Monterrey is known as a city which combines differentiating urban and natural settings; History and traditions unite within this metropolis city that presents impressive buildings, innovatory cultural and heart of entertainment, as well as modern financial and industrial developments. Here you will find magnificent ecological parks, fabulous waterfalls and canyons, as well as museums of history, art, a planetarium and theme parks that will fascinate children. These attractions are another reason to get to know and be pleasantly surprised in a modern city, full of Mexican charm and the cordiality of its inhabitants
The Macro Plaza
The Macro Plaza, also known as Gran Plaza is, certainly, the focal point of the city center. Throughout its 40 hectares, there is a series of small squares containing fountains, benches, trees, green areas, as well as historic buildings and monuments, including “Faro de Comercio” or Lighthouse of Commerce. The latest dominates the landscape and is the highest building of its type in Mexico. In this gigantic space are also located the Cathedral of Monterrey, the City Theater, the Esplanade of Heroes, the Government Palace, the Government Palace Museum and the Fountain of Life.
Cathedral of Monterrey
It dates from the founding of Monterrey more than 400 years ago and is currently the seat of the local archdiocese. It took more than hundred years to construct the cathedral. The facade and the vaults that we see today were eventually completed in 1791. However, it needed another following century for the towers, that becomes the symbol today, to finally finished. Because of the long process of the construction, it presents a combination of different harmoniously combined architectural styles, with the most dominating being the Churrigueresque.
The interior space, with its sober design, presents several paintings of the 19th-century from New Spain. You can see the Franciscans directives in the interior as well as the facade. There, you can also visit the Mausoleum of the Bishops.
Contemporary Art Museum
Known by the local as MARCO, this museum shows the most outstanding national and international best artists in the area of painting, sculpture and graphic arts. Located in the center of the city, the main entrance is guarded by a stylized pigeon of 4 tons and 6 m high, work of the artist Juan Soriano. To help your visit, MARCO has an audio guide, as well as a reflection guide with specific questions to understand the content of the exhibition.
Old Town (Barrio Antiguo)
It is characterized by its bricks and adobe houses, that exhibit the old colonial architecture that prevailed in Monterrey in the early 1890s. They were restored preserving their yesteryear styles to open art galleries, restaurants, cafes, nightclubs and bars, thus becoming the heart cultural and social development. It is advisable to take a walk or taking carriage through this beautiful place during the day to feel what it was like to live in the old times of Monterrey, with cobblestone streets, lanterns and old buildings that define the environment.
Museum of Mexican History
This museum exhibits a modernist construction, sober and imposing which is accessed through a large square. It is separated into four rooms, each one representing a different era of Mexican history: El México Antiguo, Colonia, Nineteenth Century and Modern Mexico.
City Hall
Its construction dated from 1908 and was built in pink quarry covering a surface of a rectangle of 51 by 88 meters. Its architectural style is neoclassical and is categorised as a National Monument by the Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH). The main facade is topped by the statue of Victoria.
Fundidora Park
Regarded as the 1st urban park in the northern area of Mexico, the Fundidora Park indebted its name from the Company of Foundry of Iron and Steel of Monterrey known in 1900. The company declared bankruptcy and had to stop their operation in 1986. Taking advantage of the immense terrain and machinery, the state determined to transform the former facilities of this company into what is now the Parque Fundidora. With 123 hectares that combine history, culture and entertainment, squares, walkways, gardens and lakes are natural and safe scenarios where fun has no limit and is free.
The complex houses two of the most important venues for Monterrey events: CINTERMEX that has an area of 59,000 square feet for conventions and 200,000 square feet for exhibitions; and the Arena Monterrey, which is an auditorium, can accommodate until 17,600 audiences and provides a uniqueness in the Latin America due to its equipped facilities. The park houses the Macaw House, the ice rink of the Mabe Fundidora, the Museo del Acero, the attractions of the Plaza Sesamo and the theme park of La Cineteca.
Museum of Monterrey
The Museum of Monterrey’s main objective is to present the best of art to the community. In its rooms you can see more than 1500 works of contemporary Latin American art, emphasizing the Mexican. Throughout its existence, the museum has put one of the most important collections of Mexico, in which different artistic works are displayed, such as sculpture, drawing, painting, and photography.
