Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
&
Pegasus Fountain
The beautiful main
courtyard inside the
palace features a lovely
fountain with a statue of
Pegasus, the Greek
winged horse.
Government functions
are held here.
)
Flag Ceremony
%
Benito Juárez
With impressive pomp
and ceremony a large
Mexican honor guard
marches out of the
Palacio Nacional each
morning and crosses the
street to the Zócalo
where they raise an
enormous Mexican flag
(below)
. All the hustle and
bustle in the plaza halts as
the flag is raised
in a formal drill.
The ceremony
is repeated
every evening
when the
huge flag is
lowered.
*
Staircase of the
Museo
The President's office,
bedroom, dining room,
parlor, and other interest-
ing memorabilia from his
time in office are featured
in this museum
(above)
.
Empress
This simple but elegant
staircase with its ornate
brass railings has only
two flights of stairs and
no visible support.
^
Garden Patio
A delightful botanical
garden
(below)
lies sec-
luded in the inner court-
yard at the back of the
palace just beyond the
entrance to the Benito
Juárez Museo. It is quiet,
peaceful, and sheltered
from traffic noise. Walk
the geometrically placed,
paved garden paths or sit
on a shady bench and
enjoy one of the city's
prettiest gardens.
Site Guide
Enter through the
central door and turn
left. The staircase with
the Diego Rivera murals
is on your left. Walk up
the stairs, the murals
are on the walls above
the landing. Continue up
the stairs to the second
floor and turn left to see
the historical murals.
Return to the first floor
and turn left to visit the
Staircase of the
Empress, the Benito
Juárez Museo, and the
Garden Patio. Walk
through the garden and
re-enter the palace.
Cross the main court-
yard and come back out
through the front door.
(
Presidential
Balcony
On Mexican Indepen-
dence Day, September
15th, the president of
Mexico stands on this
balcony
(above)
just
above the central
door of the
palace and
repeats Padre
Miguel Hidalgo's
famous call for
Independence
(see p38)
. Thou-
sands of spec-
tators gather on
the Zócalo to wit-
ness the event.
15
Sign up for DK's email newsletter on
traveldk.com
