• E N R O U T E / / D E S T I N A T I O N P I C K
Thousands of victims were dispatched here , beating hearts cut out with flint knives
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© BRAVO / ADOBESTOCK
© DAGAN / SHUTTERSTOCK
© STEPHEN
cathedral here to cleanse the site of such horrors – but of course the conquistadores were the end of the Aztecs anyway .
Clockwise from top left : Mexico City is packed full of colourful attractions , like the Bellas Artes cultural centre . The ruins of Teotihuacan . Dancers twirl during Day of the Dead celebrations . Totemic creations in the Kurimanzutto gallery . Even the graffiti is exceptional .
This strange colonial city was built slap-bang on the Aztec city of Tenochtitlán , a 13th century beauty threaded with canals . It ’ s possible to look back in time at a site adjacent to the cathedral on the enormous Zócalo square , where the Aztec ’ s El Templo Mayor ( Great Temple ) arises from the earth . Once , tens of thousands of victims were dispatched here , beating hearts cut out with flint knives . The Spaniards placed their mega
Still , they left marvels , such as the ruined city of Teotihuacan , 50 kilometres northeast of the city , where the Pyramid of the Sun rears into the sky like a volcano . There ’ s also the immense granite sun stone unearthed from beneath the Zócalo square , and near the Templo Mayor a wolf skeleton wearing ankle bracelets with dangling golden bells . Plus countless delicious ways to prepare maize .
Food is one of the joys of the city . For street food , just follow your nose or the smoke from braziers where women cook up various soft or crispy versions of tortillas adorned with toppings . Roma and Condesa have a reputation for good fusion food . At Dulcinea Cocina Urbana I ate an incredible artichoke dish with vinaigrette , fresh coriander and chipotle dressings and dollops of goat cheese . Foodies get excited : the city boasts two 2016 World ’ s 50 Best Restaurants : Pujol ’ s Enrique Olvera (# 25 ) cooks up everything from flying ants to octopus and suckling pig
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