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If you’ve been following along, you know that Chris and I made our return trip to Mexico City this spring — and this time we went deep on Diego Rivera. Like, really deep. Four days, five stops, and more incredible public art than we knew what to do with. If you have even a passing interest in Mexican history or muralism, buckle up, because this is the itinerary for you. You can make it easier on yourself and book this tour through Pies Descalzos!
The Museum of Mexican Muralism (Formerly the Secretary of Education Building)
We actually visited this place on our trip last year. It opened to the public in the fall of 2024 and is still flying under the radar in most guidebooks, which means you can actually enjoy it without fighting through massive tour groups. That alone is worth noting.
The murals here were painted by Rivera over many years, commissioned by the government after the Mexican Revolution as a way to teach history to a largely illiterate population. Walking through, you can genuinely watch Rivera grow as an artist from panel to panel. It’s remarkable. Plan to spend serious time here if art is your thing.
The Diego Rivera Mural Museum
This one we first visited on last year’s mural tour, and it’s worth circling back to — or making a dedicated stop on your first visit. Tucked inside the Alameda, one of the beautiful parks in the Centro Histórico, the museum houses a single mural: Rivera’s iconic Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Park. When we were there in spring, the jacarandas were in full bloom, filling the park with purple flowers and a fragrance that made the whole experience feel even more special. The mural itself is a sweeping retelling of Mexican history set right in the park where the museum stands — and it contains what is arguably the most famous image Rivera ever painted. The Catrina, the elegant skeleton now synonymous with Día de los Muertos celebrations, appears here in what is the painting that made that image iconic worldwide. Rivera didn’t invent the Catrina — her original creator actually appears in the mural too — but this is the work that made her famous. Admission was free when we visited on a Sunday, which seems to just be how they roll. It’s not as heavily trafficked as some of the other mural sites, and honestly that makes it even more of a gem.
Palacio de Bellas Artes
Even if you’ve already seen this building from the outside — and you should, because it’s stunning — don’t miss the Diego Rivera mural inside. We went specifically for it, and it comes with one of the best backstories in art history. This mural is a recreation of the one Rivera originally painted for Rockefeller Center in New York. The Rockefellers, despite knowing full well that Rivera had communist leanings, commissioned the work anyway — and then got more than they bargained for when Rivera painted the face of Lenin into the composition. When Nelson Rockefeller asked him to remove it, Rivera said no. The original mural was destroyed. Rivera later recreated it here in Mexico City, Lenin and all, and it now lives inside what is primarily one of Mexico City’s grand performance venues — the Palacio de Bellas Artes hosts a major ballet performance once a month that’s well worth looking into if your timing lines up. But even if you’re just there for the mural, the building alone is worth the trip. It’s the kind of story that makes you appreciate art — and stubbornness — on a whole new level.
The National Palace
This is the crown jewel. Home to some of Rivera’s last and most detailed work, the National Palace murals are breathtaking — especially the sweeping staircase piece depicting the full sweep of Mexican history (top). The tour is free, but you must be accompanied by a guide since this is where the president resides. First tours start at 10 AM, and everyone online recommends arriving an hour early to queue. We did exactly that and were glad we did, since we had another tour lined up in the afternoon.
Colegio de San Ildefonso
This one is easy to walk right past, and most visitors to the Zócalo probably do. It’s part of UNAM and houses Diego Rivera’s very first mural in Mexico — and honestly, it’s a fascinating oddity. After being sent to Europe on what was essentially a government arts grant, Rivera came back painting like a European. We’re talking flat figures, golden halos, fresco-style compositions that feel more like a gothic church than anything you’d expect from the man who painted the National Palace.
A Few Tips Before You Go
If you’re planning your own Diego Rivera tour, we highly recommend that you book this tour with Pies Descalzos to learn much more about the art and its story than you will get on your own!
Thanks for stopping by! Check out our Go See Do Explore Podcast, available wherever you listen to podcasts. To read more about this trip, visit the Returning to Mexico City Trip Report. To read about some of our previous trips, visit my Trips Page. If you like my photos be sure to “like” my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram! For my list of gadgets to make your travels easier, click here.
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