Explore the iconic Colonia Roma neighborhood of Mexico City on a guided walking tour featuring wireless headphones and a curated soundtrack of popular music. Led by visual artist Gabriel Acevedo Velarde —who holds a master’s degree in Fine Art— you’ll uncover surprising connections between architecture, history, and vernacular music. Starting in the historic town of La Romita, this immersive experience traces the evolution of Mexican identities, from a 16th-century chapel to the rise of modern urbanization. Along the way, discover cultural landmarks and stories, including the origins of the tortilla and the African roots of mariachi music.
- Connect Mexican popular music with the nation's architecture and history
- Visit historical sites, like the iconic La Romita chapel
- Explore themes of identity, music, and Latin American idiosyncracy
Meet you in front of the chapel's main entrance, I'll be wearing a green hat.
This is the main plaza of the neighborhood, actually present in the first plan of 1902.
The tour explores Mexican cultural and historical identities, highlighting key moments in its development as reflected in 11 locations throughout Colonia Roma. The whole walk is exclusively in this fabulous neighborhood --with various stops being "not touristic" but fascinating from the points of view of architecture and/or cultural history.
Amazingly, this chapel is from the 16th century. The tiny town that formed around it maintained its identity until the 20th century. Perfect spot to talk about the origin of Virgin of Guadalupe.
An amusing museum of everyday life objects from Mexican modern times.
Though the Lamm family never actually lived here, the house reflects a confidant attitude towards space, even if Mexico City was having an acute need for housing at the time of its construction.
We'll stop at the Alvaro Obregón avenue not only because it's the most iconic road in the neighborhood, but also to talk about the connection between corridos (the narrative musical genre) and crime press during the Mexican Revolution.
Here we'll talk the 1933 debate between conservative and modernist architects and what that tells us about aspirational, trascendental wishes and the pressing need for housing in a city that was doubling its inhabitants every decade.
The Colonia Roma was conceived as exclusively residential. Both planners and owners quickly realized this made no sense. This plaza reflects the shift to a more autonomous neighborhood regarding basic services.
Originally built to be a hotel, the Witches' House is an apartments building that works as an example of eclectic architecture and the changing conception of the neighborhood, from exclusively residential to a services area for the rest of the city.
We'll stop by Tortillería Premier, a typical tortillas store, to talk about a historical event: the invention of tortillas. Strange as it sounds, few Mexicans know about the link between tortillas' original creation and the first Zapotec state, five centuries BC.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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