Mexico City's Best Historic Landmarks

Mexico City is full of history. From ancient cultures, to colonialism, to revolution, to contemporary marvels, there are reminders of Mexico's long tumultuous history around every corner. And in the midst of such a large city, it can be hard to narrow down the most important sites to see during vacation. Here are the top five absolute must-see historical sites in Mexico City.

The National Palace
Plaza de la Constitución
S/N, Centro, 06066
Ciudad de México, D.F., Mexico
+52 55 3688 1255

One of the most important historical landmarks is, of course, the nation's capital. The National Palace has been the ruling seat of Mexico since the Aztec Empire. The building is a gorgeous feat of architecture blending Aztec and Spanish elements to create the ultimate symbol of Mexican history and culture. Each year on Mexican Independence Day, the President typically delivers a speech from one of the Palace's balconies.

Paseo de la Reforma
Paseo de la Reforma
Ciudad de México, D.F., Mexico

Paseo de la Reforma is sort of like the Champs-Élysées of Mexico City. It is the main street through the center of the city and passes countless historical monuments and government buildings. The street was actually designed after some of Europe's most famous boulevards. It was designed by Ferdinand von Rosenzweig in the 1860s. The entire length of the Paseo de la Reforma is just over nine miles from the residential neighborhoods all the way through the heart of the city.

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Monumento a los Heroes de la Independencia
Paseo de la Reforma y Eje 2 PTE
Juárez, Cuauhtémoc
Ciudad de México, D.F., Mexico

No trip to Mexico City is complete without visiting the monument commemorating the heroes of Mexican independence. The monument itself is a tall column topped with a sculpture of Nike, the winged goddess of victory. The monument was erected in 1910 to honor the many Mexicans that fought for a free country. Many of their likenesses can be found at the base of the monument. Visiting the monument is a great way to learn about Mexican history and respect the country's tumultuous past.

Torre Latino
Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas 2
Centro, 06000
Ciudad de México, D.F., Mexico
+52 55 5518 7423

The Torre Latino is one of the tallest buildings in the city and is a great place to go to get a view of the entire vast expanse of Mexico City. The skyscraper was constructed in the mid-twentieth century and opened in 1956. The tower is well-known for its engineering - especially after it survived some major earthquakes without any damage. Visiting the Torre Latino is akin to visiting the Empire State Building in New York City.

Murales de Diego Rivera en la Secretaria de Educacion Publica
Republica de Argentina, 28
Centro, 06010
Ciudad de México, D.F., Mexico

Another extremely important historical landmark to visit - a more recent addition - are the murals by Diego Rivera. These political pieces have had great significance around the globe. Diego Rivera painted the murals in the 1920s, and he was a communist at the time so used the murals to convey a communist message of the plight of the rural agricultural workers and mine workers in Mexico.

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Cameron Bruns is the founder of BostonGreenBlog.com and co-author of Just Us Gals Boston. She lives in Boston's North End, where her goal is to promote ethical, stylish, and sustainable lifestyle choices to all Boston residents. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.