquake.
Indeed, all of Mexico is located in the so-called “Ring of Fire”, where the strongest earthquakes on Earth have been recorded.
17. Mexico is a country of ancient civilizations. I used to think that there were several Mayan and Aztec pyramids here, but in fact, dozens of different Indian tribes lived on the territory of modern Mexico, who left behind thousands of cities. In fact, all of Mexico stands on the ruins of ancient civilizations. Only a small part of the ancient cities has been excavated and found, but even this constitutes hundreds of archaeological complexes. Today, there are dozens of languages and dialects in the country, which predominate in number over the languages and dialects of Europe.
18. The main souvenirs from Mexico are skulls and various skeletons . The point is that inwidespread in Mexico cult death, which is called Santa Muerte (from Spanish Santa Muerte - Holy Death). The cult was created by mixing the culture of the Mexican Indians (Aztecs and Mayans) with Catholicism. Mexicans have traditionally worshiped death for centuries. Moreover, even purely religious Catholics do this, although the essence of worship significantly contradicts the tenets of religion. But in addition, in Mexico there are independent cult adherents who revere Death like a deity. Sometimes adherents of the cult sacrifice animals, and especially fanatical ones even sacrifice people. It is said that this mainly occurs in poor neighborhoods of Mexico City.
19. It is believed throughout the world that the national drink of Mexico is tequila. In fact, this is not true. Mexico's main alcoholic drink is mezcal. It has been produced from the Agave plant since Indian times. There are dozens of types of mezcal, which differ in the type of Agave and aging. Mexicans revere and love mezcal. Unlike tequila, mezcal is a completely natural drink, without any chemical additives. There are other popular drinks in certain regions of Mexico. It is worth noting that, in essence, tequila is simply a more modern and industrial version of mezcal.
20. Mexico is a very interesting country where you can see the most beautiful colonial cities and Spanish architecture, the ruins of ancient civilizations, the jungle with exotic animals, the gorgeous turquoise beaches of the Caribbean Sea, and amazing national parks. There are mountainous areas, ancient caves with clear lakes - cenotes - and rich underwater life. There is entertainment for everyone here.
21. Mexico has amazing nature. Mexico ranks fourth in the world for biodiversity. Five types of climate and nine of 11 types of ecosystems are represented here. Almost 80% of the cacti that grow in Mexico are found nowhere else in the world. Mexico is home to more than 50 different species of hummingbirds, several species of pelicans and many other unique representatives of flora and fauna.
22. Mexico City is generally my love. A huge metropolis bustling with life. There are always events going on, and on Sundays the main highway of the city is closed so that residents can ride bicycles and play sports. Bicycles, by the way, are available for rent free of charge. On New Year's holidays, a giant ice skating rink, cheesecake slides and ski areas are built on the main square of the capital and everyone is allowed in there for free! The system is well organized - you can buy tickets for a convenient time, so there are no crowds or crowds in the huge snow complex.
23. Mexico City is the city with the largest number of museums in the world. One of the popular museums today is Chapultepec Castle, which was once the residence of governors - the only castle built on the entire American continent.
24. Mexico can be formally divided into three large parts: the north, the central part and the Yucatan Peninsula. These three parts are very different from each other. The North is a dangerous state where some kind of criminal wars are going on, and even the Mexicans themselves try not to go there without a special reason. The central part is ordinary Mexico, not too spoiled by tourists. The prices there are very low and the people are incredibly friendly. Yucatan is a wildly tourist peninsula, home to the world famous seaside resort of Cancun. Here the prices for everything are almost twice as expensive, and the locals are so accustomed to the frantic flow of tourists that sometimes, although politely, they do not react particularly joyfully when foreigners approach them.
25. An interesting fact about Yucatan: when the conquistadors arrived here, the Spaniard asked the Indian what this place was called, and heard the answer - “Yucatan”. But he had no idea that the native answered him: “I don’t understand you.”
26. The beaches of Cancun and Tulum are among the top ten best beaches in the world according to TripAdvisor. This is not surprising: the water in the Caribbean Sea is very warm, about 25-28 degrees all year round, and the sand on the Caribbean coast is very fine, white and almost does not heat up.
27. Mexico is a big country. The main way to get around is by bus. There are three types of buses here - first class, second class and local buses. First class buses are very expensive, but also luxurious. In terms of service level, this is a business class aircraft! They have very comfortable chairs, separate toilets (the women's room has a changing table), individual TVs, food, drinks and fast Wi-Fi! Second class buses are approximately half the price and are ordinary comfortable buses. Buses for locals are five times cheaper, but finding them is not so easy. These are buses moving chaotically between cities that have no schedule.
Tickets for the first two classes can be purchased online with decent discounts.
28. The most popular car in Mexico is the rare and decrepit Volkswagen Beetle. It was a hit in all the cities we visited.
29. In Mexico there is a tree with the widest trunk in the world. Thule tree entered into the Guinness Book of Records - its trunk is 14 meters in diameter.
