Zocalo(Plaza de la Constitucion) with Cathedral to left and National Palace at back
Model of Tenochtitlan - remains of the temples in centre are under much of the "Historic Centre".
The "Historic Centre" is the oldest part of Mexico City. Originally the home of the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan that occupied an island in the middle of a shallow lake connected to the mainland by causeways. After conquering the Aztecs in the 1520's, the spaniards razed most of the Aztec temples and buildings and used the materials to help build colonial Mexico City. They also filled in most of the existing lake. The ruins in the picture above are next to the Cathedral and were discovered in 1978. The area is called the "Templo Mayor" (major temple). It is believed to be the location of the centre of the Aztec capital and the principal religious site. (Scroll up)