Museo Nacional de Arte

The Museo Nacional de Arte occupies a neoclassical palace building featuring marble staircases and sculptural elements throughout. The collections span Mexican artworks from the 16th century to 1954, showcasing various artistic developments across this timespan.

The building was designed by Italian architect Silvio Contri and initially served as the Palace of Communications and Public Works. In the early 20th century, it was converted into a museum to house and display Mexican artworks.

The museum displays works by Mexican artists across different periods, from colonial times to the modern era. Visitors can observe how artistic approaches to Mexican subjects and techniques evolved over the centuries.

The museum sits near Bellas Artes metro station, making it convenient to reach by public transportation. It opens Tuesday through Sunday, and admission is free on Sundays for all visitors.

An equestrian statue of Carlos IV created by Manuel Tolsá stands at the museum entrance. Since its completion in 1803, this sculpture has been relocated multiple times throughout Mexico City, making it a witness to the city's changing fortunes.

Location: Cuauhtémoc

Inception: 1982

Architects: Silvio Contri

Official opening: June 23, 1982

Part of: Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura

Address: Calle Tacuba 8. Centro Histórico

Phone: +525586475430

Website: https://munal.mx

GPS coordinates: 19.43639,-99.13944

Latest update: December 6, 2025 22:02