Authentic Mexico

Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico City

Diego Rivera and José Clemente Orozco are among the high-calibre Mexican artists who contributed to the impressive murals within the city’s grand Palace of Fine Arts. A mash-up of art deco, art nouveau and neo-classical, the building was originally scheduled to open in time for Mexico’s centenary celebration of independence in 1910, but instead wasn’t completed until 1934. The artistic hub of the city, its innovative design (its interiors are made of Carrara marble) and magnificent grandeur makes it a tourist hotspot.

Teotihuacan

Northeast of Mexico City is the holy city of Teotihuacan. Built between the 1st and 7th centuries A.D., the Pyramid of the Sun (pictured) is the site’s largest structure. Abercrombie & Kent offers small group tours through the heart of the Mesoamerican spectacle, their Mexico’s Day of the Dead Festival journey showcasing the cultural wonders of Mexico City and Oaxaca.

Convento de Santo Domingo, Oaxaca

One of Mexico’s most stunning examples of Baroque architecture, construction began on the church during the 1550s by the Dominican order. The interior is as impressive as its facade, with intricate 3D gilt designs and gold ceiling detailing.

Oaxaca City

The colourful town of Oaxaca is alive with bustling markets and full-flavoured cuisine. Every year the town’s locals take to the streets to celebrate Día de Muertos, honouring the dead with late-night vigils and elaborate costumes. The spooky fiesta continues into the early hours of the morning and includes traditional foods and floral tributes.

Oaxaca’s market villages

To celebrate Day of the Dead, locals prepare specialty foods, including pan de muerto sweet bread. In Oaxaca the sweet bread is served all year round, however throughout the festival, decorative toppings are added to celebrate lost loved ones.

Teotitlán del Valle, Oaxaca

With patterns reflecting the local history of the area, woven rugs are made in Oaxaca’s Teotitlán del Valle and Santa Ana Del Valle. The lengthy process involves artisans dying their yarn with natural dye before weaving rugs on pedal looms.

Mitla

Situated 44km outside of downtown Oaxaca, Mitla is one of the most important sites in Zapotec culture. Designed with unique stone mosaics, the ruins date back to the pre-Columbian era when it was the region’s religious epicentre. High priests would carry out human sacrifices to open the ‘gateway’ to the underworld.

Roasting Maguey Plant, Oaxaca

Oaxaca is home to more than 2000 tequila distilleries and is a must-see when travelling the country’s south. Piñas of the Maguey plant are roasted inside a conical pit over charcoal for 3-5 days, converting starch to fructose. Piñas absorb the flavours of the smoke and are mashed and fermented to produce mezcal.