Mexico is the most visited country by Americans, but it is often considered a destination for just beach vacations or parties. And yet Mexico is home to stunning architecture, not to mention a rich history and culture. Travelers can explore a timeline that spans from ancient civilizations like the Mayans to colonial styles such as Churrigueresque (a form of Spanish baroque) and all the way to avant-garde and modern architecture.
Mariana Montes Mendoza, a tour guide and editorial manager at the travel agency Vibes Adventure, encourages anyone who appreciates architecture to consider Mexico for their next vacation. “One of the most undervalued concepts in Mexico is the art that abounds in every part of the country,” she says, adding that its historical and artistic heritage rivals countries like France, Spain, and Italy.
Check out her recommendations below for the best spots to visit to see ancient, colonial, and modern architecture.
Ancient recommendations
Teotihuacán AKA “The City of the Gods”
“This site is a very mysterious and mystical place since, to date, it is not known exactly who built this city. Besides, its impressive pyramid of the sun and pyramid of the moon are a sample of the amazing mathematical capacity that the Mexican ancestors had,” Montes says.
Chichén Itzá
This is one of the seven wonders of the world. “I especially love this place during the spring equinox, where you can see the shadow of the great serpent (the god Kukulcan) descend from the castle,” Montes says. She continues, “This site remains iconic and magnificent for its historical and mystical charge that can be appreciated in every corner you look at.”
Other iconic spots
- El Palacio, Palenque
- Temple of the Wind God
- Monte Albán
- Pirámide de los Nichos
- Paquimé
Pro tip:
Visit Mexico City to see all three architectural styles in one place. The Historic Center is a prime spot for sightseeing.
Colonial recommendations
Visitors will notice a stark difference between ancient and colonial architecture, particularly in how buildings are no longer pyramidal structures. Much of this architectural transformation is due to religious changes. Montes explains that, since the beginning of the 1519 conquest, “many important sites of ancient civilizations were destroyed and overshadowed as the expansion of Christianity began, a process also known as evangelization.” With this shift, Catholic temples, churches, and convents were built.
Architecture from the colonial period is also marked by paintings from renowned Mexican baroque artists, such as Miguel Cabrera.
Catedral Basílica de Zacatecas (Cathedral of Zacatecas)
“On the outside, it has beautiful Baroque elements, and on the inside, it gives you the feeling of being in Notre Dame with its impressive lateral naves,” says Montes.”Also, on the outside, its beautiful pink quarry stone that characterizes a lot of Mexican colonial cities such as Guanajuato, Morelia, Queretaro, and Aguascalientes.”
Catedral Metropolitana de la Ciudad de México (Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral)
Built between 1573 to 1813 in sections, this is “a great option for you to appreciate paintings, sculptures, altarpieces, and unique colonial architectural forms,” she says.
Other places you should also check out
- Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, San Miguel de Allende
- Desierto de los Leones
- Iglesia Nuestra Señora de los Remedios
- Capilla del Rosario, Puebla
- Templo de Santa Maria Tonantzintla
- Catedral Basilica de Puebla
- Hacienda Vista Hermosa in Morelos (converted into a hotel)
- Hacienda Temozón in Mérida (converted into a hotel)
Contemporary and modern recommendations
There are visible differences between colonial and contemporary architecture in Mexico. Colonial styles were influenced by the Spanish for obvious reasons, and Spanish art in turn was influenced by Arab decorative arts in all their intricacies. You can see this in the ornateness of colonial architecture. “They believed that the more beautiful the art in religious temples was, the more it was to reach the hand of God,” Montes says.
While colonial architecture was based on religiosity, that changed in the early 20th century when most architects and artists began using futurism and avant-garde styles.
El Gran Hotel de la Ciudad de México
“Here, you can appreciate its Art Nouveau touches that resemble the Lafayette shopping galleries in Paris. Also, here you can learn a lot about the Mexican Revolution and its social context, which was shaped by the early twentieth century,” Montes says.
Nido de Quetzalcóatl
“I consider the Nido de Quetzalcóatl to be a place with many colors and natural elements that can attract those who are looking for modernity in nature. In fact, the famous singer Dua Lipa, on her last tour in Mexico City, stayed in this beautiful place,” says Montes.“It is a modern architectural masterpiece in the midst of a natural and peaceful environment that makes this place a peaceful hideaway from the hustle and bustle of Mexico City.”
Pro tip
Check out the House of Tiles and Palacio de Bellas Artes, which are just minutes from each other.
The House of Tiles (Casa de los Azulejos) is a palace that resembles the famous tile-covered buildings of Portugal. Montes says this is because the House of Tiles’ history dates back to the 16th century when the baroque style was growing in places conquered by Europeans, especially the Spanish.
Palacio de Bellas Artes (Fine Arts Palace) is a 20th-century building that combines Art Deco, Art Nouveau, and Indigenous elements. “This historical, cultural, and artistic combination makes this type of tour an approach to expanding our knowledge in terms of what most fills the soul of the human being: art,” Montes told us.
Other places you should also check out
- El Palacio de Hierro Polanco
- Casa Luis Barragán
- Torre Latinoamericana
- Museo Soumaya
- Auditorio Nacional
- Parque la Mexicana Museo del Chopo
- Basílica de Guadalupe
- Monumento a la Revolución
To learn more or curate your perfect trip, you can connect with Mendoza at Vibes Adventures.
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