Museo Anahuacalli

"Museo Anahuacalli is a hulking, volcanic stone pyramid housing Diego Rivera’s personal collection of pre-Hispanic artifacts." - David Shortell

"Anahuacalli Diego Rivera Museum, built in 1963, is a jewel lost in the less touristy part of Coyoacán. It is an impressive stone temple-house, that Diego Rivera had built to make room for his collection of more than 59,000 pre-Columbian pieces. Anahuacalli is a Nahuatl word that means “The House of Anahuac” (known as the Valley of Mexico since pre-Hispanic times). It is a mystical place where they accommodate diverse artistic expressions like theatre, dance, painting and music. If you are lucky enough to visit this museum on the Day of the Dead, you’ll enjoy a massive “ofrenda” (offering) mounted in honor of Diego Rivera." - Leolab

"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 the natural environment. Rivera's personal and expansive collection of pre-Hispanic figurines, carvings, and totems accumulated over a lifetime. The museum itself was constructed around a swath of rocky terrain Rivera and Khalo had purchased for a farm. 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." - Scarlett Lindeman

"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

"Diego Rivera's & Frida Kahlo's Gift to Mexico They intended it as their gift to Mexico , and what a gift it is. Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, two of the most famous artists of the 20th century, worked with renowned Mexican architect Juan O'Gorman to create Museo Anahuacalli, a temple-like structure that houses the 50,000+ pre-Hispanic objects Rivera collected during his lifetime. The museum, whose design was also influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright and his notions about the role of the physical environmental in the conceptualization and construction of buildings, also showcases hundreds of pieces of artisan and craft works representative of Mexico. Note that the museum is not open on Monday or Tuesday."