A thrilling tapestry of Mesoamerican cultures, Spanish traditions and contemporary flair.

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Make travels in Mexico matter. From custom unique experiences to luxury private tours of Mexico City, PRIOR will create your perfect bespoke trip .

Bespoke Travel: Luxury Mexico Tours & Experiences | PRIOR

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A land renowned for its love of color and frequent fiestas, Mexico is a thrilling tapestry of Mesoamerican cultures, Spanish traditions and contemporary flair. Culturally, its lively festivals reflect a historic merging of faiths, most famously at the Día de los Muertos ceremony, while its psychical charms span white sands, jungle highlands, archaeological wonders and deserts punctuated by tequila- and mezcal-yielding cactus and agave. With connections to expert guides and local personalities, PRIOR designs journeys that blend the timeless and the timely throughout the country.

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Every year during the first days of November for the Dia de Los Muertos celebrations, Oaxaca de Juárez (or Oaxaca City) is blanketed with colorful altars, flowers, and mezcal-drinking muerteadas who dance the streets wildly to the beat of local banda music. Traditionally believed to be a stop for deceased souls on the road to Mictlan—the mythological pre-Hispanic afterlife—the city becomes the wildly decorated bridge between the world of the living and the departed. 

But Oaxaca’s knack for looping together the past and the present is not just evident in the parades streaming between the city center’s colorful colonial facades during these few days. Inside these pastel-colored buildings, the shelves of the artful local shops offer some of the best artisanal shopping in the world, a fusion of traditional crafts with modern design. As the capital of the Mexican state with the largest population of Indigenous cultures, as well as a hip and multicultural urban city today, Oaxaca City’s best stores now blend global styles. 

These 11 stores, some of our favorites in the city, celebrate products made by Oaxacan hands from the state’s eight regions: woolen textiles from Teotitlan del Valle, filigree jewels from the Istmo, and world-famous mezcal from Matatlan, to name a few. Here’s where to shop. 

<figure><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/6alb7q886wpg/5HxzvApq4TP3oxhHxuECEJ/759faed2adf909970f69200128e19797/Oaxaca_Shopping_body.jpg"/><figcaption>Courtesy of Victor R. Lopez</figcaption></figure>

### Los Baúles de Juana Cata por Remigio Mestas
Don Remigio Mestas is an institution in Oaxacan textile art, and his name endorses this [boutique](http://www.casa-vieja.net/los-baules-de-juana-cata/ "Los Baúles de Juana Cata") which stocks textiles from several regions of the state, each of which meets the highest standards of quality and shows exceptional originality. An example of his clever take, Don Remigio places these alongside small treasures such as paliacates— bandannas traditionally worn while working in the fields—Tehuan jicalpextle containers, and dolls dressed in nostalgic regional attire.
Macedonio Alcala 403, int. 2, Centro Histórico

<figure><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/6alb7q886wpg/zBJdxr3Urx907aP36o9Mc/4c639477462ee458b9e22e5844e1f040/Oaxaca_Shopping_body2.jpg"/><figcaption>Courtesy of Colectivo 1050°</figcaption></figure>

## Cooperativa 1050°
The small [space](https://1050grados.com/) does not limit the wonder of the art created using Oaxacan clay here, a gift from Mother Earth according to pre-Hispanic Oaxacan lore. Artisans from communities such as Santa Maria Atzompa, San Bartolo Coyotepec, and Santo Domingo Tonaltepec, to name just three, take their traditional knowhow to new levels of excellence in the design of small, delicate contemporary pieces—perfect for traveling home with—each of which is signed by the potter.
Rufino Tamayo 800, Centro Histórico

<figure><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/6alb7q886wpg/5kFYV0zMuKNfq4d1RuLsy4/b742d85045f599e8b98bf49ef748ee1e/Oaxaca_Shopping_body3.jpg"/><figcaption>Courtesy of Luis Young</figcaption></figure>

