Wander Calle Madero and Learn About Its History
Calle MaderoMexican craftwork, baroque style, and colonial architecture are all reflected in this mansion.
Madero street, one of the city’s loveliest and busiest, leads to Plaza de la República square. And, since 2010, has been reserved for pedestrians, much to the delight of those walking around Mexico City’s Historic Center.
If you want to reach the Zócalo square, make sure to plan plenty of time because along the way you will come across cafés and ice cream shops that entice you to pop in for a few minutes, in addition to museums and churches that you should not miss.
Here, where hundreds of pedestrians cross Eje Central avenue. Below the Torre Latinoamericana sits a 16th-century building whose blue-and-white tile exterior has made it an icon of Mexico City.
When coming from Alameda Central park, you will spot the Casa de los Azulejos, a customary gathering place since the beginning of the last century. Stopping in for a coffee is a great excuse to admire its interior.
Its central courtyard, showing Mudéjar influences, reveals tall, slender, fluted columns. The passageways are still bordered by the original wrought iron railings from China, and the stairway, like the ceilings, is covered in the same tiles as the exterior. One of the city’s first elevators is located here.
Take a good look at the murals on the wall leading to the second floor—Pavorreales (Peacocks) is by the artist Pacologue, and Omnisciencia (Omniscience) is by José Clemente Orozco.
Across from the Casa de los Azulejos is the Templo de San Francisco, which was the headquarters of the Franciscan Order in present-day Mexico, after the order came to evangelize the newly-discovered territories. Today, there are only remnants of what was a large convent in the 16th century. Where it once stood, is now the Templo de San Felipe Neri, known as La Profesa. It is an 18th-century baroque church on the corner of Madero and Isabel la Católica streets. La Profesa shelters an altarpiece by Manuel Tolsá, as well as a painting of the Immaculate Conception also created by the famous sculptor.
Madero street, which is visited by those looking to buy jewelry or snacks in some if its large shopping centers, also boasts interesting cultural options. You will find, just few steps away, the limestone and red volcanic stone Palacio de Iturbide. The baroque-style building is distinguished for being the colonial era’s only palatial structure built four stories high. Today it spotlights Mexican popular art. The Longoria building now houses the Museo del Estanquillo, a museum preserving the writer Carlos Monsiváis’ private collection. There are paintings, photographs, toys, books, and more that this chronicler of the city collected over more than 30 years.
And close to the Plaza de la Constitución, you will find MUMEDI, at Madero 74. This is the Museo del Diseño Mexicano (Museum of Mexican Design), whose walls display cutting-edge work by young graphic and industrial artists.
Avenida Francisco I. Madero, Centro Histórico de la Ciudad de México, Centro, Ciudad de México, CDMX, México
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