The National Museum of Anthropology
The National Museum of Anthropology
In our Monarch Butterfly Tour, we have the opportunity to visit more than the butterfly sanctuaries. We stayed some days at Mexico City, a teeming metropolis of intensity and innovation, has at its heart one of the most important museums in Latin America, Museo Nacional de Antropologia (The National Museum of Anthropology).
This awesome Museum contains one of the worldâs largest collections of artifacts of archaeology and anthropology, from Mayan civilizations to the Hispanic conquest.
Located in front of Chapultepec Park, the Museum is one of the most comprehensive and impressive (almost 20 acres) facilities in the world. The modern architecture, designed by Pedro Ramirez Vazquez, is characterized by its iconic umbrella roof supported by a single column, which represents a mythological tree and depicts eagles and jaguarsâall-important symbols to the prehispanic natives.
Each of the salons displays artifacts from a particular geographic region or culture. The Mesoamerican cultures displayed include Teotihuacan, Toltec, Aztec, Mixtec, Zapotec, Olmec, and Maya. Be sure to see the Aztec Calendar, Piedra del Sol (Stone of the Sun), which shares similar aspects to the Mayan Calendar. The 12-foot, 25-ton, carved basalt slab, dating to the late 1400s, was discovered buried beneath the Zocalo. Other highlights include the reconstruction of an eighth-century Mayan tomb and perfectly preserved skeleton, a replica model of the Templo Mayor, a copy of Aztec ruler Moctezumaâs feathered headdress and massive Olmec heads.
This is a must in any visit to the capital of Mexico so what a better chance to do it on this incredible tour to know more about the country and its history.