Hi! My name is Giovanna (Giovi is fine), I'm almost 14 years old and I live in beautiful Mexico City. I'd like you to join me in my tour of my hometown's historic downtown. Are you ready? Let's go!
We start our tour by visiting Mexico's National Palace.
The President of the United Mexican States (official name of my country), has his ceremonial office here. It used to be home for Presidents and their families. It used to allocate all Ministries and the country's Chamber of Deputies.
Today the President conducts his ordinary duties at his office in "Los Pinos", the Presidential residence in the Chapultepec Forest. The National Palace is still used for State purposes such as: diplomatic ceremonies, state dinners to honor official guests and the famous "Grito de la Independencia". With the "Grito" we celebrate our Independence from Spain on the eve of the day the uprising begun in 1810. Every September fifteenth the President rings the Hidalgo Bell and raises "Vivas!" (hails) for our Heroes from crowds of hundreds of thousands of attendants.
This is the main stairway to the President's office. The mural in the back was painted by the famous Diego Rivera.
Just a few steps away we find Mexico's National Cathedral.
The Cathedral is one of the largest Catholic Temples in the World! Its construction started in 1521 and took almost three more centuries to finish. It is so rich in historic and cultural value that it has been designated as part of Mankind's Patrimony. Pope John Paul II has conducted masses in its main wing, and some famous mass attendants include President John F. Kennedy, President Lech Walesa and the King and Queen of Spain. The above picture was taken of its right side.
This next picture is of the left side of the Cathedral. It is the oldest part of the temple and its major chapel dates from the XVI century! Today, people are not allowed to enter this area. There is a project to let groups of people in by the year 2004 when the structure strengthening process is finished.
Aztecs used to name this city Tenochtitlán.
In this picture I am at the entrance of the Templo Mayor. They discovered these ruins when Metro workers were digging to fix the subway station. There used to be old buildings on top and one of them was my Great Grandfather's First Glass Shop!
The Gran Tenochtitlán was an impressive city with towering Pyramids and Temples, extensive avenues called Calzadas, trading markets, schools and neighborhoods (with clean water channels and a sewage system!). It was populated by hundreds of thousands of Aztecs. It is thought to have been the world's largest city in its heyday.
This our City Hall.
It is also called Palacio del Antiguo Cabildo and it is home to the Executive Branch of the Federal District's government. The Federal District or "D.F." is the most important part of Mexico City. About half of the City's 20 million inhabitants live within its boundaries. Mexico City is also composed by about two dozen adjoining municipalities that lie within Mexico State's border line.
In the Main Square or Zócalo we also find the world's most beautiful Pawn House!
The Nacional Monte de Piedad is a charitable institution that operates as a non-profit organization. Many children enjoy a happy Christmass because of what's done in this building.
A few blocks down and we arrive to the Banco de México.
It is Mexico's Federal Reserve Bank. Established as Banco de Londres y México, the Banco de México was the first American-based financial institution of its kind.
Not far is the Palacio de Minería.
Today it is used as a Campus of the Civil Engineer's College. There are real meteorites in its entrance hall that you are allowed to touch.
This is Mexico's Central Postal Office.
Although many of the Mexican Postal Service's offices are still here, all of the main automated mail processing centers are elsewhere.
This is the entrance to Mexico's Public Education Secretariat.
The best and most famous education ministers have been José Yves Limantour and José Vasconcelos.
One of the most beautiful colonial convents is this one.
The Convento de las Vizcainas not only served as a Catholic school for Nuns, but it was also an orphanage for poor little girls and a shelter for old age widows. Doña Josefa Ortíz de Domínguez, our independence heroine (nicknamed the Corregidora for she was in charge of drafting the Mexican Declaration of Independence), lived here when she was a child.
We are at the Mexico City Museum.
The Museo de la Ciudad de México is one the most beautiful museums in downtown Mexico. Here you can see some of the best paintings and learn about the lifestyle of the colonial era (when we were under rule of Spain, France and the Austrian Royal Family).
An Emperor of Mexico lived here.
Agustín de Iturbide was Mexico's first post-independence Emperor. He had been a military hero of the Independence War but he proclaimed himself "Agustin I Emperor of Mexico". He was force to abdicate shortly thereafter and a Republic was proclaimed. Mexico's second and last emperor was Maximilian von Hapsburg.
Finally we reach the Plaza de Santo Domingo.
This Plaza boasts a Church in honor of Saint Dominique. There are many of these "Plazas" with churches kiosks all over Mexico's oldest cities.
We have come to the end of the tour. I hope you may someday have the opportunity to visit my wonderful city and great country. Thank you very much for coming along. ADIOS Y GRACIAS!
These are good places to visit!
Pistor's Street
A picture of my uncle David ("Mahatma")
My sister, my little brother and me!
