Esteban Cervantes Jiménez yesterday sent me a tremendous update on the connections for the "Historic Centre of Mexico City and Xochimilco". I will add them of course, but like to present them in this topic as well as it points out so many more interesting places to see in that great city.
1. Connection: Baroque
Proposal: As the capital of the "Virreinato de Nueva España" and known as the "City of Palaces" during the apogee of Baroque, the historic centre of Mexico City is full of ecclesiastical and civil jewels of baroque, as:
· Catedral Metropolitana de la Asunción de la Santísima Virgen María: its construction started in 1571 and ended in 1813, therefore having a mix of consecutive architectural styles, but Baroque is considered the most prominent. At Plaza de la Constitución S/N.
· La Profesa, Oratory of San Felipe Neri: at Isabel La Católica #21. Concluded in neoclassical style by Manuel Tolsá.
· Chapel of Nuestra Señora del Pilar (la Enseñanza): at Donceles #102.
· Temple and fmr. convent of Santa Inés: at Moneda #26.
· Church and fmr. convent of San Francisco: At Francisco I. Madero #7.
· Church of Santo Domingo: Belisario Rodríguez S/N.
· Church of Santa Teresa la Antigua: above Capilla del Cristo. At Licenciado Verdad #8.
· Church and Convent of Jesús María: at Jesús María #39.
· Church of San Lorenzo Diácono y Mártir: at Belisario Domínguez #28.
· Church of the Inmaculada Concepción: of a more subdued baroque style, at Belisario Domínguez #3.
· Parish of Santa Catarina: at República de Brasil.
· Fmr. Temple of San Agustín: at República de El Salvador #76.
· Museo Nacional de las Culturas: at Moneda #13 (behind the National Palace).
· Church de la Santísima Trinidad: at Emiliano Zapata #60.
· Church of San Bernardo: at 20 de noviembre #33.
· Museo de la Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público: at Moneda #4.
· Casa del Marqués de Prado Alegre: at Francisco I. Madero #39.
· Palacio de los Condes de San Mateo de Valparaíso: at Isabel La Católica #44.
· Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso: at Justo Sierra #16.
· Palacio de la Escuela de Medicina: at República de Brasil #33. Initially the Palace of the Inquisition in the city, built 1732-1736.
Source(s):
https://www.lamudi.com.mx/journal/la-arquitectura-barroca-en-mexico/ ;
https://mxcity.mx/2017/12/algunas-joyas-barrocas-de-la-ciudad-de-mexico-parte-1/ ;
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Categor%C3%ADa:Iglesias_barrocas_de_M%C3%A9xico 2. Connection: Neoclassical Architecture
Proposal: At the end of the colonial period and during roughly the first century of its independent life, the historic centre of the city received numerous works in the neoclassical style. Just like in many other countries, this style was used to relate the new nation and its surging institutions to the glories of the Democracy of Athens and the Republic of Rome.
Examples:
· Catedral Metropolitana de la Asunción de la Virgen María: as it was ended in 1813, when the neoclassical style was becoming widely adopted. These neoclassical works were developed by Architect Manuel Tolsá, who built the clock tower and the dome of the cathedral. At Plaza de la Constitución S/N.
· Church of Nuestra Señora de Loreto: at San Ildefonso 80.
· La Profesa, Oratory of San Felipe Neri: at Isabel La Católica 21. Concluded in neoclassical style by Manuel Tolsá.
· Palacio de Minería: also by Manuel Tolsá, at Tacuba #5
· Museo Nacional de Arte (MUNAL): at Tacuba #8. Initially the seat of the "Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Obras Públicas"
· Carlos the IV statue or "El Caballito".
· Teatro de la Ciudad Esperanza Iris: by Ignacio Capetillo Servín and Federico Mariscal, at Donceles #36.
· Hemiciclo de Juárez: at Alameda Central Park.
· Palacio de Bellas Artes: by Ádamo Boari, as was typical in the period, the building is very eclectic, but neoclassicism may be considered the predominant style. At Juárez Av. S/N
· Antigua Escuela de Economía: at República de Economía #92. By architect Manuel Gorozpe.
Source(s):
https://mxcity.mx/2018/05/algunas-joyas-neoclasicas-de-la-ciudad-de-mexico/ 3. Connection: Domes
Proposal: The following is a list of the most important domes in the historic centre.
Examples:
· Palacio de Bellas Artes: by architect Ádamo Boari, at Juárez av. S/N.
· Church and fmr. convent of San Francisco: At Francisco I. Madero #7.
· Catedral Metropolitana de la Asunción de la Virgen Maria: neoclassical dome. At Plaza de la Constitución S/N.
· La Profesa, Oratory of San Felipe Neri: at Isabel La Católica 21. Concluded in neoclassical style by Manuel Tolsá.
