4 Must-Visit Museums in Polanco

Soumaya Museum

It's impossible not to start this list with a museum that has become the image of contemporary Polanco, not only for its exhibitions, but because the design of the Soumaya Museum is an ode to modern architecture. Created by Mexican architect Fernando Romo and inaugurated in 2011, this museum houses a collection of Mexican pieces dating from the viceroyalty period, as well as works from French Impressionism and other parts of Europe.

Address: Blvd. Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra in the Granada neighborhood, next to Plaza Carso and across from the Inbursa aquarium.

Jumex Museum

This museum is relatively young compared to others, as it opened in 2013; however, in a short time it has established itself as a hub of contemporary art for Mexico City. This venue hosts exhibitions by artists such as Martin Creed and Rodrigo Hernandez, creators who experiment with different artistic movements and mediums: Creed plays with conceptual art and surrealist touches, while Rodrigo Hernandez focuses on sculpture and topics like design, art, and fashion.

But modernity is not the only thing represented here, as works by artists like Andy Warhol, Alexander Carrel, and John Baldessari, among others who have established themselves as the greatest exponents of modern art, have also been presented.

The Jumex Museum offers a unique perspective on art, as its exhibitions tend to be unconventional and aim to bring an innovative vision to both emerging and renowned artists.

Address: Blvd. Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra 303 in the Granada neighborhood.

Tamayo Museum of Contemporary Art

The name of this museum says it all: it is one of the cultural spaces with the greatest representation of art in Mexico City, as it not only bears the name of one of the most representative artists and muralists of the twentieth century, but it is also a space whose main mission is to bring the community closer to national and international art.

The particularity of this venue is the way it breaks ground in modern art while simultaneously maintaining a foothold in contemporary art. It features exhibitions that dare to show something different, such as performance art or interactive displays to create a connection between the public and the artist.

The main attraction is the exhibition of works by Olga and Rufino Tamayo, which showcases the legacy of these artists to Mexican painting. Tamayo is one of the most recognized muralists in art for capturing "Mexican tradition," as he himself referred to his work, and distancing himself from the political message and social criticism that were recurring themes in twentieth-century painting.

Olga Tamayo, wife of Rufino Tamayo, took on the task of collecting photographs, newspaper clippings, magazines, documents, and films to preserve the memory and work of the muralist, and this is what the museum currently presents as its collection.  

Address: Avenida Paseo de la Reforma 51, between the boundaries of Polanco and Chapultepec.

National Museum of Anthropology

This museum is a must-visit for any traveler who arrives in Polanco, as it is a place full of history and culture from pre-Hispanic Mexico. It houses remains, artifacts, monoliths, and codices that are impressively preserved.

The museum itself is a work of art, as the Tláloc fountain, the god of rain, is the first thing to let you know you have arrived in the space of ancient Mexico. But it is not just the monolith that alludes to pre-Hispanic Mexico, as the construction of this museum was based on the use of stone to reference the ancient Aztec pyramids.   

As if that were not enough, at the center of the museum sits an 82-meter fountain designed to resemble an umbrella from which water falls like a cascade. This design was based on an idea by Mexican writer Jaime Torres Bodet and was realized by the Chávez Morado brothers.

Address: Av. Paseo de la Reforma and Calzada Ghandi S/N Col. Chapultepec, Polanco 

So if you want to immerse yourself in Mexican culture and beyond, Polanco is one of the best options, and its wide variety shows how Polanco has become a point of exchange for artistic ideas, movements, and expressions.