Discover the vibrant soul of Mexico through an immersive journey into its rich artistic heritage. From the iconic legacy of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera in Mexico City to the colonial charm of San Miguel de Allende and the silver-laden streets of Taxco, this guide explores the cultural treasures that define the country's creative spirit.
Join us as we traverse bustling metropolises and historic pueblos, uncovering world-class museums, stunning architecture, and the deep-rooted traditions that make Mexico an unforgettable destination for art lovers and culture seekers alike.
Mexico City
A sprawling metropolis of over 20 million, Mexico City can be an overwhelming place to visit, particularly when taking into account the myriad museums, archeological sites, artisans, and restaurants it has to offer. Casa Azul is Frida Kahlo’s family home and is now a museum showcasing her paintings and personal belongings. You can tour the residence itself, wandering around the living rooms, kitchen, studio, and gardens. Arrive on the last Wednesday of the month and you can explore the house accompanied by an actor in full Frida garb. Whatever day you visit, though, it’s likely to be busy.
The Museum of Modern Art (Museo de arte Moderno – MAM) is among the biggest museums of its kind in Latin America. An extraordinary collection focuses on the evolution of modern art in Mexico, especially with the Mexican School of Painting and the Breakaway Generation. Found in the Chapultepec Park, the museum is housed in two circular buildings with two floors each and divided into four halls, and a gallery. A remarkable sculpture garden connects the two buildings. The Xavier Villaurrutia and Carlos Pellicer halls allow visitors to admire the museum’s considerable permanent collection. This includes works by Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros, José Clemente Orozco, and Frida Kahlo, among others.
The Palacio de Bellas Artes is not just one of the most prominent buildings in the country, it’s also the major Fine Arts institution for the whole country and has been for decades. The Palacio de Bellas Artes main entrance houses sculptures by the Italian artist Leonardo Bistolfi. Multiple cherubs and similar sculptures represent music and inspiration. The plaza in front of the building, also designed by Boari, includes four Pegasus sculptures by the Catalan artist Agustí Querol Subirats. The roof covering the center of the building is made of crystal designed by the Hungarian Géza Maróti and depicts the muses with Apollo. A “Pergola,” on the Alameda side of the site had been built to host gallery exhibitions, but this was demolished in 1973.
Cuernavaca and Taxco
Cuernavaca is a beautiful city surrounded by an unparalleled charm that has long delighted national and international tourism. The warmth of its climate and its people make it the ideal destination for a Mexico City visit. Cuernavaca is also known as the “City of Eternal Spring” due to its mild weather, is only an hour away from Mexico City. The first guests of Cuernavaca are essential characters in the history of Mexico: Hernán Cortés the Conquistador, Maximilian of Habsburg the Emperor of Mexico, the muralist David Alfaro Siqueiros, and the explorer and naturalist Alexander von Humboldt, who gave this city its nickname. There’s always been a formidable glamour surrounding Cuernavaca, the capital of Morelos state. With its vast, gated haciendas and sprawling estates, it has traditionally attracted high-society visitors year-round for its warmth, clean air, and attractive architecture.
Taxco is the only place in Mexico where silver was extracted, turned into beautiful precious jewelry, and sold to all the shops in Mexico and all over the world. However the Pueblo Magico of Taxco is not only famous for its silver mines, but for its’ hilly and winding narrow cobblestones roads, its numerous churches, convents, and haciendas witness its sad history of conquest and religious subjugation, the natural beauties of the surroundings and much more.
San Miguel De Allende
Vibrantly colored buildings line the cobblestone streets of San Miguel de Allende, a romantic city with 16th-century origins nestled among central Mexico's Sierra Madre Mountains. Through the past 50 years, this quaint city has evolved into a respite for ex-pats and a popular destination for tourists looking to delve into the music, food, and arts scene of off-the-beaten-path Mexico. It's easy to swoon over the 500-year-old colonial city's narrow walkways, baroque architecture, and artisan shops selling plenty of crafts, jewelry, and handmade accessories.
Breaks from shopping can be spent exploring the city's defining Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel church, taking classes at the well-recognized Instituto Allende art school, or discovering handcrafted Mexican masks at the Another Face of Mexico mask museum. One of the best things to do in San Miguel de Allende is soak up the local culture by seeing some live music or attending a gallery opening. There’s ALWAYS something interesting going on in this city!
The best way to find out what’s going on in San Miguel is by picking up a copy of Atención, San Miguel’s local newspaper. The city center of San Miguel de Allende (Centro Historico) was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008. The city is significant in Mexican history because of its role in the Mexican War of Independence, and the preservation of colonial-era architecture in this part of the city were two important factors in its designation. In addition to San Miguel’s rich cultural heritage, the city has a modern twist to its cobblestone streets in the form of world-class boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants. It truly is a mix unlike anywhere else in Mexico, and absolutely worth visiting.
If you are interested in the artistic side of Mexican culture, then our Artistic Mexico tour is the perfect vacation for you! Ask here for more information about The Artistic Mexico tour here!
