Museo Anahuacalli — Museum Review | Condé Nast Traveler

"Zoom out. What's this place all about? Awesome, grand, and out-of-the-way, Anahuacalli is part studio, part museum and part shrine for Mexican art that Diego Rivera built as an architectural piece uniting past, present, and future to Mexico City 's natural environment. A museum's permanent collection is its defining feature: How was this one? Rivera's personal and expansive collection of pre-Hispanic figurines, carvings, and totems accumulated over a lifetime. The museum itself was constructed around specific pieces on a swath of rocky terrain that Rivera and Frida Khalo had purchased for a farm. Exhibits keep us coming back. What can we expect? The main collection features nearly two thousand figurines representing Olmecs, Toltecs, Nahuas, Zapotecs, the people of Teotihuacan, and those of northeastern Mexico as well as Rivera's sketches for murals. There are also temporary exhibits of more modern Mexican artists, with a recent rotation of 30 textural works by Robert Janitz—paintings, large-format sculptures, and an NFT. What did you make of the crowd? Total Mexican art aficionados, Anahuacalli is next-level. The building itself is an architectural marvel and just walking the grounds surrounding the main building is a worthwhile experience. Not too many kids. On the practical tip, how were the facilities? The undulating volcanic black rock that surrounds the compound plus the roof deck, gardens and mesmerizing architecture give it an other-worldly feel. There is very few informational placards and general explanation so read up before you go. Any guided tours worth trying? Entry is 100 pesos ($5), and worth every centavo. Gift shop: obligatory, inspiring, or skip it? Small but some interesting stuff. Is the café worth a stop? Small café with light snacks, not too much food, but there are a few corn-based beverages like tascalate. Any advice for the time- or attention-challenged? No. It's out of the way in the south and you'll need two hours minimum to explore the facility." - Scarlett Lindeman