### Marchanta
A combination of art, design, culture and fashion is spread throughout this [concept store](https://instagram.com/marchantastore?utm_medium=copy_link "Marchanta"), which takes its name from marchantas, the women who work in Oaxacan markets. It celebrates feminine freedom in its high-quality products, each of which has its own design DNA, character, and tradition. The store combines work by local artisans (pottery, textiles, and glass), with fashion brands from other Mexican states, like Grieve and Máscaras de Alambre, with a perfect sense of balance.
Jose Maria Morelos 802, Centro Histórico

<figure><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/6alb7q886wpg/4iidr8ZMrZaYVVj5kYjdGw/ceab97a2160ccd45b5f9ea4087eecdd0/Oaxaca_Shopping_body4.jpg"/><figcaption>Textile dress with woven bag courtesy of Silvia Suarez, Preserve jars courtesy of Monica Godefroy for Suculenta, Ceramics courtesy of ARIPO</figcaption></figure>

### Silvia Suarez
Well-known for her colorful dresses which mix current design with details inspired by artisan women, Oaxacan clothing designer [Silvia Suarez](https://www.instagram.com/suareztextil/?hl=en "Silvia Suarez") sought to expand her range to accessories that work well with the aesthetic of her garments. She has also invited other Mexican jewelry designers to show exclusive pieces in her boutique, and added a selection of homeware, such as cushions, canvases, and palm baskets which create a colorful, carefree, and sophisticated atmosphere.  
Gurrión 110-1, Centro Histórico

### Suculenta
The abundance of local food products in Oaxaca is undeniable, and [this shop ](https://instagram.com/suculenta_oax?utm_medium=copy_link)holds a bounty: seasonal jams, preserves, pickles and honey stacked in small jars, ready for cooking with or using as condiments for dishes. It also carries a plethora of tableware options created by well-known local artists, such as pottery from Isabel Sanchez and Pitao Copycha, or perfect pairs of candles made in Teotitlan de Valle.
Porfirio Diaz 211, Centro Histórico

### ARIPO
The best artisan products from the eight regions of Oaxaca can be found in this recently restored colonial [building](https://instagram.com/aripo_oaxaca?utm_medium=copy_link), also known as the Instituto de Artesanias Oaxaqueños. A combination of jewelry, textiles, homewares, and more shouts ‘Viva Oaxaca’—the botanical embroidery of Tehuan huipiles shares space with the sober colors of red and black pottery and hand-forged knives from Ejutla de Crespo. 
Manuel Garcia Vigil 809, Centro Histórico

<figure><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/6alb7q886wpg/zDpNIhXhAV2Lq2BMYaW6K/69b3bde61280d285a83eca6f36a8a53e/Oaxaca_Shopping_body5.jpg"/><figcaption>All images courtesy of MisMezcales</figcaption></figure>

### MisMezcales
Mezcal is the emblematic drink of the state, a source of pride for locals who have created and fortified a culture around it. This intimate [store](http://www.mismezcales.mx "MisMezcales") houses a community project bringing together the small towns which produce the drink in a casual tasting and shopping atmosphere. Kitschycool t-shirts and books are also sold among traditional objects which explore and celebrate the ancient art of agave harvesting and spirit production.
Reforma 528 B, Centro Histórico

<figure><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/6alb7q886wpg/69DIEhDPDKqLVJ3czbsI9U/3b4cd25f2214cfff2f98ae86e5dc2ee2/Oaxaca_Shopping_body6.jpg"/><figcaption>Necklace and textile courtesy of Museo de Artes Populares Belber Jimenez, Rings courtesy of Xico</figcaption></figure>

### Antique and textiles shops at the Museo de Artes Populares Belber Jimenez
The [shop](https://museobelber.org/product-categories/) at this private museum is a journey through the history of furniture design and decorative arts from Rococo to Art Deco styles. As the only space in Oaxaca stocking this level of decorative art and antiques, the site requires a reservation. The room at the front of the building has a beautiful collection of traditional garments for sale, each a little piece of Oaxacan history to take home. 
Mariano Matamoros 307, Centro Histórico

