The massive Palacio Nacional, currently serving as the official residence of Mexico’s president, houses epic Diego Rivera murals narrating the history of Mexico from the pre-Hispanic era to the mid-1930s, when the masterpiece was completed.

Executed in chronological order, The History of Mexico dramatically portrays Aztec life, the brutal Spanish conquest and various social struggles leading up to the post-revolutionary period. The Palacio is also home to the Museo Nacional de las Culturas, a free museum showcasing Mexico’s cultures.

History

Prior to the Spanish conquest, an elegant Aztec palace sat on the property. But after the Spaniards razed the pre-Hispanic city of Tenochtitlán, they rebuilt a large colonial palace that served as a residence for conquistador Hernán Cortés and later as an aristocratic viceregal palace.

The Cry of Dolores