The Museo Nacional de Arte is an art museum devoted to the long history of Mexican art and housed in a striking neoclassical historic building. You'll find an array of Mexican art inside ranging from the middle of the 16th century to less than a century ago.
The whole family can enjoy a visit to this museum, thanks to the variety of works it has on display. You can see not only the expressions of individual artists but also how Mexican culture itself developed over the centuries. Most people spend about 2 or 3 hours here in total.
Museo Nacional de Arte in Mexico City - one of the highlights of 11 Best Museums in Mexico City (Read all about Mexico City here)
What are the highlights of Museo Nacional de Arte in Mexico City?
The collection is the crowning achievement of the stunning Museo Nacional de Arte, and it's divided into 3 periods. The first showcases the colonial period, which is art created from the European invasion until about 1821. The second offers artwork from after independence up until where the third period starts, the Mexican Revolution in the 1950s.
Among the 3 periods on display, you can see paintings, drawings, sculptures, and more. Some temporary exhibitions are held at the museum as well, which typically shine a spotlight on a particular historic Mexican artist or common cultural theme expressed across many artists.
What else is good to know about Museo Nacional de Arte in Mexico City?
One of the best parts of Museo Nacional de Arte is how easy it is to find. The neoclassical building tends to stand out, but if you had any doubt, just keep an eye out for the statue of Charles IV of Spain, which depicts the monarch riding on a horse.
Visiting this museum will put you close to several other attractions as well. You can explore the Palacio de Bellas Artes just steps away to the southwest, while the historic centre is conveniently directly east of the museum. The Museo de la Ciudad de Mexico is also nearby to the southeast.
Museo Nacional de Arte in Mexico City
Dirección: Calle de Tacuba 8, Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06000 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Horario: Tuesday–Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm (closed on Mondays)
Teléfono: +52 55 8647 5430