### Xico 303
It is common in Oaxaca City to find small projects which represent young creatives producing far-from-traditional products. This small [store ](https://instagram.com/xico_303?utm_medium=copy_link)does just that, providing a space for local brands such as Baku sandals—the current footwear obsession of the city—or garments by Minimalia. Search in the corners to find options from brands promoting upcycling, because here, they believe that fashion is a matter of consciousness.
Xicotencatl 303, Centro Histórico

<figure><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/6alb7q886wpg/1G6AzmTkzNwwQ2ajAxGkga/6c9a71fbaac2e9fe760e02ded50351bc/Oaxaca_Shopping_body7.jpg"/><figcaption>Tienda Q</figcaption></figure>

### Tienda Q
Preserving the essence of Galeria Quetzalli—the owners’ first opening and an award-winning benchmark for contemporary Oaxacan art—this hybrid space and avant-garde [concept store](https://instagram.com/tiendaq?utm_medium=copy_link) combines a selection of refined clothes, accessories, and jewelry with art installations in the two rooms that make it up. Considered a pioneer in the region, it stocks fashion brands such as Carmen Rion, Dosa, Merle Barbieri, and accessories by Envidia Logic. 
M. Bravo 109, Centro Histórico

<figure><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/6alb7q886wpg/p0FNGqtf8h2qRnSzEs9Yg/ab7ede532b2e4b40ad58aa4ceb3162c8/Oaxaca_Shopping_body8.jpg"/><figcaption>All images courtesy of Voces de Copal</figcaption></figure>

### Voces de Copal
Pieces of Zapotec culture from the village of San Martin Tilcajete can be found in the heart of the historic city center. This [gallery, store, and restaurant](https://instagram.com/vocesdecopal?utm_medium=copy_link "Voces de Copal") brings together different projects by Jacobo y Maria Angeles, famous for carving alebrijes (the bright-colored traditional Mexican folk-art sculptures), alongside artworks from Tilcajete. Make sure you have time to enjoy the menu at Tizne, the adjoining restaurant within the exhibition space, which serves contemporary versions of Angeles family recipes.  
Macedonio Alcalá 303, Centro Histórico

Oaxaca Shopping hero

Oaxaca Shopping index

Explore the vibrant artisan craft scene of Oaxaca City, Mexico, known for its traditional folk arts and modern fashions. Discover 11 must-visit stores and makers celebrating the rich cultural heritage of Oaxaca through textiles, pottery, mezcal, and more.

Oaxaca, Mexico’s Craft Capital: A Shopping Guide | PRIOR

A fashionable city of vivid color, movement, and contrast, Oaxaca City is not only the epicenter of Mexico’s Day of the Dead festivities but also its capital of artisan craft. Here, a trove of pottery, textile, and home shops fill the pastel-colored historic center with traditional folk arts and modern fashions alike. This list of our favorite destinations and makers offers an elevated blend of old and new.

A Shopping Guide to Oaxaca, Mexico’s Craft Capital

The northern area of Baja California, Mexico, used to have a lot of “world’s most…” associations tied to Tijuana. Whether it was the world’s busiest land border crossing or, at times, the world’s most dangerous city, the rest of this bountiful, beachy region an hour’s drive from San Diego was eclipsed. But now, due to a burgeoning creative and culinary scene that proudly draws from Mexico's regional history, raw materials and endemic ingredients— not to mention endless coast (and fish taco) access and a real-deal wine region— Baja is one of the places we’re most eager to explore. (And not just because we can still get into the country.)

<figure><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/oc8dxvhvd87u/1ei8i9BdYIu987QsVgi6os/c041c7c741b788863a3a4581ec0c31fa/bajaCal2.png"/><figcaption>Tacos de pescado and sunset over the Pacific Ocean.</figcaption></figure>

Whether spending a long weekend or tucking into glamping life, Baja’s northern region has some serious superpowers. The main cities of Tijuana and Ensenada have seen a creative boom, while over 80 percent of Mexican wine is produced in the rich soils found in the Valle de Guadalupe region a few miles inland. Or if you just want to stay in your palapa drinking local craft beer, that’s fine, too. Clearly, (just) south of the border is the place to be.

