ItвЂ™s just across the street,вЂќ said Juan SebastiГЎn Mendez, an administrative assistant at the theatre. вЂњIf you think this place is beautiful, donвЂ™t miss the post office.

Later, I popped into the () to ask for information about upcoming Ballet FolklГіrico de MГ©xico performances вЂ“ and to admire the elegant Art Deco interior, filled with glowing crystal lamps and soaring white Carrara marble archways. The colonial patio is a beautiful place to have drinks and talk for hours.вЂќ (Bridget Gleeson) вЂњItвЂ™s a place where locals go вЂ“ for business lunches or weekend meals with family and friends. вЂњItвЂ™s one of Mexico's finest restaurants, known for its old-fashioned style, romantic hacienda architecture, handmade furniture, and excellent food and drinks made with the best ingredients,вЂќ she said. Afterwards, Mena said, visit the () (pictured), dating from the 17th Century and located just across the street. вЂњIf youвЂ™re interested in architecture, design or art, visiting the studios is a must,вЂќ said Martha Mena, a Mexico City native who now lives and works in Buenos Aires. These striking Functionalist houses, connected by a footbridge, were designed in 1932 by RiveraвЂ™s friend, the Mexican muralist and architect Juan OвЂ™Gorman. I caught the metro near the park and made the journey south to the San ГЃngel neighbourhood, home to one of the cityвЂ™s most noted landmarks вЂ“ the (). I discovered later that Unesco named the ritual вЂ“ the () вЂ“ to the Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2009.

At the top, each dancer attached himself to a harness moments later, all four were sailing in a circular motion high above the crowd, floating lower and lower, one playing a flute, another a drum, the other two contorting into poses as the ropes slowly lowered them to the ground. ItвЂ™s an old ceremony that originated in central Mexico when one community was suffering through a long drought and appealed to the gods for relief and rain.вЂќ Shielding our eyes from the sun, we looked up to see four men in colourful tribal dress climb the pole one by one. вЂњYou should wait around a few minutes and watch,вЂќ said Maria Elena Orellana, a street vendor who was selling cups filled with fresh melon, mango and pineapple from a cheerful cherry-red cart. (Bridget Gleeson)ДЄs I stepped out of the museum and into the sunshine of the Bosque de Chapultepec, a small crowd was gathering around the base of a towering metal pole. вЂњThereвЂ™s an entire exhibit devoted to the ancient city of TeotihuacГЎn.вЂќ Carved figurines, ceremonial bowls and mask collections all provide a rare window into the mysterious civilization that built TeotihuacГЎn before the Aztecs arrived and left no written records. вЂњIt has a massive collection of archaeological artefacts representing our pre-Hispanic civilizations,вЂќ he said. Sanchez recommended the () (the National Museum of Anthropology, pictured). Today, the park contains several notable museums and a zoo. After Mexico gained independence in 1821, the 18th-century ((Chapultepec Castle), located within the park, housed MexicoвЂ™s heads of state. вЂњIf youвЂ™re interested in pre-Hispanic cultureвЂќ, said Aldo Sanchez, a local archaeology student who spent the afternoon led me around the ruins of TeotihuacГЎn, вЂњgo to ().вЂќ The sprawling park, located about 5km southwest of the historic centre, was once a place of refuge for Aztec rulers in the mid-15th Century. Just down the street from the ZГіcalo (the cityвЂ™s main square) and the pre-Hispanic () the church is part of a 34-block area recognized as a Unesco World Heritage site. But the magic is in the historic centre.вЂќ This Franciscan church, built in the 18th Century, stands on the site of MexicoвЂ™s first convent, established in 1524. вЂњNeighbourhoods like Roma and Condesa are more stylish вЂ“ art galleries, mezcal bars. вЂњThe old magic of Mexico City is right here,вЂќ said Alberto Casale, a native Chilango selling postcards outside the entrance of the (). But when it comes to appreciating Mexico CityвЂ™s storied past, thereвЂ™s no better place to start than the cityвЂ™s historic centre. Though long associated with the drug-related crime that continues to plague the nation, Mexico City has poured money into urban revitalisation, bringing new life to the capitalвЂ™s elegant buildings, historic public spaces and local traditions.

Www ccr gob