CAPITAL : MEXICO CITY

Capital of the country, Mexico City has been described as the "biggest" city in the world". In reality, with over 20 million population and an area covering approximately 600 square miles it is probably one of the most densely populated. Regardless, Mexico City is truly one of the great capitals of the world. In Spanish, the city is also known under the name " Distrito Federal".

While its heritage is rooted in Aztec culture, the Mexico City of today is a bustling, cosmopolitan center rich in history and colonial grandeur. Long known for its wealth of historic treasures and culture, Mexico City's archeological sites are often shadowed by tall glass buildings and colonial mansions are dispersed among residential streets. There has been a capital here since before the arrival of the Spanish. Unfortunately, virtually all of the old Aztec city of Tenoctitlan was destroyed by the Spanish in their zeal to convert the Indians to Christianity and erasetheir past. One impressive remain, however, El Templo Mayor, still survives. This is what's left of the Great Temple of the Aztecs. The ruin sits off the northeast corner of the Zocalo, the city's massive main square. Everything about the Zocalo is big. Here rests the Metropolitan Cathedral, said to be the largest in the western hemisphere, and the National Palace, where hundreds of thousands of people gather every September 15 to celebrate Father Hidalgo's call for Independence. Inside the palace are several murals by the great Diego Rivera.

As the center of the economy in the Republic, Mexico City has the facilities to handle meetings and conventions, both foreign and domestic. Mexico City now boasts eight world-class convention centers in operation or under construction. The Centro Internacional de Exposiciones y Convenciones/ World Trade Center. Other venues include the Centro de Negocios y Comercio, U.S. Trade Center, Exhibimex, Auditorio Nacional and the Palacio de los Deportes. Hotels in Mexico City include many upscale properties that cater specifically to business clientele. These properties include multilingual staffs, personal concierge service, travel agencies and in-house fine dining to cater to business needs. These hotels, both international and domestic boast hundreds of modern meeting rooms and business centers that can accommodate large volumes of people. When it comes to museums, few cities compare to the Mexican Capital. In terms of structures alone, the city itself is a living museum with over two thousand historical buildings, almost all of them in the area immediately surround the Zocalo. The National Art Museum, the Anthropology Museum, the Rufino Tamayo and Diego Rivera museums - there are dozens, all of them good.

Mexico City International Airport is 30 minutes from the heart of downtown. Visitors should use authorized airport taxis (tickets available inside the airport), which are priced according to destination zone.

In a city of 20 million, fresh air is obviously a scarcity. To get it, the best place to go is Chapultepec Park, a sprawling 550 acre park to the east of the city center. Inside the park is the city zoo and several more museums.  Another prime reason to visit the city is that it is a perfect jumping off zone for some of Mexico's greatest attractions.

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