Mexico City: Art, Culture & Cuisine! Art History of Mexico Available Anytime! Cultural Journeys Mexico | Colombia | Guatemala www.tiastephanietours.com | (734) 769 7839 Mexico City: Art, Culture & Cuisine! Art History of Mexico On this journey of learning and discovery, we explore the history and expressions of Art in Mexico. In order to understand the vision and temperament of Diego and Frida, we will learn of History and Politics of Mexico, that is the only way to contextualize their art and lives. While Diego’s Art was overtly political, Frida’s was more personal, as we will see. The Mexican Muralism Movement will also be explored. If you are interested in Art, His- tory, Culture, Muralism, Diego and Frida, this trip is for you! Join us to explore art in Mexico City! Program Highlights • Explore the Zocalo • Visit Templo Mayor, Ceremonial Center of the Aztecs • Learn of Mexican History & Indigenous LOCATION Past at the National Palace Murals, painted by Diego Rivera • Ocotlan and the Southern Craft Route. • Visit the Palacio de Bellas Artes • Museum of Modern Art • Rufino Tamayo Museum • Frida Kahlo Museum • Dolores Olmedo Museum • UNAM Campus Itinerary Day 1: and the Cathedral of the Assumption of mural iconography and techniques of the Arrive Mexico City, Transfer to our Mary, constructed in a medley of Ba- ancient civilizations of Mexico. Diego Rivera Centrally Located Hotel and explore the roque, Neoclassical, and Mexican chur- studied the Prehispanic fresco technique to Historic Center! rigueresque architectural styles. Then we apply to his own work. (B, L) Enjoy a Light Lunch move to the National Palace to view Diego Explore the Zocalo, the Largest Square in Rivera’s mural masterpiece The Epic of the Day 3: the Americas! Mexican People, where he depicted major Today we explore the Antiguo Colegio San Visit Templo Mayor, Ceremonial Center of events in Mexico’s history, and the indig- Idelfonso, home to the first mural painted the Aztecs enous cultures of Mexico. We will enjoy by Diego Rivera in the 1920’s. Then, we visit See one of the greatest clashes of Culture in our welcome dinner at one of Mexico City’s the Secretary of Education Murals (SEP) to History, visiting the Main Cathedral beloved restaurants, Azul Historico, where learn of the initiatives to use art as a di- Learn of Mexican History & Indigenous Past Chef Ricardo Munoz creates delicious and dactic tool to communicate to the Mexican at the National Palace Murals, painted by traditional Mexican dishes! (L,D) people. We’ll enjoy Lunch at the wonderful Diego Rivera and popular El Cardenal, a restaurant that Enjoy a lovely Dinner at Azul Historico Day 2: Mexicans and travelers alike, flock to! After in the “Downtown” Shops, for beautiful Pre Hispanic Site of Teotihuacan, lunch, we’ll explore the fascinating Palace Mexican dishes! Free Afternoon of Fine Arts to learn about the murals of Today we venture out to the northwest the “Big Three” Muralists, where we can You will be met at the MEX airport and of the Mexico City Basin, to encounter the compare and contrast their ideologies, ar- transfer to our hotel to freshen up before massive Prehispanic site of Teotihuacan, one tistic expressions and techniques. (B,L) heading out for a light lunch and our first of the most important centers of influence impressions of Mexico City’s Historic Cen- in all of Mesoamerica. Diego, Frida and their Antiguo Colegio San Idelfonso (First Mural ter! Arriving at the grand and vast Zocalo, friend Leon Trotsky visited Teotihuacan upon by Diego Rivera, 1920’s!) we can see the great clash of cultures in his arrival and self imposed exile in Mexico. Secretary of Education (SEP): the 16th Century, that forever changed Here, we learn about past and present ex- Diego Rivera Murals the course of Mexico’s history. This is plorations and we too will explore the fas- Lunch at the beloved, El Cardenal Restaurant visually evidenced by seeing the Templo cinating murals and monumental structures Visit the Palacio de Bellas Artes (learn Mayor the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan, of this site. Included in this special visit about Rivera, Orozco, Siqueiros Murals) which was discovered in the 1970s and with an onsite archeologist, we will tour the Dinner at Leisure is an ongoing active archaeological site, rarely visited Mural Museum to learn about Itinerary Day 4: Today we explore the Chapultepec Park Chapultepec