National Palace

The National Palace, in Mexico City

The National Palace lines the Constitution Square and concentrates centuries of history, from the palace of the Aztec emperor Moctezuma to the current seat of Mexican power. The Mexico City audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this major building, rebuilt by the Spanish colonists, residence of the viceroys, today famous for the monumental frescoes of Diego Rivera that adorn its staircase.

From the palace of Moctezuma to the seat of power

This great palace, that lines the Constitution Square, has a charged history that begins in the sixteenth century, when Moctezuma II, sovereign of the Aztec capital then called Tenochtitlan, decided to have his residence built here, in the heart of the city. He had an immense palace built, richly decorated with tapestries of cotton, feathers and furs, with floors of polished stucco covered with animal skins. At the arrival of the Spanish colonists, the building was almost entirely rebuilt in a colonial style and became the residence of Hernán Cortés and his family until 1562; he made it a true fortress, endowed with cannon embrasures and crenellations. In 1562, it was bought back by the Spanish crown to become the residence of the viceroy. Following strong tensions, it was almost entirely destroyed in 1692, then rebuilt, taking little by little the monumental physiognomy we know it by, with its long façade of red stone. Today the seat of Mexican executive power, the palace is especially famous for the monumental frescoes that Diego Rivera painted in its stairwell and its galleries, retracing the whole history of Mexico, from the pre-Columbian civilisations to the Revolution. A historic palace and frescoes of Rivera, the National Palace is a fine stop of the discovery of Mexico City.

What to see

Here you discover one of the great monuments of Mexico City, lining the Zócalo, whose history goes back to the palace of the Aztec emperor Moctezuma then to the residence of Cortés and the Spanish viceroys; rebuilt after 1692, the current seat of executive power, it is famous for the monumental frescoes of Diego Rivera retracing the whole history of Mexico. The National Palace is a high place of Mexico City. It is a fine stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The National Palace lines the Constitution Square, in the heart of Mexico City, reachable on foot or by metro. It is an official building in activity; the frescoes of Diego Rivera can be visited according to the conditions and hours in force, which vary, generally on presentation of an identity document. It is best to enquire before coming.

What to see at the National Palace of Mexico City?

Above all the monumental frescoes of Diego Rivera, that adorn the stairwell and the galleries and retrace the whole history of Mexico, from the pre-Columbian civilisations to the Revolution; the palace, that lines the Zócalo, was built on the site of the palace of the Aztec emperor Moctezuma, became the residence of Cortés then of the viceroys, and today shelters the Mexican executive power.

Where is the National Palace in Mexico City?

Lining the Constitution Square, in the heart of the historic centre of Mexico City, in Mexico.