30. Mexicans are very open, cheerful, sociable people. Here everyone smiles at each other, strangers on the streets and on buses often talk about all sorts of nonsense. There are no boors here, people are friendly and polite: drivers ALWAYS give way to pedestrians, passers-by answer any question carefully and try to help.
31. But the coolest thing is families. In Mexico there is a cult of family. Relatives love to get together around a big table, eat a lot of food, talk and laugh. This is very impressive.
32. All Mexican cities are very similar to each other. Every city has a main square, which certainly has a cathedral, a number of buildings with columns and arches along the perimeter, and a park with a gazebo in the center.
33. Modern Mexicans are a unique blend of many ancient civilizations, including the Olmecs, Zapotecs, Toltecs, Mayans, Aztecs, Incas, Africans, French and Spanish. At the same time, today Mexico is second only to Brazil in terms of the number of Catholic citizens. The people here are very religious.
34. About 60% of the modern Mexican population is mestizo (half Indian and Spanish), 30% is Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian, 9% is Caucasian, and 1% is other nationalities.
35. In Mexico, on the island of Cozumel, there is the second largest coral reef in the world, over 700 km long.
36. Also in Mexico, in the city of Cholula, there is the world's largest pyramid. True, most of the pyramid has long been overgrown with a layer of earth, and on its top there is a Catholic church...
Capital of Mexico, like the whole country, is full of contradictions. In the agglomeration Mexico City, which is one of the largest in the world, an incomprehensible combination of monuments of colonial architecture and slums, modern skyscrapers and quiet neighborhoods of mansions, in which any pedestrian attracts the close attention of private security. The cocktail of tourist experiences in Mexico City certainly includes heat, smog, street crime and the heightened desire of local residents to sell you at least something. If you are ready to ignore such trifles, you will like Mexico City. This is a city of continuously intertwined history and modernity.
Mexico City and Tenochtitlan - two capitals
The Aztecs built their capital called Tenochtitlan at an altitude of more than two kilometers above sea level in a place poorly suited for a large city. The Spaniards, who came to the country of the Aztecs in the 16th century, were quite surprised by the hard work and skill of the indigenous people, which, however, did not stop them from razing Tenochtitlan to the ground during the suppression of the next Aztec uprising. The Europeans colonized the largest city in the world at that time with such gusto that they even destroyed the city’s critical water supply system, which had existed for hundreds of years.
However, the rationality of the development of Tenochtitlan and the care with which the city was built made such an impression on European newcomers that the question of which city should be the capital of the General Government, and then independent countries of mexico, almost never got up. For residents of Europe, in which Madrid, 30,000 people, or Paris, 50,000 people, looked like nightmarish megacities, clean and bright Tenochtitlan seemed like a new wonder of the world. The population of the Aztec capital, according to some sources, exceeded a million people. At the same time, the city, built on a rocky island, completely supplied itself with food grown on artificial fields fertilized with algae and silt from nearby rivers and lakes. In essence, the Spaniards were able to take Tenochtitlan by storm only by depriving the city of water - Indians from the tribes conquered by the Aztecs told Hernan Cortez which dams needed to be destroyed. The carriers of European culture failed to restore the water supply system in full.
Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Ten years after the founding of modern Mexico City in 1521, construction began on the main place of pilgrimage for Catholics in Latin America - the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The main shrine of the temple, which was rebuilt several times, is the cape of a simple peasant woven from cactus fibers. He saw the Mother of God on the top of a hill, strewn with blooming roses. Only the image of the Mother of God, which appeared on the cape, helped Juan Diego convince the local Catholic bishop that he really saw her. A well-preserved cape leads scientists to a dead end - any other product made from grass would inevitably have decayed over time. Numerous studies have only shown that the image is man-made - x-ray analysis revealed traces of sketches. However, how the plant fibers could preserve themselves and preserve the colors for at least 150 years before enclosing the cape in a glass display case remains a mystery.
The priests who brought Christianity to the conquered lands did not miss the chance to take advantage of the unusual phenomenon. Under their influence, the Indians, who had previously been very reluctant to be baptized, began to convert en masse to Catholicism. And the temple, erected on the site of the appearance of the Mother of God, was rebuilt several times in order to increase its capacity. The latest version, built in 1987, seats 20 thousand people. About 15 million pilgrims visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe every year.
Place de la Concorde, the Cathedral and the largest flag of Mexico
Another popular religious shrine in Mexico City is the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Catholic Church, whose foundation was laid by Hernán Cortés, was built from stones obtained from the destruction of the Aztec temple of Huitzilopochtli. Nowadays, the remains of that church make up approximately one-eighth of the architectural ensemble. The cathedral was built and rebuilt for quite a long time, so its architecture mixes Baroque, Renaissance and neoclassicism, but the eclecticism of the cathedral in no way detracts from its grandeur and beauty. The four facades of the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary are richly decorated with statues of high priests and saints. The interiors are made in a classic manner for Catholic churches using gold, silver, ivory and precious stones.
