Zócalo

Why go

Arms Square, and today its formal name is Constitution Square (Plaza de la Constitución). It has been a gathering place for Mexicans since Aztec times, having been the site of Mexica ceremonies, the swearing in of viceroys, royal proclamations, military parades, Independence ceremonies and modern religious events such as the festivals of Holy Week and Corpus Christi. It.

What to look for

• Notice how Zócalo relates to the surrounding streets and skyline.
• Look for surviving details that reveal the site's principal historical layer.

The full story

has received foreign heads of state and is the main venue for both national celebration and national protest. Description The modern Zócalo in Mexico City is 57,600 metres² (240 m × 240 m), making it one of the largest city squares in the world. It is bordered by the Cathedral, the National Palace, the Federal District buildings and the Old Portal de Mercaderes, the Nacional Monte de Piedad building, with the Templo Mayor site to the northeast, just outside of view. In the center is a flagpole with an enormous Mexican flag ceremoniously raised and lowered each day and carried into the National Palace. There is an entrance to the Metro station Zócalo located at the northeast corner of the square but no sign above ground indicates its presence. History Pre-conquest Prior to the conquest, the area that the Zócalo occupies was open space, in the center of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan. It was bordered to the east by Moctezuma II's New Houses or Palace (which would become the National.

Useful to know

• Allow enough time to see Zócalo and its immediate setting without rushing.
• Check current official access information before entering any managed interior.

Your next visit

Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.