Palacio Nacional (National Palace), Mexico City (must see)

Stretching for over 200 meters (660 feet) across the entire east side of the Zócalo is the National Palace (Palacio Nacional), the official residence of the President of Mexico. Renowned for its grand red facade, made of volcanic rock called tezontle, this place has been the seat of a ruling class since the pre-Hispanic era. Much of the construction material for the current building was taken from the original palace of the 16th-century Aztec Emperor, Moctezuma II, which stood on this site and whose richness surprised the Spanish upon their arrival.

During the Conquest, the old palace wasn't completely destroyed. In the 1520s, Hernán Cortés built on its ruins a massive fortress which later became the official home for Spanish viceroys governing the colonies. The Spanish crown bought the property from the Cortés family in 1562 and thence called it the Palace of the Viceroy (Palacio del Virrey).

After the Mexican War of Independence in the 1820s, the building was renamed the "National Palace" and underwent structural changes. For a brief period, it was occupied by the country's two self-proclaimed emperors, Agustin de Iturbide and Maximilian I, and later became home to the first president of Mexico, Guadalupe Victoria.

The original church bell from the town of Dolores Hidalgo in Guanajuato state (once used to call for a rebellion against Spain in 1810) is now hung over the palace's main balcony. Each year, on Independence Day, September 15th, the president of Mexico rings the Dolores Bell in commemoration of that event.

The Palace has fourteen courtyards, of which only a few, like the Grand Courtyard, are open to the public. Here, the main stairwell and the walls (on the second floor) are adorned with murals by Diego Rivera, depicting the history of Mexico from 1521 to 1930, jointly titled "The Epic of the Mexican People".

Painted between 1929 and 1935, the work is presented in the form of a triptych, with the right-hand murals featuring pre-Hispanic Mexico centered around the life of the Aztec god Quetzalcóatl. The most extensive panel, in the middle, called the Conquest, showcases the sufferings endured by the indigenous people. The one on the left-hand side is dedicated to the early and mid-20th century, depicting a Marxist kind of utopia and featuring, among other persons, Diego's wife, Frida Kahlo.

Tip:
Since this is a government building, in order to get in you need to produce either a valid driver's license or passport. Bags, bottled water, hats, and sunglasses are not allowed.