Torre Latinoamericana
Francisco I. Madero Avenue 1, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico Cit
Torre Latinoamericana
Built between 1948 and 1956 the Torre Latinoamericana was once the city’s tallest skyscraper, during the next couple of decades working in the building was considered a symbol of power and status (and the higher up your office was, the more important you could be considered!), yet while many skyscrapers have far surpassed the Torre Latinoamericana in height, the building is still considered an icon of the historic center of the city. While many buildings in this downtown part of the city have been sinking with the passing of decades, due to the soft soil that was once the lakebed of Lago de Texcoco, the Torre Latinoamericana has not, as a matter of fact, it floats thanks to the advances in foundation laying of the ‘50s.
Located on the busy intersection of Madero street and Eje Central (probably the country’s most populated crosswalk), and a few steps from Bellas Artes, the Torre Latinoamericana sits at the center of the city’s history and activity. Since it’s so close to those other landmarks, it’s convenient and easy to take a little detour and access the lookout at the very top of the building, 182 meters above street level. It’s the best view of the historic center which makes for some memorable photographs as well. The top of the building is covered in wire mesh as tragically, in the past, some people have chosen the building to end their lives here, jumping to the streets below. Fortunately, that doesn’t happen anymore and it’s recommended to visit on a sunny day, so you can get a clear glimpse of the Basílica de Guadalupe, Bellas Artes, the National Palace, and the Monumento a la Raza, all from the same location.
Access is only $130 pesos and there are a couple of museums inside the skyscraper that detail the history of the city and its historic center, there are snacks like popcorn for sale, and even a restaurant, the Miralto Restaurante & Bar, for a more relaxed kind of meal. There’s a huge LED digital clock at the top of the building, and it’s unofficially the city’s main timekeeper.
Other attractions are a wax museum, a house of mirrors, a rotating tunnel, and a 4D simulator; the Torre Latinoamericana has reinvented itself as some sort of theme park long after it lost its place amongst the tallest buildings in the city.
