Description of the attraction
Constitution Square, or as the Mexicans call it, Zocalo, is the historic heart of the Mexican capital. The first stone of the square was laid by Hernán Cortes in 1520. It is made up of the ruins of temples and palaces of the ancient Aztec city of Tenochtitlan. He was on a small island in the center of the lake. Its buildings collapsed over time due to the swampy terrain. In the place of this city, Mexico City is now located.
On the site of the Aztec Palace, there is now the National Palace, this is the eastern side of the Constitution Square. The palace was once the residence of the Viceroy of the King of Spain. Now the office of the President of the country and the entire administration are located here. The building houses a museum dedicated to the biography of Benito Juarez. Inside the walls of the Palace are painted with paintings on historical themes, their author is Diego Rivera.
The square also houses the Cathedral, which is recognized as the oldest Christian building in the whole of America. There was once an altar here, where the remains of the sacrifices offered to the gods were kept. The construction of the cathedral lasted until 1813, for thirty years.
To the east of the cathedral are the ruins of the main temple of the Aztecs. Most of the building was restored. During the restoration, many artifacts and household items of ancient people were found here, which added to the collection of the local museum.
The central streets of the capital depart from the square, along which the old mansions of the colonialists are located. In the center of the square is a flagpole with the flag of Mexico. On September 15, Mexico's Independence Day, the main part of the celebration takes place in Constitution Square.
