The "Palacio de Bellas Artes", is located on the east side of the Alameda Park, at the corner of Juarez and Lazaro Cardenas. Construction of this massive neoclassical building began in 1904, on the remains of the Santa Isabel convent, under the Italian architect Boari. It has an art nouveau style and its facade is made of marble from Carrara. In its interior, there is a crystal curtain carved with the images of the Iztlaccihuatl and Popocatepetl volcanoes. There are also some frescos of Orozco, Siqueiros, Rivera, Tamayo and Montenegro. Next to it is the Latin America Tower, which was for many years the highest building of the City, with its 47 floors (from which I took this picture) Originally it was to symbolize national progress and serve as a theater for Mexico's upper class. Porfirio Diaz had wanted to inaugurate it in 1911, to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of independence from Spain. It was scheduled to be completed in 1910, the centennial of Mexico's fight for independence, but problems arose during construction due to the instability of the ground that had been chosen for the building. Time passed, the revolution broke out, and in the end the palace was not completed until 1934. To date, it has now sunk almost 5 meters. We have been here several times and we have enjoyed some very fine shows from its auditorium. The most interesting to us was when we watched costumed dancers in the Ballet Folklorico, of Mexico City. The Ballet Folklorico de Mexico is a must-see show built around the folk dances and traditional costumes of Mexico. This internationally acclaimed troupe performs Sunday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday evening. Tickets cost M$220-M$375. We were last at the Palacio de Bellas Artes on January 12, 2005 at about 1PM.
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We have links on this page that will connect you with several of the best hotels in Mexico City. We suggest getting a hotel and then letting them arrange either a car or a tour of Mexico City. If you call their Concierge Services ahead of your arrival, all of this can be pre-arranged for you. The very best taxi driver and guide we have found in Mexico City is Javier Hernandez Rivera. His family also attends the Basilica de Guadalupe and he can be contacted through the Holiday Inn Concierge Services at the Holiday Inn Oriente (East) or (airport). Hotel Front Desk Phone: 52-55-56400460. We have made a web page for Javier at: http://www.delange.org/Javier/Javier.htm We do this all the time, when traveling in Mexico. It is safe and it works!!! We have never experienced a problem, doing it this way! The Mexico City International Airport (Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de México or AICM), also called Benito Juárez International Airport (IATA: MEX, ICAO: MMMX) is the commercial airport that serves Mexico City, the capital of Mexico. It is Mexico's and Latin America's busiest. Therefore, we have placed links to Expedia.com on this page so you can arrange your flights into and out of Mexico City; as well as your hotel, when visiting this area.
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| Palacio de Bellas Artes Of Mexico City. The Front Of The Building Is On The South. Alameda Park Is On The West Side Photo From The West Side, Top Observation Floor Of The "Latin American Tower" |
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| South Side, Front Palacio de Bellas Artes | Front Palacio de Bellas Artes Looking East Up 5 Ave de Mayo |
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| Latin American Tower From South Front Of Palacio de Bellas Artes | Main Foyer Looking East To West |
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| North Stairway To Auditorium | South Foyer Looking Toward Entrance |
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| View From Entrance Looking Up Toward Foyer And North Stairway | Central Dome From Foyer |
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| Art Display Area Located North Of Foyer | Photography On Display |