In the last few weeks, I have visited the Diego Rivera Mural Museum, the Studio House Museum of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, as well as the Museo Vivo del Muralismo and the Colegio de San Ildefonso, both of which show many murals created by Diego Rivera.
Diego Rivera designed the Anahuacalli Museum to display his personal collection of pre-Hispanic artefacts.
The museum building itself was designed following Mesoamerican principles. Several elements of the exterior are built in the Teotihuacan style, while aspects of the interior were inspired by Mayan temples and the Aztec pyramids, using the black volcanic stone which is common to the southern part of Mexico City.
It is often the building itself which attracts visitors rather than the collection of pre-Hispanic artefacts, which, in theory, should have been housed in a federal museum since it was forbidden to own such objects.
It wasn’t completed until 1964. 7 years after his death. Rivera’s daughter Ruth and lifelong friend Dolores Olmedo worked with the Mexican architect Juan O’Gorman to complete the project.
Check out the mosaics on the ceilings. They are absolutely stunning:
Some of Rivera’s collection of pre-Hispanic artefacts:
Planning your visit to the Anahuacalli Museum:
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How to get the the Anahuacalli Museum:
The Anahuacalli Museum is located in the Municipality of Coyoacan, in the south of the city. The easiest way to get there is to take the metro to Tasqueña and then transfer to the Tren Ligero to Xotepingo, from where it’s a 15-minute walk to the museum.
Location: Museo 150, San Pablo Tepetlapa, Coyoacán, 04620 Ciudad de México, CDMX
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Tickets:
- General access: 100 pesos
- Mexican citizens: 80 pesos
- Students and teachers: 35 pesos
- Seniors and pre-school children: 20 pesos
- Photo permit: 30 pesos
