Civilization and Culture in Mexico
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Spring 2020-SPAN 4283 Mexican Civilization and Culture, Mexico City th th Study Abroad- Spring Break March 20 - 26 , 2020 Dr. Alejandra Carballo [email protected] Day1 Depart/Arrive to Mexico City- Hotel Check-in Day 2 Day-Tlatelolco, Guadalupe Shrine & Teotihuacán Pyramids You should wear comfortable shoes, bring sunscreen and spending money. Day 3 Day-Coyoacán, National University, Frida Kahlo Museum & Xochimilco You should wear comfortable shoes, bring sunscreen and spending money. Day 4 Visit to the Museo Nacional de Antropología. Walking tour to el Zócalo, Catedral, la Alameda, el Palacio de Bellas Artes. Day 5 Sigthseeing Tour- Parada 11- FRANZ MAYER MUSEUM – Caminar a Plaza Garibaldi y La Lagunilla Day 6 Guided visit to El Templo Mayor a las 11:30 - and the Palacio Nacional El Zócalo Depart 7 Depart for U.S. Pirámides de Teotihuacan Explore the 2,500-year-old settlement of Teotihuacan, the "birthplace of the gods." Contemplate the site's mysterious origins as you stroll along the 2.5-mile (4-km) Avenue of the Dead, climb the 243 steps of the Pyramid of the Sun, and see jade and obsidian artifacts at the Pyramid of the Moon. Notice the bird motifs on the pillars at the Palace of the Quetzalpapalotl and admire carvings of a snake-like deity on the Temple of the Feathered Serpent. Anthropology Museum Learn fascinating facts about Aztec and Maya civilizations while admiring ancient headdresses, stone statues, and reconstructed tombs. Make your way to the National Museum of Anthropology, the largest and most visited in Mexico. Begin your exploration on the ground floor, slowly uncovering the museum's thousands of archaeological artifacts. Listen as your guide reveals the mythology of Mesoamerican cultures and how they've influenced Mexican society today .At the National Museum of Anthropology you can admire powerful 20th-century murals depicting the history of Mexico and from the top of a hill, and see a spectacular panorama of Mexico City. Chapultepec and the Castle. El Bosque de Chapultepec is an extensive urban park in the middle of Mexico City containing Chapultepec Castle—at the top of a hill 7,628 feet (2,325 m) above sea level. Enter the castle, which served as the Imperial Palace and Presidential Residence until 1940, and learn about the country's Colonial and Imperial history. You can walk through the estates many halls and rooms, admiring the plethora of sculptures and paintings of historical figures. See murals created by Mexican artists of the 20th century—including David Alfaro Siqueiros—that depict the fall of the Empire, the Revolution, and Mexican Independence. Walk in the castle gardens and take in the panorama of incredible views of the city. Taxco & Cuernavaca Tour This trip will take you to the silver city of Taxco, one of the country's most charming cities. Then visit Cuernavaca, a city with a long and storied history, nicknamed the "City of Eternal Spring." On your 2-hour drive to Taxco, you get to enjoy spectacular mountain views. The oldest known mine in the Americas is located near the town, which explains why Taxco silver is now world famous. Explore the Old Town, with its narrow, cobblestone streets and colonial buildings. Head to the Santa Prisca Church to be fascinated by its majestic altar, which dates back to the 18th century. Xochimilco Aztec Canals Cruise & Coyoacan Tour Explore the history of countercultural Coyoacan, and then float down the waters of Xochimilco in a traditional, neon-colored boat. Follow your guide on a journey to Coyoacan and walk in the footsteps of legendary figures like Leon Trotsky and Frida Kahlo, feeling the bohemian energy of the bustling streets. Listen as your guide shares fascinating details about this fiercely independent community. From here, travel south to University City, home to the artistically designed National University of Mexico. Roam around the campus to see larger-than-life murals by revolutionary painters like Diego Rivera and Juan O'Gorman. Continue on to Xochimilco and discover the elaborate Aztec canals that were once used to connect pre-Columbian villages and towns. Drift down the water in a brightly painted trajinera boat, a gondola-like vessel with vivid shades of red, yellow, and blue. Sit back and relax as you cruise along amid upbeat sounds of mariachi music. Take in sights of flourishing floating gardens called chinampas, ancient man-made islands where farmers can still be seen tending their crops .