National Palace

Running alongside the Constitution Plaza, this immense palace is full of history, one that started in the 16th century when Moctezuma II—ruler of the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan—chose to build his royal residence here. He therefore commissioned the construction of a huge palace, lavishly decorated with cotton tapestries, feathers, furs, and polished stucco floors covered in animal hides. However, once the Spanish colonists arrived, Hernán Cortés and his family moved into this palace. Almost entirely rebuilt in typical colonial style, it was transformed into an authentic fortress, complete with cannon embrasures and crenellations to protect his soldiers. In 1562, the palace was bought by the Spanish Crown and became the Viceroy’s official residence. However, the building was almost destroyed in 1692, due to tensions between the Viceroy and the city’s archbishop . The Viceroy would once again rebuild it, this time in a Baroque style. Renamed “National Palace’ when Mexico gained independence in 1821, the building was soon to become home to several leaders throughout history, including Maximilian of Habsburg, each adding their own personal touch to form the palace we see today. Now home to the country’s executive power, it remains an unmissable stop when exploring Mexico City!