<figure><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/oc8dxvhvd87u/5paU6NhnEuaungXhnNExEV/9845cb2b574b4486f9b05c0ee7474606/bajaCal3.png"/><figcaption>Left: Bruma. Right photo courtesy of Vinos Lechuza. </figcaption></figure>

Here’s what to look for:

## Wine:

A 20-minute drive inland from Ensenada’s city center, Valle de Guadalupe’s breezy, Mediterranean-like climate makes it a natural home for vineyards. Its centuries-old olive-green trees, rosemary and lavender bushes and winding routes evoke Napa, but cult-cab tourists might balk at the rugged dirt roads and rustic vibe — not to mention that each of these one-of-a-kind wineries feels like a discovery, not another point on a tasting tour. Wineries to visit include __[Casa de Piedra](http://vinoscasadepiedra.com/)__ (the flagship winery founded by the father of modern Mexican winemaking, Hugo d'Acosta), __[Vena Cava](http://venacavawine.com/en/inicio)__, Mogor-Badan, __[Bruma](http://www.bruma.mx/vinicola.html)__, __[Vinos Lechuza](http://vinoslechuza.com/)__, whose chardonnay has made appearances on the list at the French Laundry, and many more. Few of these wines are exported, so enjoy them while you can— or try to bring some back.

<figure><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/oc8dxvhvd87u/4Z0fHmDOdYF1AelIwTHJkn/5bd68bc0bcd20288499b312925edf10b/bajaCal4.png"/><figcaption>Middle: Vena Cava. Right: A classic Valle sunset at winery Clos de Tres Cantos. Photos by Laila Said.</figcaption></figure>

## Seafood:

Located between the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortéz, the region is known for its exceptional productivity in terms of agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries. The port of Ensenada is one of the most important in all of Mexico: It’s said that the best restaurants in Mexico City, including Contramar and Pujol, have their fish flown in daily from here. The main market is the bustling black market, known locally as Mercado Negro, located along the port, which earned its name back in the late 50’s when they began to sell illegal species like lobster and abalone that were supposed to be reserved for fishing cooperatives. 

<figure><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/oc8dxvhvd87u/5Lon708kXbUIhW27A4PL5M/12aef0dcc78ef48227b645a706866c00/bajaCal5.png"/><figcaption>Middle: Catch of the day being smoked in Ensenada’s Ahumadora del Pacífico. Photos by Laila Said.</figcaption></figure>

After walking the stalls of mackerel, bonito and smoked fish, head over to Tacos Lily or Tacos el Fénix for a genuine Baja fish taco or three. To taste raw seafood at its finest, make your way to the iconic street cart, La Guerrerense, for a seafood tostada (pro tip: add raw scallops and avocado to whichever tostada you order!). We also especially love __[Muelle 3](https://muelle-3-restaurant.negocio.site/?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=referral)__, a restaurant overlooking the port where you can also sip locally made craft beers. If you’re hungry while driving from Tijuana to Ensenada, you can stop at __[Sandra](http://sandraspuertonuevo.com/menu.html)__’s in Puerto Nuevo, famous amongst locals for its lobster preparations. (Hint: it’s fried in lard and served alongside homemade flour tortillas, melted butter, rice and beans.)

<figure><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/oc8dxvhvd87u/1FqzNM32SfOvgAcYb5CwFq/4f8eb5d1bfa93885d4537de94308dbd2/bajaCal6.png"/><figcaption>Left: Private mezcal tasting with Martin, owner of Ensenada’s only mezcalería, La Penca. Right: Lunch in Ensenada. Photos by Laila Said.</figcaption></figure>

## Authentic Design:

Given its recent international appeal, Valle de Guadalupe is turning heads with its design-forward wineries and boutique-style properties. One of the most renowned architects and designers in the area is Alejandro D’Acosta, who specializes in sustainable and regenerative design, implementing recycled materials and endemic stones in many of his projects. Wineries __[Clos De Tres Cantos](https://www.archdaily.com/801243/clos-de-tres-cantos-tac-taller-de-arquitectura-contextual/584cc961e58ece89a70000bf-clos-de-tres-cantos-tac-taller-de-arquitectura-contextual-photo?next_project=no)__ and __[Vena Cava](http://venacavawine.com/es/confirmar/)__ best reflect his style and approach.

