Culture and history buffs will rejoice with a visit to the National Museum of Anthropology (Museo Nacional de Antropología) in the heart of Mexico City. It is the the largest and most visited museum in Mexico; many people are in the camp of: “If you do one thing in Mexico City, it should be this.” There are an astounding twenty three rooms and the museum covers almost twenty acres of land within the famous Chapultepec Park. With its impressive size and extensive collection, you could spend a whole day here. As you roam your way through the museum’s indoor and outdoor exhibits, you will find significant archaeological and anthropological artifacts from prehispanic Mayan civilizations to the Spanish conquest.
Each room is dedicated to a specific region or culture, making the remarkable space easy to navigate. One of their most prized possessions is the 12-foot tall, 25 ton Aztec Calendar. They even have a reconstructed Mayan tomb from the eighth century. The museum also has rotating, temporary exhibits usually focusing on other cultures around the world. Don’t forget to take in the modern architecture of the space and snap a pic of the iconic umbrella roof. The structure is supported by a single column, which depicts important symbols from the pre hispanic natives and represents a tree.
Outside the museum you can find local vendors, where you can grab an ice cream or a souvenir! Walk down to the park to explore more, you can even take a paddleboat or rowboat out on the pond.
Wildcatter’s Tip:
- The world famous restaurant, Pujol, is a 10-15 minute cab ride away, or a 25 minute walk away from the museum. Pujol is often regarded as the best restaurant in Mexico City and was ranked 20th best restaurant in the world by Restaurant Magazine in 2017. Its tasting menu created by world renowned chef, Enrique Olvera, offers up “playfully elevated street food”. Don’t forget to make reservations a few weeks in advance.
Fun Fact:
- It’s the 7th largest art museum in the world (the Louvre is #1).