Nestled within the famous Valley of Mexico, Mexico City is a metropolis deeply steeped in history. Its origins harken back millennia to the Aztecs, a Mesoamerican civilization that once flourished in central Mexico from the 14th to the 16th centuries. Even though existing archeological evidence is scarce, available source materials nonetheless indicate that the Aztecs originally hailed from a location remembered as “Aztlán.” (Most scholars believe that the region resided somewhere in the modern American Southwest.) The Aztecs subsequently left Aztlán during the 12th century, migrating south for several decades until reaching a massive lake they called “Texcoco.” Exploring the area thoroughly, the Aztecs proceeded to develop a settlement on a small island near the western shore of Lake Texcoco in the 1320s. The community sprang up quickly, centered around a towering pyramid that later texts referred to as the “Templo Mayor.” (Templo Mayor specifically served as a religious temple for two deities, Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc, although a third god, Quetzalcoatl, was represented via a central spire.) Densely packed neighborhoods soon surrounded the temple, bound together by an intricate network of interlocking canals. But three major causeways offered additional access, greatly enhancing the ability of the residents to reach the outlying towns. Naming the community as “Tenochtitlán,” the new Aztec capital emerged as an important center for trade throughout the Valley of Mexico. Indeed, the its strategic setting made it a natural destination for Central American merchants to meet and exchange goods.

Unprecedented wealth flowed into Tenochtitlán, enabling its inhabitants to continuously expand the settlement. The population of Tenochtitlán grew substantially, eventually reaching some 140,000 people at the height of its prosperity. Now the size of a massive city, Tenochtitlán assumed extraordinary political importance, as well. The Aztecs specifically wielded their affluence to develop an extensive military and diplomatic apparatus that instituted considerable control over the neighboring city-states. In fact, the Aztecs had come to rule an empire consisting of several hundred distinctive societies by the beginning of the 16th century. (Scholars today believe that only the Inca in the distant Andes were close to matching the stature of the Aztec Empire.) However, the future of the Aztecs (and Tenochtitlán for that matter) changed drastically once an army of Spanish conquistadors arrived in 1519. Under the leadership of Hernán Cortés, the Spanish found the city upon pursuing rumors of a powerful kingdom based around Lake Texcoco. At first, the interactions between the Aztecs and Spanish were peaceful, if not tense—for instance, the Aztecs presented gifts to commemorate the encounter. The Spanish likewise marveled at the architectural character of Tenochtitlán, comparing its carefully curated waterways to those seen in Venice. However, gradual efforts on part of the Spanish to slowly manipulate the Aztec nobility—particularly Moctezuma II, the ruling emperor—fomented unrest among Tenochtitlán’s population, which erupted into outright violence months later.

The Aztecs successfully routed the Spanish during the ensuing conflict, who fled to an allied Mesoamerican people, the Tlaxcalans. Cortés rebuilt his army though, recruiting even more warriors from the Aztecs’ rivals. He then attacked Tenochtitlán in 1521, besieging the community and driving its surviving residents into the countryside. Cortés had much of the city razed after the battle, which unfortunately destroyed nearly all of its rich Aztec heritage. In the wake of the conquest, Cortés ordered a new city be constructed atop the former site of Tenochtitlán called “Mexico City.” The project proved to be a massive undertaking, involving the construction of structures crafted with a synthesis of indigenous and European architectural motifs. Perhaps the greatest buildings developed at the time were the Hospital de Jesús Nazareno and the earliest portions of the Catedral Metropolitana. To anchor their nascent street grid, the Spanish erected a public square called the “Zócalo” in the middle of the city. The space soon emerged as the main social gathering spot in Mexico City, serving as host to countless festivals and ceremonies. Great municipal offices came to line its borders, giving the site an incredibly distinctive appearance. Mexico City thus emerged as the leading metropolis within all Spanish America—a status that it was able to preserve for many generations. The Spanish also elevated the settlement to function as the seat of power for Spain’s largest overseas colony, the Viceroyalty of New Spain. (The borders of New Spain roughly covered the area of modern-day Mexico.)