<figure><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/oc8dxvhvd87u/3w3Ce1raK25nculYWwu5Oo/a699da44093c1054f031a0ce8eb8db23/bajaCal7.png"/><figcaption>Middle image courtesy of LUNARIO. Right: Bruma. Photos by Laila Said.</figcaption></figure>

Check out the design at hotels like __[Encuentro Guadalupe](https://grupoencuentro.com.mx/)__, __[Bruma](http://www.bruma.mx/casa8.html)__ and __[Campera](http://camperahotel.com/)__. One of the area’s newest restaurants, __[Lunario](https://www.sddesignweek.org/programs/project-tours/mexican-modern-in-valle-de-guadalupe-designing-la-lomitas-lunario-restaurant)__, which was designed by Tijuana-based interior design firm, __[Casa Duhagón](https://www.casaduhagon.com/)__, has also received recent recognition from design folks.

<figure><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/oc8dxvhvd87u/QggjwxFJgkWQ0sNjM9lDA/0e96f48faa0b654d42574a1466d34cc6/bajaCal8.png"/><figcaption>Left: Chef Javier Plascencia’s Animalón under a 100+ year oak tree. Right: Communal-style lunch at Fauna. Photos by Laila Said.</figcaption></figure>

## Open-Flame Cooking: 

In the last decade or two, young Mexican chefs have stopped either running away to Europe or tailoring their menus to tourists. These days, they’re working with the stellar, hyperlocal produce that surrounds them (usually from their own organic farms, especially at the wineries) and cooking it with deep respect for regional Mexican traditions. For this we have to acknowledge a few visionaries — including Javier González, who opened Tijuana’s first __[Culinary Art School](http://www.culinaryartschool.edu.mx/)__, and Hugo D’Acosta, who opened La Escuelita in Valle de Guadalupe — who were instrumental in keeping Mexican chefs and vintners within the region, but also providing aspiring chefs and winemakers with the knowledge, tools and techniques needed to produce food and wine of the highest quality. They inspired and empowered others to respect the local land and water.

<figure><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/oc8dxvhvd87u/1iCf1fYg4MVQjq2Eu4EfKh/2a7c7a1d921af51ff555e752f3675aa3/bajaCal9.png"/><figcaption>Left image courtesy of Deckmans. Photos by Laila Said.</figcaption></figure>

Today, dishes are served which are authentically of the place — in this case, rustic and unpretentious, highlighting the high-quality local ingredients, which are often cooked simply over flames or in a caja china and served with corn tortillas and fresh salsas. In fall and winter, diners cozily gather around outdoor fireplaces, wrapped in blankets under lovely lighting — and endless stars. Some of the restaurants that best capture this approach include: __[Deckman’s en el Mogor](https://www.deckmans.com/)__, __[Animalón](https://www.animalonbaja.com/welcome)__, __[Fauna](http://faunarestaurante.mx/)__, and Jair Téllez’s __[Laja](https://lajamexico.com/)__ (the first destination restaurant in the area).

<figure><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/oc8dxvhvd87u/KqlQqONt6DeOJW1o1fys2/e60eada2ecbd44f0ad0502fca0b7ded5/bajaCal10.png"/><figcaption>Left and middle: Boarder wall at Tijuana. Mural by Mexican artist Enrique Chiu, who has painted 1.3 miles of colorful murals on US-Mexico border fencing to protest Trump's proposed wall. Right: Freshly cracked coconuts at Tijuana’s Mercado Hodalgo. Photos by Laila Said.</figcaption></figure>

