Historic Centre of Mexico City and Xochimilco

Historic Centre of Mexico City and Xochimilco comprises the colonial core of Mexico City together with the southern canal zone of Xochimilco, documenting both the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan and subsequent Spanish urban development. The site preserves archaeological remains, major churches and a living system of canals and chinampas.

The main plaza or Zócalo and the nearby archaeological remains of the Aztec temple precinct, the imposing Metropolitan Cathedral, and the canals and floating gardens of Xochimilco, which are still used for cultivation and recreation. The two components together illustrate urban continuity from pre-Hispanic through colonial periods to the present.

The Aztec capital was established in the early 14th century and became the core of Spanish colonial administration after 1521; colonial authorities laid out streets and built major religious and administrative buildings over the old island city. Xochimilco’s chinampa agriculture predates the conquest and continued under colonial and modern regimes.

Both elements lie within Mexico City. The historic centre occupies the central borough of the Federal District, while Xochimilco is a southern borough of the same metropolitan area.

• Pre-Hispanic origins: The historic core is laid out on the site of Aztec Tenochtitlan, founded around 1325, and contains major colonial-period institutions built after the Spanish conquest.
• Xochimilco boat trips: Boat trips on decorated trajineras are the customary way to experience the Xochimilco canals and the surviving agricultural chinampa plots.

What to See #

• Zócalo and Templo Mayor: The large civic plaza at the heart of Mexico City bordered by the National Palace, the Metropolitan Cathedral and civic buildings; the adjacent archaeological area contains the remains of the Aztec Templo Mayor.
• Metropolitan Cathedral: The colonial-era cathedral built on the northern side of the main plaza combining Renaissance and Baroque elements and housing major liturgical and state ceremonies.
• Xochimilco canals and chinampas: A network of canals, artificial islands and agricultural plots - chinampas - south of the city centre that preserve pre-Hispanic land-use and provide popular trajinera boat rides.