Palacio de Bellas Artes

Completed in 1934 after three decades of work, the Palacio de Bellas Artes is Mexico's most important cultural venue, with a white marble exterior and a dome tiled in orange and gold. It stands at the edge of the Alameda Central park in the UNESCO-listed historic centre of Mexico City.

Inside are monumental murals by Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco and David Alfaro Siqueiros, and the theatre hosts the Ballet Folklórico de México, a lively, colourful introduction to the music and dance of Mexico's regions.

For a bird's-eye view of the dome, ride up to the observation deck of the Torre Latinoamericana across the street. From there it is a short walk along Madero Street to the Zócalo, the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Aztec ruins of the Templo Mayor.