## Cultural Fusion:

Declared the largest binational conurbation shared between the United States and Mexico by NASA, the Tijuana-San Diego border is also the busiest and most-transited land border in the world, with over 90 million people crossing on a yearly basis. Thus, the northwestern border of Mexico is a mosaic of eccentricities, not to mention a place where ecosystems, cultures, and innumerable cooking styles converge.The proximity to the United States has placed Tijuana in a strategic position as a ciudad de paso, or a city to pass through, granting the emergent Mexican city and its surrounding areas with an eclectic and multicultural demographic comprised of migrant workers coming from diverse regions throughout Mexico, in addition to Asian immigrants, Latin Americans, Middle Easterners — and, in recent years, a wave of Haitian refugees and Central American asylum seekers. It all leads to a city which reflects such richness in cultures through its vibrant art, music, design and food scenes. (It’s even expanded upon the craft beer scene of San Diego, if cult microbreweries are your thing.) Young locals stopped catering to tourists and began looking inward, respecting their country’s raw materials and local talents. The result? A unique and flourishing, highly experimental scene that is unlike anything else you’ll find in Mexico.

<figure><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/oc8dxvhvd87u/67ziqjBGzxdc9PZD20fHFj/31fb7e2ccd8cfb80b61aa875961562b4/bajaCal11.png"/><figcaption>Middle: Tortas de Lomo at Tortas La Vuelta in Tijuana. Right: The former palace of the fast-paced ‘basque pelota’ now serves as an event venue in the heart of Tijuana. Photos by Laila Said.</figcaption></figure>

bajaCal

Laila Said

bajaCalSQ

Explore the vibrant and diverse Northern region of Baja California, Mexico, where a burgeoning creative and culinary scene is taking center stage. From world-class wineries in Valle de Guadalupe to exceptional seafood markets and open-flame cooking, immerse yourself in the authentic flavors and cultural fusion of this captivating region, just a stone's throw away from San Diego. Uncover the hidden gems and unique experiences that make Northern Baja a must-visit destination.

Discovering the Allure of Northern Baja California, Mexico: Culinary Delights and More

Exploring another side of the Mexican region, where the combination of innovative food and design, a rollicking winery trail and the country’s best seafood are changing the face of the peninsula

Baja Moment

Painting the walls is a very Mexican thing to do. The ancient Mayas applied wondrous pictorial compositions to their jungle temples, and the Aztecs famously frescoed their pyramids in bold colors. Centuries later, the *Muralismo Mexicano* movement flourished across the country—with particular intensity in Mexico City—and, from the 1920s to the 1960s, made painters like Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros international art stars while transforming the capital’s public spaces into art galleries that also doubled as political platforms. These works remain central to the identity of the city.

Their creation began in the 1920s, following a terribly chaotic 10-year revolutionary war across Mexico, and the resulting leaders were keenly interested in establishing a social order based around the ideals of progress, political and economic transformation, a proud indigenous and mestizo identity, and the great heritage of Mexican culture. Thanks to key figures like politician and philosopher José Vasconcelos, great artists were commissioned to envision a canon of national art based on modernist principles and used to express social, aesthetic, and political ideals. 

<figure><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/6alb7q886wpg/4O6Om1sszY4TLa59HNv06e/3b52fe4f3c30eeafeb97b1a4ae3066a5/Mexico_City_Murals_body.jpg" alt="Atlas Mountains."/><figcaption>Mural by Jean Charlot at Colegio San-Ildefonso</figcaption></figure>

The walls of many grandiose buildings were assigned to accomplished painters, some of them quite experimental, in the hopes of creating accessible works that would educate and inspire the masses. As the tumultuous twentieth century went on, the great pathos and struggles of the times were also depicted, as in Siqueiros’s extraordinary *A New Democracy*, on display at the Palacio de Bellas Artes, where a bare-breasted woman erupts from the earth, destroying an old totalitarian regime, or Noguchi’s striking 22 meter-long relief housed in the Abelrado Rodríguez public market; it’s on these walls where the forces of fascism, labor and science collide.   

These four decades of Mexican history are complex, marked by upheaval and structural changes to all aspects of life. So are the individual stories of the painters who were at times aligned with the official state narrative, and at times at violent odds with it. Siqueiros, for example, maintained an uneasy relationship with the changing governments; he was both sponsored for enormous works and also jailed several times, spending around five years total in prison.  In this context, larger than life figures such as Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, and Siqueiros (known as the big three) and lesser-knowns (but still widely praised inside the country) like José Chavez Morado, Jorge González Camarena and Juan O’Gorman created astoundingly prolific and monumental paintings that, decades later, transcend well beyond the context that originated them, as powerfully unique works that are a must-see for travelers looking for a deeper understanding of the city.  