Castle and the National His- industry, who later became a patron of the Region! We’ll begin with a morning His- tory Museum! arts and of Diego Rivera. Strolling the for- tory lesson by visiting the National History Museum of Modern Art mer Hacienda grounds, we are surrounded Museum, housed in the Chapultepec Castle, Lunch at Rufino Tamayo Museum by peacocks and some adorable “xolo” former residence of Emperor Maximil- Rufino Tamayo Museum dogs (Mexican Hairless). To fully experience ian. We will see numerous murals and Optional Ballet Folkorico Performance at 7:30 the Xochimilco ambiance we’ll enjoy a fun other important paintings here, including but also educational “trajinera” boat ride the historically important “Casta Paint- Day 5: on the Floating Gardens of Xochimilco to ings” that were developed in an attempt Today we travel to the South of Mexico City learn of ancient agriculture developed by to “order” and classify social groups, by to visit the fascinating Frida Kahlo Mu- the Prehispanic people living in this region naming them and identifying them pictori- seum (known as the “Blue House”). We can of the Mexico City Basin. The “chinampas” ally. Criollo, Mestizo, Mulato among others picture Frida in this space, as there were in involved building up the lake bed, rich in were depicted. We explore more art at the fact, many photos taken of her surround- nutrient “muck”, a perfect and clever solu- fabulous Modern Art Museum, known for ed by her beloved animals at this house, tion to agriculture that is being revived their outstanding exhibitions and curato- her family home. The house is located today! Returning home, we make a stop rial strength. Crossing the majestic Reforma in one of the most charming neighbor- at the UNESCO World Heritage Site, UNAM Avenue, we will visit the outstanding and hoods in Mexico City, so we will take time Campus to see an integrated approach recently renovated Rufino Tamayo Museum, to stroll in Coyoacan to see its charming to Design in Architecture, Sculpture, Art, housed in a building designed by Teodoro square and experience its markets, much Space in Higher Education. (B, L, D) Gonzalez de Leon, one of Mexico’s great as Diego and Frida loved to do! Then, we Modern and Contemporary architects. We have a great treat in store, as we travel to Frida Kahlo Museum will enjoy a wonderful lunch at the delight- the Xochimilco neighborhood to pay a visit Stroll in Coyoacan ful on-site restaurant. Tonight, we can enjoy to the Dolores Olmedo Museum, home to Dolores Olmedo Museum an Optional Ballet Folkorico de Mexico, the largest collections of Diego and Frida Lunch on “Trajinera” boat in the Xochi- Amalia Hernandez Performance, 7:30 p.m., pieces. We will learn about Dolores Olm- milco region! at the Palace of Fine Arts. (B, L) edo Patino, an entrepreneur and captain of UNAM Campus Itinerary Day 6: Today we dedicate 1/2 a day to the world and festive Bazaar Sabado (Saturday Art Bazaar Sabado (Art in the Park and Crafts renowned National Museum of Anthropology, Market) to see and perhaps buy wonder- from Mexico) where we will explore the ancient civiliza- ful Mexican Art and Craft. It is the place to Lunch at San Angel Inn, a beloved restau- tions of Mexico, including the Olmec, Zapotec, be on Saturdays in Mexico City! A special rant with gardens, fountains and strolling Maya, Aztec and many others. We’ll study lunch is in store, as we enjoy our “comida”, musicians the Museum architecture as well, designed late lunch in the charming garden setting Diego and Frida Studios, to see where both by Pedro Ramirez Vazquez, one of Mexico’s of the famed San Angel Inn. Just across worked and lived from time to time extraordinary architects. (B) the street are the Diego and Frida Studios, designed by their friend and architect/art- Day 8: Day 7: ist, Juan O’Gorman. Here we will see the Return Flights Home (B) Sadly, today we Once again we travel south, but this time spaces where Diego and Frida worked and say goodby to this most extraordinary we visit the surreal Anahuacalli Museum, lived: sometimes together and sometimes city: Mexico City. We hope you will not be designed by Diego Rivera to house his col- apart! (B, L, D) saying goodby though, but rather, “Hasta lection of Mesoamerican Art and Antiqui- Anahuacalli Museum Created by Diego Rivera Pronto” ! See you again soon! ties. From here, we will visit the colorful to house his Mesoamerican Art collection.