Walking tour of Mexico City

Take a journey through the many eras that shaped modern-day Mexico City to discover the city's multi-layered history. At the heart of the city is the immense main square known as the Zócalo, built directly on top of what was once the heart of the Aztec city of Tenochtitlán. Thanks to a prophecy, the ancient city was founded on the site of a vast lake, giving rise to an elaborate network of walkways and canals that is not easy to imagine on a first glance at today's metropolis. However there are still signs of the city's beginnings: some of its older architecture is gradually sinking, including the huge colonial cathedral that sits beside the ruins of the Aztec Templo Mayor.

Flanking the Zócalo is the Palacio Nacional, the seat of Government, which houses Diego Rivera's provocative murals telling the history of Mexico – from the communist artist's point of view, that is. From here a scenic stroll leads down the Calle Moneda to the Teatro de Bellas Artes with its beautiful art deco design and peaceful gardens.