Mexico City only continued to grow, coming to regain its previous size by the 18th century. Spanish engineers had even decided to drain Lake Texcoco as a means of clearing more space for development. (Endemic flooding had also influenced the local colonial authorities.) The subsequent wars of Mexican Independence did little to change the mounting growth and prestige of the city, despite the political turmoil that transpired following the event. In fact, the metropolis became the capital of an independent Mexico in 1821, although additional episodes of social unrest affected its inhabitants throughout the rest of the 19th century. But new construction occurred when Mexican President Porfirio Díaz enacted an encompassing public renovation project around the start of the 20th century. Gorgeous structures reflecting Parisian-inspired architecture of Europe’s Belle Epoque period soon debuted in most of Mexico City’s neighborhoods, including the Palacio de Correos de México and the Palacio de Bellas Artes. The emergence of heavy industry coincided with Díaz’s public works project, too, heralding the transformation of the community into a modern economic hub of activity. Mexico City has since remained the cultural heart of Mexico today, functioning as the home to more than 9 million people. Contemporary analysts also regard it as an “alpha city,” meaning it is one of just a few communities in the world to exude significant international influence. Among its most distinguishing characteristics is the preservation of its fascinating historical identity, as best epitomized by the presence of historic landmarks like the Zócalo, the Catedral Metropolitana, the Palacio de Bellas Artes, and the ruins of the Templo Mayor.

Gran Hotel Ciudad de México displays brilliant examples of Art Nouveau-style architecture. Art Nouveau architecture was among the most popular styles in Europe from the 1890s till the outbreak of World War I. It quickly appeared across the continent, referred to by such names like “Glasgow Style,” “Modern Style,” and “Sezessionsstil.” Some of Europe’s most prominent architectural minds employed Art Nouveau architecture, too. Perhaps the greatest example was Hector Guimard, who used the style to create his wonderful Castel Béranger. The term itself was derived from an article published in the L’Art Moderne to introduce the work of architectural collective Les Vingt toward the end of the 19th century. Architects who embraced the Art Nouveau were part of a growing demographic of intellectuals that yearned to create novel artistic forms that broke with the imitative historicism of the past. More importantly, they wanted their new architectural motifs to reflect imaginative creativity, especially as European society became increasingly more structured and industrialized. Over time, those professionals created a design aesthetic characterized by its curvaceous lines and use of organic shapes. Objects from nature were featured prominently throughout the façade of every structure, including the likes of insects and exotic plants. Surfaces often contained terra cotta coverings and ornate tile moldings spread throughout the interior. Sloped arches also defined the windows and doors, while fantastic mosaics existed on nearly every ceiling. Asymmetrical layouts structured many Art Nouveau buildings as well, providing for a unique appearance in many of Europe’s sprawling cities. But Art Nouveau architecture was eventually phased out in favor of a new style known as “Art Deco,” as its emphasis on modernity seemed to better represent the state of Western culture following World War I.

However, the historic façade of the Gran Hotel Ciudad de México also showcases a terrific blend of Classic Revival-style architecture. Also known as “Neoclassical,” Classical Revival architecture itself is one of the most common architectural forms seen throughout the world today. This wonderful architectural style first became popular in Paris, specifically among French architectural students that studied in Rome in the late 18th century. Upon their return, the architects began emulating aspects of earlier Baroque design aesthetics into their designs, before finally settling on Greco-Roman examples. Over time, the embrace of Greco-Roman architectural themes spread across the world, reaching destinations like Germany, Spain, Great Britain, and even Scandinavia. As with the equally popular Revivalist styles of the same period, Classical Revival architect found an audience for its more formal nature. It specifically relied on stylistic design elements that incorporated such structural components, like the symmetrical placement of doors and windows, as well as a front porch crowned with a classical pediment. Architects would also install a rounded front portico that possessed a balustraded flat roof. Pilasters and other sculptured ornamentations proliferated throughout the façade of the building, as well. Perhaps the most striking feature of buildings designed with Classical Revival-style architecture were massive columns that displayed some combination of Corinthian, Doric, or Ionic capitals. With its Greco-Roman temple-like form, Classical Revival-style architecture was considered most appropriate for municipal buildings like courthouses, libraries, and schools. But the form found its way into more commercial uses over time, such as banks, department stores, and of course, hotels. Examples of the form can be found throughout many major cities today, including London, Paris, and Mexico City.

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