Seven things to do and see in Mexico City as Formula 1 races in Latin America
Mexico City is the capital and largest city of Mexico, located in the Valley of Mexico within the high Mexican central plateau, sitting at an altitude of 2,240 meters (7,350 ft).
Formula 1 races at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez for 71 laps at a track with the highest elevation on the calendar and the famous stadium section which amplifies the cheers of fans.
Here, Travel News Blitz’s Ayla Vaughan explores seven things to do and see in Mexico City.
The National Museum of Anthropology
The National Museum of Anthropology is the largest and most visited museum in Mexico, which houses four square kilometers of exhibits in 23 exhibition halls, also making it one of the world's most comprehensive natural history museums.
It contains significant archaeological and anthropological artifacts from Mexico's pre-Columbian heritage, such as the Stone of the Sun, the Aztec Xochipilli statue, a variety of jade masks and many more.
Chapultepec Castle
Chapultepec Castle is a grand 18th-century palace atop a hill in Mexico City, which houses the National Museum of History that showcases impressive murals and stunning stained glass galleries.
Visitors can also take a leisurely stroll through the castle's manicured gardens and enjoy the sprawling Chapultepec Park nearby, admiring the beautiful nature and scenery throughout.
Basilica of Santa María de Guadalupe
The Basilica of Santa María de Guadalupe is a Catholic church located at the foot of the Hill of Tepeyac and is visited by 20 million pilgrims every year, of which about nine million do so in the days around December 12 (the day which Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated).
It was built by the architect Pedro de Arrieta, finishing construction in 1709 in a Mexican Baroque style and opened its doors to worshippers in Mexico City, but also faced many rebuilds due to events such as the Mexican War of Independence and the Mexican Revolution.
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Watch the Mexico City Grand Prix
Formula 1 visits Mexico City from October 24-26 in a circuit that has a length of 4.304km, two DRS zones and 17 corners in total.
Many rookie drivers will be driving in FP1 as this a circuit near the end of the racing season, making it the perfect place and time to drive a F1 car for the first time for some junior drivers.
Mercado De Artesanias La Ciudadela
The stalls here are famous for selling folk art and handmade handicrafts from all over Mexico, such as hand-embroidered pillow covers, colourful Otomi textiles, pre-Columbian clay artworks, intricate lacquerware and Lucha libre shirts.
Visitors can also enjoy some traditional Mexican food whilst taking a break from shopping and recharge, with the cantina in the middle of the market where you can try authentic margaritas.
Arena México
Arena México is an indoor arena known as the "cathedral of lucha libre" since it is primarily used for professional wrestling, with a seating capacity of 16,500 for professional wrestling or boxing events.
The building has been around since 1956 and was built by Salvador Lutteroth, even hosting the boxing competitions in the 1968 Summer Olympics, making it a destination with lots of sporting history.
National Palace of Mexico
The National Palace of Mexico is a historic building that was once occupied by Hernán Cortés (the Spanish explorer who conquered the Aztecs), but now serves as the seat of the federal executive in Mexico and the official residence for the President of Mexico.
Inside there is the famous panoramic mural of Mexican history painted by Diego Rivera between 1929-1935, which depicts the history of Mexico from 1521 to 1930 and in total it covers an area of 450 m2 (4800 ft2).
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