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Located in a valley in Mexico's central region, 2,250 metres above sea level, with a magnificent backdrop of the Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl volcanoes, the nation's capital has a pleasant climate. One of the world's largest metropolises, Mexico City is also the oldest urban centre in the Western Hemisphere; founded by the Aztecs in the 14th century, when it was called Tenochtitl谩n.

The Spanish conqueror, Hernan Cort茅s, and his men were awestruck by the sight of the imposing temples of the Aztecs. Reporting back to King Carlos V, Cort茅s struggled to convey the majesty of what he saw. Imagine the King's surprise at learning that 鈥榦ne of the plazas is twice the size of that of Salamanca鈥�, and 鈥榯he principal pyramid is taller than the tower of the cathedral at Seville鈥�, or that the stone and wood craftsmanship that adorned these monuments 鈥榗ould nowhere be bettered'. After the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs, many of the city's original buildings were built over and are only now being rediscovered. Today, the city is a mix of ancient ruins, colonial buildings and modern high rises. Its soul is overwhelmingly centred round its vast Z贸calo (main square), and nowhere is Mexico's explosive past better depicted than here.

Surrounded by some of the finest buildings of the colonial era lie the remnants of one of the Aztecs' principal monuments, the Templo Mayor. Its mysterious shapes stand as a haunting tribute to the pre-Hispanic civilisation that flourished here long ago. Here, the Mexican flag has flown proudly for centuries, with crowds gathering in celebration or in demonstration at every opportunity.

Mexico City has two areas that were declared World Heritage sites by UNESCO. The first, the Centro Historico, has beautiful historic and religious buildings such as the Catedral Metropolitana (Metropolitan Cathedral), the Palacio Nacional (National Palace) with spectacular Diego Rivera murals chronicling Mexico's history, and Palacio de Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts) which hosts the city's most important cultural events. The other World Heritage site, Xochimilco Ecological Park, is often called the 鈥淰enice of Mexico鈥� due to its beautiful canals.

What's more, Mexico City is very cosmopolitan; you can shop at bazaars and craft markets in the Coyoacan and San Angel neighbourhoods, or you can go to exclusive boutiques and shopping centres in the upmarket communities of Santa Fe and Polanco, where you'll be surrounded by the comfort of top hotels and restaurants. The world renowned Anthropological Museum, the beautiful house of Frida Kahlo, the unique market Bazar del Sabado, the Basilica de Guadalupe (where the Virgin is said to have appeared), and 罢别辞迟颈丑耻补肠谩苍, the largest city in the ancient world, with pyramids rivalling those of Giza in Egypt, all contribute to making this a fascinating capital.

Although a large, busy and industrial city, Mexico City is well worth a few days' exploration. Its traffic can be a challenge 鈥� you may need to be very patient when driving from place to place. It can also be chilly in the capital, especially in the evenings, so we recommend you bring a warm sweater.