Chapultepec Palace traces its ancestry to the Aztecs
Chapultepec Palace, like many others Mexico sights, traces its ancestry to the Aztecs. It is located on a hill on top of which the Aztecs performed their famous sacrifices. At first, a rather simple castle was built on the hill. Then Emperor Maximilian rebuilt it into a luxurious palace, in which even the presidents of Mexico did not hesitate to live after the emperor’s execution. A garden was built on the roof of the palace, and an avenue was laid in the center of Mexico City, now considered the main street of the Mexican capital. The palace temporarily served as the building of the national observatory, the residence of Mexican presidents, and now houses the National Historical Museum. Its exhibitions and dioramas tell the history of Mexico from ancient times to the present day.
Artist Frida Kahlo and the “demon of revolution” Leon Trotsky
Among the more modern attractions of the Mexican capital is, of course, the Frida Kahlo House Museum. The popularity of the extravagant artist in Mexico is not much inferior to the popularity of Catholic saints. The house in which Frida Kahlo spent almost her entire life is certainly included in tourist trips around Mexico City. The respect of Mexicans and guests of the country is aroused by the courage of a woman who suffered from polio (this disease was guaranteed to lead to disability at the beginning of the last century), who was in a serious car accident, but who, despite fate, managed to lead a stormy personal and public life. Compatriots also respect Frida Kahlo for the reverence with which the artist treated the national cultural heritage. Indian and Aztec motifs are clearly visible in her paintings.
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The bizarre interweaving of historical events and personalities, such as the construction of Catholic churches on the site of Aztec sacrifices and the veneration of Aztec rulers as the creators of the state, did not end with the Middle Ages. After visiting the Frida Kahlo House Museum, visitors to Mexico City will inevitably go to the house where the greatest exile of the 20th century, Leon Trotsky, lived. One of the leaders of the Russian revolution, after being expelled from the Soviet Union, wandered around the world for a long time until he settled in Mexico, which was strong in its communist sentiments.
At first, the “demon of revolution” was sheltered in the Blue House by the Kahlo family and communist artist Diego Rivera. For reasons unknown (evil tongues even spoke of Trotsky’s stormy romance with Kahlo, although, most likely, the reason for the breakup was political differences), Lev Davidovich moved to a house on a nearby street. It was there that the harsh hand of Soviet justice overtook him. Despite the rather strict security regime, Mexican Ramon Mercader, who had gained Trotsky’s trust, broke his head with an ice pick on August 20, 1940, for which he later received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
The Trotsky House Museum does not contain any unique exhibits related to the revolutionary’s activities. Too often he had to move from place to place and from country to country.
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But the grave of Trotsky, buried in the courtyard of his final resting place, is a very popular place for laying flowers and photographs.
United Mexican States, state in the southwest part of the north. America. In 1821, Spanish independence was proclaimed. colonies of New Spain. The resulting new state took the name Mexico City (Spanish: Mexico, Mejico) after the name of the capital of the state city... ... Geographical encyclopedia
Aztec country Dictionary of Russian synonyms. Mexico noun, number of synonyms: 2 country (281) ... Synonym dictionary
MEXICO- (Mexico, Mejico), Mexican United States (Estados Unidos Mexicanos), state in the South North. America. Pl. 1972.5 t. km2. Us. 73 million hours (1982). The capital is Mexico City (over 14 million hours, with suburbs, 1979). M. independent state since 1821. M. industrial... ... Demographic Encyclopedic Dictionary
- (Mexico, Mejico), United Mexican States (Estados Unidos Mexicanos), state in the southwest. parts of the North America. Pl. 1958.2 thousand km2 (according to official Mexican data). Hac. 71.2 million people (est. cep. 1984). The capital is Mexico City. M. consists of 31... Geological encyclopedia
- (Mйxico, Mйjico), United Mexican States, a state in the southwestern part of North America. In ancient times, a number of artistic cultures of Indians (Olmecs, Toltecs, Zapotecs, Mayans, Aztecs) developed on the territory of Mexico... ... Art encyclopedia
Mexico- (Mexico), state in the Center. America. Since 1521, as part of the vice kingdom of New Spain, M. was under Spanish rule. board In the beginning. 19th century influenced by the ideas of the French. revolution, an independence movement arose in the country, led by two priests... ... The World History
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MEXICO- Territory 1972 thousand sq. km, population 83 million people (1990). It is an industrial-agrarian country with an average level of economic development. Agriculture provides about 10% of the total social product. Up to 75% of st... World sheep farming
Mexico- (Mexico) State of Mexico, geography, history, population and cities of Mexico Information about the state of Mexico, geography, cities, history and population of Mexico, economy and political structure Contents United Mexican States, ... ... Investor Encyclopedia
Books
- Mexico, J. G. Mashbits. The first monograph by a Soviet author on the economic geography of Mexico, one of the largest countries in Latin America. It talks about the country’s diverse natural resources,…
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