México Centro is – out off kilter. The city was originally founded on an island. The surrounding sea is long gone, but the soft ground makes the Old Town peu à peu-sink. the ground has already yielded 10 meters in the last 70 years. Everything is incline and lean. Palaces, towers, churches – with just one leaning tower europe can go home then.

México Centro is – militarily. Everywhere crowds of soldiers and police men with shields and guns. As would they have a mass demonstration every morning. The deployment of troops is México’s response to social conflicts. In ther center of México City they ensure the safety for the visitors – with success.

México Centro is – clean. Those who are not in the army, are armed with a broom. Everywhere they sweep and pick things up. Waste separation doesn´t take place at the trash cans but on the garbage trucks. There the workers are picking up all recyclables with their bare hands.

© bettina guthier

This temple was once the largest and most important temple of the aztec capital tenochtitlán. At that time the center of the city was on an island in the lake of texcoco, which has later been drained and today méxico-city is on this marshy terrain. The templo mayor was superstructed by the aztec on all sides for several times (a total of 7 times) and so it always got bigger. The last extension was done around the year 1487 and the pyramid grew up to almost 180feet. With a 4-day celebration the temple was inaugurated again and for thousands of people it was a special day, they got sacrificed.

When the spaniard hernán cortés first came to tenochtitlan in 1519 he was delighted and he reported this city is more beautiful than malaga, but this didn´t distract him to raze it to the ground and assassinat thousands of indios in 1521.

this ostentatious church will make you feel like in heavan. The spaniards build this cathedral in almost 300 years very close to the aztec „templo mayor“ which they distroyed completely. Now the building is gradually sinking into the swampy underground, in former times this area was just a small island in a huge lake. Impressive are the two organs and the episcopal dressing chamber, because this is sacristy is decorated with lush paintings.