<figure><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/6alb7q886wpg/20MWh3wVJjIBbOIz0WuIfy/530f4de60ce7e2e6d8f1249bcb015a85/Mexico_City_Murals_body.jpg" alt="Atlas Mountains."/><figcaption>A New Democracy by David Alfaro Siqueiros in Palacio de Bellas Artes</figcaption></figure>

## Palacio de Bellas Artes
After 30 years of construction, the striking [Palacio de Bellas Artes](http://museopalaciodebellasartes.gob.mx/)  opened in the center of Mexico City in 1934, its architecture an eclectic, yet harmonious mix of tropicalized Art Nouveau and Art Decó styles. The museum houses some gut-wrenching and beautiful masterpieces by Siqueiros who, in *Tormento a Cuauhtémoc* depicted, with uncanny expressivness, the pain of the last Aztec Emperor, Cuauhtémoc, as he was tortured by the Spanish conquerors in 1521.  Another standout piece is the colorful *Liberación*, an allegory for the liberation of humanity from historical bonds, by Jorge Gonzáles Camarena. It’s hard to choose favorites here, as there are also murals by the great Oaxacan Zapotec painter Rufino Tamayo, and other large scale works by Rivera and Orozco.

<figure><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/6alb7q886wpg/3pPsd9N1yGmYdQYFUctOEL/4a6ce4c49b329e2c9ef010c9a6b38ceb/Mexico_City_Murals_body2.jpg" alt="Atlas Mountains."/><figcaption>Diego Rivera’s The Origin Of Life</figcaption></figure>

## Cárcamo de Dolores
This [functioning water reservoir](https://www.archivo.cdmx.gob.mx/vive-cdmx/post/carcamo-de-dolores), inside the huge Chapultepec Park, is part of the Lerma System (the main water supply for the city) that was constructed in 1951 and features one of the more unusual and masterfully composed works from Diego Rivera. His *Water, The Origin Of Life*, which shows humanity’s relationship to the precious element, wraps around the walls and floor of the actual water basin, even the flood-gates are included in the mural. The piece was originally underwater but now the water has been diverted to the sides to better preserve the work. The small site also features an atmospheric sound installation by contemporary artist Ariel Guzik, added a few years ago.

<figure><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/6alb7q886wpg/3BibrUKw1WNG1Qf4Uv660b/9e0135fe28ec7424656012d3d646ebd4/Mexico_City_Murals_body3.jpg" alt="Atlas Mountains."/><figcaption>Mural by José Clemente Orozco</figcaption></figure>

## Colegio de San Ildefonso
One of the [most important colonial buildings](http://www.sanildefonso.org.mx/) in the downtown area, this former college was founded in 1583 and served as a public school during the 1920’s when many of its inner walls were assigned to artists by José Vasconcelos. Here is Rivera’s very first mural, *La Creación*, which shows his take on the classic creation story, as well as an exceptionally stylized depiction of the fall of Tenochtitlán, the ancient Aztec city that stood where Mexico City now is, by Jean Charlot. The main feature however, is the critical imagery by José Clemente Orozco that scales three stories, portraying class struggles and ridiculing the bourgeoisie, as well as the roof of the main stairwell where he depicts Hernán Cortés and his interpreter, the oft-maligned Malintzin.     

<figure><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/6alb7q886wpg/3gAxvaz8VUnnAKKPc9lQZj/d6adf257bfd470e755263d5c73b3a2c3/Mexico_City_Murals_body4.jpg" alt="Atlas Mountains."/><figcaption>Noguchi wall sculpture</figcaption></figure>

## Mercado Abelardo Rodríguez   
Consistent with the idea of educating the people through art in public spaces, this bustling downtown market was built in 1934, with 1500 square meters of murals commissioned to ten artists. The project was carried out under the direction of Rivera who chose a handful of his students to create their own works, and who also invited international artists Marion Greenwood and Isamu Noguchi to participate. Noguchi created his first large work here, a black and red wall-sculpture where he portrays the historical powers of war, capitalism, fascism  and science. For eight months he worked on shaping the relief, all the while having a secret affair with Frida Kahlo that finally ended when Rivera chased him out of their house at gunpoint.

