Church of Regina Coeli

Church of Regina Coeli. Calle de Regina at Boivar. The old conventual church of a Franciscan nunnery, it was established in the late XVIc.  The church we see dates from  the XVIIc and was finally open in 1731 the work of architect Custodio Duran , the main portal has a beautiful relief of the birth of our Lady, the smaller portal is a reduced and simpler version of the first. The interior has splendid baroque altars, the main one of estipites (this column is an upside down  truncated pyramid and became the signature of Mexican baroque), with saints of the Franciscan order,   the evangelists, querubs and gilded foliage producing and inspiring view. You cannot miss the Medina Pizarro Chapel, entering  is just across the nave under an imposing archway, also the work of Custodio Duran with paintings by Villalobos.

A great museum in a beautiful square!

1.       Museo Nacional de Arte (MUNAL) . The word ¨National¨ in the name of the museum implies Mexican, 95% of the Works of the exhibition were made in Mexico by Mexicans, quite an achievement not easily repeated in other parts of the world. The collection is divided in two floors, the second floor devoted to the rich vice regal collection of paintings with works by Arteaga, Rodriguez Juarez, Echave, Villalpando, Cabrera etc., the first floor comprises paintings and sculptures from the XIX c. to the first half of the XX c., among them several Landesios and Velascos the two main representatives of the Mexican School of Landscape, that together with the Hudson River School will  come to be the best in the Americas in this field and then a number of artist that greatly contributed to the arts in Mexico, among my favorites, Rodriguez Lozano, Zarraga, Calusell, Fuster, Atl, Abraham Angel, Ruelas, Saturnino Herran and many others. Quite refreshing as the visitor will see that regarding art there is far more to see than Diego and Frida.

The building is a Chicago style structure from the 1900´s covered in stone in an eclectic style of great and noble proportions, the work of Silvio Contri an Italian architect by order of president Porfirio Diaz and initially housed the Ministry of Communications and Public Works, turned Museum in 1982. In front of the main gate you will have the chance to appreciate the equestrian sculpture of Charles the IV by Tolsa, one of the three great sculptures of its type in the world.

Hospital de jesus, the oldest charity in the continent

1.       The Hospital de Jesus. The oldest private charity in the Americas, founded by the conqueror himself on the site he first met Moctezuma. It has been working without interruption for almost 5oo years caring for the poor of Mexico City. It is located on 20 de Noviembre Ave, at the corner of Rep del Salvador, please at approaching the building don´t be disappointed, the hospital lost its north, east and west facades in the late 30´s and the building you see now is not at all inspiring, go though the garage, you will see in bronze letters the name of the hospital, a few meters more you will be in middle of a XVI c. palace with a great staircase and a copy in bronze of Tolsas´Cortes. The upper floor has a mural on the south wall, it is not important, what you want to see is the beautiful XVI c. colored grutesco on top of it. During weekdays ask the nurses to show you the Salon del Patronato (Council Room) or to look through the window into the Director´s office. Then go to the  church, where the conqueror is buried and pray for his soul, that’s the whole idea of this great building, the salvation of the soul of a great man!

Mexico City, places to see/Ciudad de México, lugares que visitar

Welcome, the idea of this blog is to share information of places that are of interest to visitors, some will be very well known others not so much. I will try to keep the description adjusted to the architectonic, artistic and historic merit of the building or place of interest. I am a tour guide specialized in vice regal Mexico, therefore most of the entries will belong to this historic period, my website is www.mexicocityelitetours.com, please feel free to participate!

Hola, la idea de este blog es compartir información sobre aquellos edificios y lugares del acervo monumental de la Ciudad de México. Trataré de mantener una descripción ajustada al merito artístico, histórico y arquitectónico del edificio o lugar. Yo soy un guía de turistas especializado en el México virreinal y en consecuencia la mayoría de las entradas corresponderán a ese periodo, mi página web es www.mexicocityelitetours.com, por favor participen!