HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL TOURISM

Because of Mexico’s rich and impressive history and culture, the country is an ideal destination for those who are interested in history and culture.

The best known pre hispanic civilizations are the Mayas and the Aztecs, but in Mexico there has been found evidence of human life, dated back to 20,000 B.C. (see also History and Culture on the section About Mexico).

The Olmec civilization

The first civilization in Mexico of which we know is the Olmec civilization. The Olmecs carved monumental stone heads of which 17 have been preserved. The sculptures of the Olmecs can be seen in some places as San Lorenzo (Veracruz), La Venta (Tabasco), Tres Zapotes (Veracruz), Laguna de los Cerros (Veracruz), and Santiago Tuxtla (Veracruz).

The Mayan culture

The Mayan culture has left us impressive architectural constructions as for instance the pyramids that you can visit in Palenque (Chiapas), Bonampak (Chiapas), Yaxchilán (Chiapas), Uxmal (Yucatán), Chichén Itzá (Yucatán) and Tulum (Quintana Roo).

The Aztec culture

The Aztec culture has left us its testimony in Mexico City, which is founded at the same place as the Aztec capital Tenochtitlán. Here you can visit the Templo Mayor and the famous square Plaza de las tres Culturas that symbolises the meeting between the three cultures: the pre-Hispanic culture, the colonial culture and the modern Mexican culture.

The Zapotec culture

West of Oaxaca, on the top of a high mountain range, lie the ruins of the Zapotec holy city of Monte Albán - an excellent example of the Zapotec architectural style.

Colonial cities

The art and architecture of the colonial period had greatest influence in the centre of the country, which is why many of the colonial cities are situated relatively close to each other. Among others should be mentioned: Cuernavaca, Guadalajara, Guanajuato, Mexico City, Morelia, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, Tepotzotlán, Tepoztlán, Taxco - the silver city - and San Miguel de Allende. The city of Zacatecas in the north and Mérida and San Cristóbal de las Casas in the south are examples of the art and construction technique that flourished in Mexico during the colonial period.

Museums

Among the museums which could be of interest are Museo Nacional de Antropología, in whose Mexica-hall you can have a look at the gigantic Aztec calender (Mexico City); Museo Nacional de Historia situated in the Castillo de Chapultepec (Mexico City), Museo Nacional de la Revolución (Mexico City), Museo de Historia Mexicana (Monterrey), Museo de las Culturas de Occidente (Colima), Museo Casa de Morelos (Michoacán) and Museo de la Revolución Mexicana (Puebla).

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Visit Mexico

Embajada de México ante Dinamarca, Islandia y Noruega