<figure><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/6alb7q886wpg/31NPARQIY3cJyqrZUPYVOe/3568832685b3bd9b16895d84c15d6f29/Mexico_City_Murals_body5.jpg" alt="Atlas Mountains."/><figcaption>Facade of UNAM
</figcaption></figure>

## UNAM
Founded in 1910, the central campus of the [UNAM](https://www.unam.mx/) (the Autonomous University of Mexico) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in no small part thanks to monumental mural facades, made using various techniques, such as mosaic, wall-sculpture or vinyl paint, by Juan O'Gorman, Rivera, Siqueiros, José Chavez Morado and others. The most impactful might be *Representación Histórica de la Cultura* by O’Gorman which covers all four facades of the massive Central Library building.

<figure><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/6alb7q886wpg/3ayHOeKo7XcPUjo7d4IVF3/83e56b08c716e902aba39a0fd012a1bd/Mexico_City_Murals_body6.jpg" alt="Atlas Mountains."/><figcaption>Diego Rivera murals on exterior walls</figcaption></figure>

## Secretaría de Educación Publica (SEP)
From 1923 to 1928 Rivera worked nonstop on hundreds of mural pieces on the walls of a [colonial era building](https://murales.sep.gob.mx/) that was recently made the new headquarters of the Public Education Secretariat. This unbelievable output of paintings portrays themes of cultural heritage, intellectual work, class struggle, an homage to the arts and the transformation of human conscience.  
<figure class="align-right hidden"><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/6alb7q886wpg/1MMou3FB11fXbA6jpMo5AD/645a0a79f2eca86ed34418e06b23c699/Mexico_City_Murals-1.jpg"/><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure class="align-right hidden"><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/6alb7q886wpg/1qZWmLvszVz2pWFf0otZ05/946e571f67e1e76936f03dde38263707/Mexico_City_Murals-2.jpg"/><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure class="align-right hidden"><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/6alb7q886wpg/UFIHUpGqMox7emQ8aSNia/f62e4e3b417b2ef057d039427247a643/Mexico_City_Murals-3.jpg"/><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure class="align-right hidden"><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/6alb7q886wpg/1akxCLq9zwRNpdrl0JNVFO/5f7e591a3bc75edfa461d744e94056e0/Mexico_City_Murals-4.jpg"/><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure class="align-right hidden"><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/6alb7q886wpg/3MQn0hD53P7oQLJcN9KxZB/155c70eac50be9c2158b1e64288a2264/Mexico_City_Murals-5.jpg"/><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure class="align-right hidden"><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/6alb7q886wpg/1ncyWAT0OasEp7FeZZ4Uru/19bdf875883106f9b105adb596ea51c9/Mexico_City_Murals-6.jpg"/><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure class="align-right hidden"><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/6alb7q886wpg/4J5XPnUl64yXzr8wPW9j6P/c7248408b94973c1711342bc32fe8d37/Mexico_City_Murals-7.jpg"/><figcaption></figcaption></figure>


A photo of one of the stunning murals in Mexico City.

Mexico City Murals hero

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Ilán Rabchinskey

Mexico City Murals index

Mexico City became a canvas for monumental and politically-driven murals from influential artists like Diego Rivera, Orozco & Siquieros.

The Murals of Mexico City | Prior

In the middle of the twentieth century, public buildings across Mexico City became canvases for monumental and politically-driven murals, envisioned by some of the most influential artists of the time. Here, a guide to these relics of revolution.

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Follow Mexico’s tequila trail to the agave plantations of Jalisco and explore the leafy boulevards and colonial mansions of nearby Guadalajara.

Decompress among surfers and taco carts on the long golden beaches of the little-developed Oaxacan coastline.

Walk through La Casa Azul, the childhood home of Frida Kahlo, with an art historian to learn about its collection of paintings, jewelry, Tehuana dresses and memorabilia.

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