Mexico City: Art, Culture, & Architecture

Arrive in Mexico City today and transfer to your hotel. Gather this evening for a cocktail reception and dinner at La Hacienda de Los Morales which dates back to the 16th century. La Hacienda de los Morales formed part of the lands conceded to Hernan Cortes by the King of Spain. Our guest speaker will be Santiago Espinosa de los Monteros, an art critic and author who has served as the coordinator for the arts for the Mexican government and coordinated the arrangements for the Frida Kahlo Exhibit to art museums in the United States. Santiago will accompany us on two additional days of our tour to give us an insight into the historic and contemporary art scene of Mexico. Four Seasons Hotel. (5 Nights)

This morning explore the roots of México’s capital at its Historic Center, an area that occupies the original core of the Aztec city of Tenochitlán. Here visit the Zócalo, the main plaza or square, and a gathering place for Mexicans since Aztec times. The Zócalo is bordered by historic buildings such as the Cathedral and the National Palace. Inside the National Palace, see murals painted by Diego Rivera, depicting México’s history. At the Palacio de Bellas Artes admire the huge murals of famous muralists Rufino Tamayo, Diego Rivera, Davíd Alfaro Siqueiros, and José Clemente Orozco. Continue on to see Templo Mayor (Great Temple) an Aztec temple recently discovered in the heart of modern México City. After lunch travel north to San lldefonso College, currently, a museum and cultural center considered to be the birthplace of the Mexican muralist movement. Conclude with a visit to the Franz Mayer Museum to see its collection of works of decorative art as well as sculpture and painting from México, Europe, and Asia dating from the 16th to the 19th century. After dinner, enjoy a private reception at an artist’s studio.

This morning begin your exploration into Mexico City’s art and culture at the Museo Nacional de Antropología (National Anthropological Museum), considered one of the world’s finest anthropological museums. Take a privately guided visit with a professor of anthropology focusing on Pre-Columbian art including the Maya Room and the original jade jewels found in Pacal’s Tomb in the archeological site of Palenque in the state of Chiapas. In the afternoon visit some of the galleries in the Colonia Roma and Condesa neighborhoods, such as OMR, which tend to have the more experimental shows and are routinely described at the SoHo’s of Mexico City. End your gallery tour with a special reception with refreshments served at the Galeria of Nina Menocal. Then, onto the Escuela de Gastronomía Mexicana for a cooking demonstration and lecture on Pre-Columbian food followed by a dinner with a special Pre-Columbian menu.

This morning visit the Jumex Collection, the largest private collection of contemporary art in Latin America amassed by Eugenio López Alonso, heir to the Jumex juice fortune. Next, visit Teotihuacán, one of the most significant and haunting archaeological sites in the world. At its zenith, around AD 600, Teotihuacán was one of the largest cities in the world and the center of a Maya empire that inhabited much of central Mexico.

This morning, tour the Museo Universitario de Arte Contemporaneo (University Museum of Contemporary Art), opened in 2008. Next, journey to see Frida Kahlo’s Blue House in Coyoacán which since 1958 has been maintained as a museum housing a number of her works of art and numerous relics from her personal life. Additionally, visit the home of artists Rina Lazo and Arturo Garcia Bustos. Then, proceed to the Museo Soumaya named for the late wife of the business magnate, Carlos Slim, and striking in its architecture. The majority of the Soumaya’s collection are European works from the 15th-20th centuries, including several stand-out pieces from Old Masters, French artist Auguste Rodin and more present-day artists like Dalí. However, there are also plenty of Mexican pieces to capture your attention including pieces by Diego Rivera and Rufino Tamayo. This evening gather for cocktails and a farewell dinner at Casa Lamm, a private association that provides open forums for cultural and artistic expression.

Transfer to the international airport for flights home.