After the Aztecs’ Empire fell in the early 16th century, the Spaniards built a colonial city atop the rubble and you can still see some of the centuries-old structures in the Centro Histórico today. Overlooking the Zócalo, Palacio Nacional was constructed atop the royal palace of the Aztec emperor Moctezuma II and it was rebuilt many times over. Today it serves as the official residence of Mexico’s president and houses extraordinary Diego Rivera murals.

Another centerpiece of the colonial era was the nearby Catedral Metropolitana, which was built during various stages since 1573 and finally completed in 1813. If you look carefully at the cathedral you’ll see that it was partially constructed with recycled Aztec ruins (red volcanic rock called tezontle) and you’ll also notice that the slightly slanted building is sinking under its own weight, as is the nearby Ex Teresa Arte Actual, an exceptionally lopsided cultural center. In fact, numerous colonial buildings in the Centro are experiencing sinking due to excessive groundwater extraction, and powerful earthquakes certainly aren’t helping matters.