National Palace

The National Palace sits on the eastern side of Mexico City’s main plaza, the Zócalo, and serves as a historic government building and public museum. It is notable for its monumental mural cycles and for occupying the colonial-era viceregal palace site.

Public visitors come primarily to view the extensive murals by Diego Rivera, which narrate Mexican history from indigenous civilizations through colonialism to the modern republic. The palace interior includes courtyards and formal reception rooms with historical decoration and public display areas.

The site occupies the footprint of the colonial palace built over the Aztec ceremonial center and has functioned as a seat of executive authority in various forms since the colonial era. The mural program of the 20th century transformed internal public spaces into a visual history of the nation.

The building faces the Zócalo in central Mexico City and is within walking distance of other historic downtown sites and museums.

• Visitor access: Located on the city's main square, the building combines functioning government offices with public access to the mural galleries; viewing is typically free during opening hours.

What to See #

• Diego Rivera murals: A sequence of large mural cycles painted by Diego Rivera between 1929 and 1935 that cover stairwells and public rooms with scenes from pre-Hispanic times through the Mexican Revolution.