· Temple and fmr. convent of the Carmen: at República de Nicaragua S/N.
· Church of Santo Domingo: Belisario Rodríguez S/N.
· Church of Santa Teresa la Antigua: above Capilla del Cristo. At Licenciado Verdad 8.
· Church and Convent of Jesús María: at Jesús María 39.
· Church of San Lorenzo Diácono y Mártir: at Belisario Domínguez 28.
· Church of the Inmaculada Concepción: at Belisario Domínguez 3.
· Temple and fmr. convent of Santa Inés: at Moneda 26.
· Church of Nuestra Señora de Loreto: at San Ildefonso 80.
· Church of San Bernardo: at 20 de noviembre 33.
· Fmr. Temple of San Agustín: at República de El Salvador 76.
· Palacio de la Autonomía de la UNAM: at Primo de Verdad 2.
Source(s):
https://mxcity.mx/2017/01/las-cupulas-mas-hermosas-de-la-ciudad-de-mexico-fotos/ 4. Connection: Italian Architects outside Italy
Proposal:
Examples:
· Palacio de Bellas Artes: by architect Ádamo Boari, at Juárez av. S/N. The building also has sculptures by Leonardo Bistolfi, Edoardo Rubino or Alessandro Mazzucotelli.
· Museo Nacional de Arte (MUNAL): by Silvio Contri, at Tacuba #8
· Palacio Postal: by Ádamo Boari, at Tacuba 1. One of the most significant and sumptuous buildings from the times of the Porfiriato.
Source(s):
http://www.istitutoeuroarabo.it/DM/italianos-en-mexico-arquitectos-ingenieros-y-artistas-entre-los-siglos-xix-y-xx/ 5. Connection: Modern Urban Planning
Proposal:
It is proposed that Neoclassical urbanism started in 1775 when Bucarelli ordered the opening of the Bulevar Nuevo, and ends in 1849.
Of particular interest is the period starting with the empire of Maximilian of Habsburg in 1861 and ending with beginning of the Porfiriato dictatorship in 1876, when the ideas coming from Europe (Haussmann for example) were beginning to be applied, to break the dominance of the historic centre and of Zocalo square in particular, creating a urban duality. Also, the results of the "desamortización" laws resulted in the elimination of conventual properties and urban development where they were located.
However, the most important period is the Porfiariato dictatorship (1876-1910) when the ideas of new urbanism were fully applied, with the creation of Paseo de la Reforma, the construction of monuments (directed at promoting the nationalist spirit), the expansion of the city (creation of neighborhoods to the west and south) incorporating such principles and a focus on hygienism, that led to the creation of related infrastructure.
During this period, with the influx of European professionals and the full application of principles of Neoclassical Urbanism, the city was transformed from its colonial character.
Examples:
· Alameda Central: of Colonial origins, but totally renovated during the Porfiriato. The Hemiciclo Juárez, created to celebrate the "national glories" is from this period, too.
· A small section of Paseo de la Reforma.
· Palacio de Bellas Artes: started during this historical period.
Source(s): (very interesting compendium of Neoclassical urbanism in Mexico city):
https://books.openedition.org/cemca/4077?lang=es http://urbanisticka.blogspot.com/2009/08/urbanismo-mexicano-siglos-xviii-y-xix.html https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alameda_Central 6. Connection: Historical Cafés
Proposal:
Examples:
· Café de Tacuba: 1912;at Calle de Tacuba #18.
· Café La Blanca: 1915; at Av. 5 de mayo #40.
Source (s):
https://travesiasdigital.com/mexico/cafes-historicos-del-centro-de-ciudad-de-mexico-para-sentir-la-capital 7. Connection: Historical Organs
Proposal:
Examples:
· Catedral Metropolitana de la Asunción de la Virgen María: two organs, finished in 1736, damaged in a fire in 1967 and restored between 2007 and 2013. Each one has 3.350 pipes.
Source(s):
https://mxcity.mx/2019/04/la-historia-de-los-majestuosos-organos-de-la-catedral-metropolitana-fotos/ 8. Connection: Notable Hotels
Proposal: The requirement that the building must have been designed as a hotel and be still functioning excludes the Gran Hotel (which was not designed as such), however there are others which may apply. The no longer standing (and sadly famous) Hotel Regis and Hotel del Prado were just besides what became the inscribed WH (and therefore, were not inside it).
Examples:
· Hotel de Cortés: opened 1620 as a hostel for Augustinian friars, initially known as "Hostería Santo Tomás de Villanueva". It was later a residential complex (vecindad), but later became a hotel again. In 1948, it hosted Simone de Beauvoir. At Avenida Hidalgo 85.
· Hotel Gillow: opened 1876, o