An art nouveau masterpiece built in 1934, Mexico City's Palace of Fine Arts (Palacio de Bellas Artes) is one of the city's iconic landmarks. With its large domes and striking marble columns, you can marvel at this magnificent space flooded with natural light.
On its three uppermost floors you'll find works of art by great Mexican muralists, whilst if you visit after dark, you'll have the chance to take in one of the captivating shows held here throughout the year.
Stop to appreciate the main hall of the palace, where you can admire the sculpted masks of Mayan gods. On the first floor, you can see murals by Rufino Tamayo, as well as his piece Nacimiento de Nuestra Nacionalidad (Birth of Our Nationality), dedicated to Mexico's modern diversity. The best-known work that you'll see is Diego Rivera's El Hombre En El Cruce de Caminos (Man at the Crossroads), which was turned down by New York's Rockefeller Center in the 1930s due to its communist themes.
The palace's Art Deco theatre also plays host to a rich and eclectic programme of concerts, including Mexican and foreign operas, classical music, ballet and Mexican folk music shows. If you get to see a show, admire the theatre's famous stage curtain, made by Tiffany's in New York and comprising almost 1,000,000 pieces of stained glass, including a mural portraying the Valley of Mexico and its two volcanoes. Make sure you look on the palace's website before your visit to see what's on whilst you're in the city. You can also join a guided tour to see the stage curtain for free during its daytime opening hours.
Situated in the Historic Center of Mexico City, you can easily reach the Palace of Fine Arts by walking, taking a taxi or riding on the city's metro system. Close to the palace, you'll find a range of restaurants and cafés. You should allow one to two hours to fully explore the palace. It costs nothing to enter and is open every day except Mondays.
