Palace of Fine Arts (Palacio de Bellas Artes)

Considered one of the world's most beautiful buildings, the Mexico City Palace of Fine Arts - or Palacio de Bellas Artes - is a harmonious synthesis of Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and Baroque styles, a style sometimes called "Porfiriano," after architecture-obsessed Mexican President Porfirio Díaz, who commissioned the project.

The exterior, surrounded with gardens, rises in elegant columns and domes above the cool, green Alameda Central. Inside, it is an exceptional art exhibition, filled with a permanent collection of statues, murals, and other outstanding ornamentation. In addition, there are regular world-class art exhibitions open to the public.

In addition to its daytime attractions, you can appreciate the building's acoustic excellence by enjoying a performance at its National Theater. International artists appear regularly, but try to catch Mexico City's own Ballet Folklórico de México Compania Nacional or National Symphonic Orchestra.

Practical Info

It is possible to visit the Mexico City Palace of Fine Arts by taxi or car, as there are pricey private parking lots close by. However, the congested neighborhoods surrounding the Alameda Central are much more easily visited on Metro Lines 2 and 8; the Bellas Artes stop opens right onto the Palace.