The capital of the country is one of the cities with the most history in the entire Mexican territory, its events date from ancient civilizations, through the conquest of the Spanish until reaching the modern era.
Thanks to its cultural changes, the areas that make up Mexico City have renewed their names. However, the history of each place lives on among the inhabitants. It is for this reason that, more than 500 years after the conquest of the Spanish Crown, it is possible to trace the oldest neighborhoods of the capital city and that still persist in the directory.
In old Tenochtitlan there were four main neighborhoods located around what is now the Historic Center known as Moyotlan, Zoquiapan, Atzacualco and Cuepopan. With the arrival of the conquerors, these “colonies” were renamed on different occasions until they adopted the title of San Juan Moyotlan, San Pablo Zoquiapan, San Sebastián Atzacoalco and Santa María la Redonda.
It should be noted that these neighborhoods recognize their indigenous origins, however, what can be observed the most among the streets of these demarcations are the colonial facades and modern adaptations of the inhabitants.
Considered one of the most inhabited in ancient Tenochtitlan, the San Juan Moyotlan neighborhood is located southwest of the center of the capital. Its name means “place of flies”, according to the ancient language.
According to records, this neighborhood is located between what is now Calle November 20 and until reaching Juárez avenue. Previously it was recognized for being the place where the largest market in ancient Mexico was located and, almost half a century later, it stands out in the same way for its markets.
In the neighborhood of San Juan Moyotlan, the Mexican Handicrafts and Curiosities market of San Juan stands out, Chinatown, The Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Museum of Popular Art.
To the southeast of the Historic Center is the old Zoquiapan, a place of muddy waters, according to the Nahuatl translation. Today it is recognized for being the location of the famous Merced market.
Upon the arrival of the Spanish, and the evangelization respectively, the Nuestra Lady of Mercy of the Redemption of Captives, which was the endowment of the name for the now emblematic market.
In this neighborhood, the flower and candy markets also stand out, which, like La Merced, are typical places to supply the inhabitants of the capital with different products that compete with modern chains.
“Place where the gate or the water dam is” is the meaning of the Atzacoalco neighborhood, located in the northwest of the capital’s center. It was considered the least inhabited place in the city of ancient Mexico.
The Sebastián Atzacoalco neighborhood is located between Corregidora street until it meets Canal del Norte avenue, so it is here where the great monuments are preserved such as the Main temple, The Parish of San Sebastián, the square, church and Former convent of Santo Domingo.
Formerly known as Cuepopan, the place where flowers open their corollas, the neighborhood of Santa María la Redonda is located northwest of the now well-known Plaza de la Constitución (Zócalo).
This demarcation covers from Juárez avenue until reaching Manuel González street. It is the place where the emblematic Tlatelolco market, Plaza Garibaldi and the Museum of Tequila and Mezcal extend.
