MEXICO CITY
CITY TOUR
The field trip to Mexico City introduces students to the Mexican Muralist Movement, such as the magnificent murals of Orozco, Rivera, Siqueiros, Tamayo and other painters that are part of the artistic movement originally inspired by the Mexican Revolution, the first social revolution of 20th century. Length of field trip: One Full Day Website:Cultura
FOLKLORE BALLET AND MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY
Students attend the Ballet Folklórico de México, which presents a beautiful mosaic of Mexico’s folkloric traditions. Through music and dance, students will also be acquainted with the native costumes from several regions of Mexico. They will also visit The National Museum of Anthropology and History which houses a broad collection of works from the rise to the fall of the Mesoamerican cultures. Length of excursion: Three days (on the weekend) Website:Ballet Folklorico de México
DIEGO RIVERA’S AND FRIDA KAHLO (CASA AZUL), WALK THROUGH COYOACAN, AND THE SATURDAY BAZAR
On this excursion, students will visit the home and studio of Diego Rivera, the famous Mexican Muralist and husband of Frida Kahlo, an equally accomplished painter in her own right. Besides his fame as a muralist, Rivera is also known as a world revolutionary and for having protected Trotsky from the Stalinists. His murals are socially inspiring and condense the philosophy of the Mexican Revolution. Coyoacan will also be visited during this excursion. It is a suburb of Mexico City, whose colonial style architecture and present day intellectuals give this area a special bohemian, artistic flair. This excursion combines three interesting points: 1) the colonial buildings of the southern parts of Mexico, i.e. National University; 2) the murals of two worlds famous Mexican Muralists, Siqueiros and O’Gorman; 3) the artisans market full of artistic workmanship with its traditional Mexican style. Length of field trip: One Full day Website:Museo Frida Khalo&Visit Mexico Coyoacan
BASILICA DE GUADALUPE AND PLAZA OF THE THREE CULTURES AND THE MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY
The Basilica de Guadalupe honors the Virgin of Guadalupe and is a pilgrimage destination for many Mexicans. Students will also visit the ancient ceremonial center of Tlatelolco with its pre-Hispanic, colonial and modern monuments. The offering to the Virgin of Guadalupe is the most important Catholic festival in Mexico and Central America. It marks the synthesis of two religions, an offering to the ancient Aztec goddess, Tonantzin, and to the Catholic Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus. After the visit to the Basilica, students will visit the National Museum of Anthropology and History which houses an ample collection of works from the rise to the fall of the Mesoamerican cultures. Length of excursion: One Full Day Website:Virgen de Guadalupe
DOLORES OLMEDO’S MUSEUM AND XOCHIMILCO’S GARDENS
The museum is an old hacienda, which was purchased and renovated by Señora Olmedo. It houses one of the most extensive art collections by artists such as Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo and other renowned Mexican artists. It also has interesting displays of pre-Colombian pieces and colonial art and furniture. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the Olmedo museum is its live animal reserve of the animals that lived in Mexico before the Spanish conquest such as the “escuintle” (a hairless dog of the Aztec period), peacock, wild turkey and others. Students will have an opportunity to see the animals that roamed free in the Mexican countryside before the conquest. After the museum, students will tour the Gardens of Xochimilco by boat, looking at the extraordinary flora. This is Mexico’s “Venice experience”. This excursion combines three interesting points: 1) the colonial buildings of the southern parts of Mexico, i.e. National University; 2) the murals of two worlds famous Mexican Muralists, Siqueiros and O’Gorman; 3) the artisans market full of artistic workmanship with its traditional Mexican style. Length of field trip: One day Website:Museo Dolores Olmedo & Visit Mexico Xochimilco
