My husband and I visited the Anahuacalli Museum in the San Pablo de Tepetlapa neighborhood a few weeks ago when we were back in CDMX for a short vacation. It was our first visit, and I was totally blown away. The Anahuacalli Museum is part museum and part temple. It was conceived of and designed by Diego River (and his friend, architect, and artist Juan O'Gorman) to house his vast collection of pre-Hispanic pieces. The museum opened to the public in 1964 (Rivera died in 1957), and it's still a stunner. The architecture of the museum is really incredible - inspired by Mesoamerican architecture and utilizing incredible Mexican materials, including volcanic stone from the eruption of the Xitle volcano. The interior is incredible too - like no other building I've ever entered: walls of different thicknesses, altars, mosaics, murals, and so much more. The museum is an incredible house for the pre-Hispanic artifacts Rivera collected. They're displayed in beautiful surroundings, behind glass and on shelves and nooks throughout the building. On the second floor of the building - in the "Study" - there are sketches for different murals by Rivera, including a draft of the mural "Man at the Crossroads" - the mural painted by Rivera in NYC in 1932 and destroyed by the orders of Nelson Rockefeller. The museum has a small shop and a cafe, so you can really spend hours here. We didn't have quite that much time, but visiting Anahuacalli was one of the highlights of our recent trip to CDMX. I highly recommend it if you're interested in Mexican art, architecture, history, design...or if you just want a great view of the city from the terrace! read more

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I'm so glad we made it here! It was nothing like we expected as we wanted to see Diego Rivera's murals and didn't realize that this was more about an archeological endeavor than a museum with his murals! The best place to see his murals is at the museum of muralisim which was awesome! This was a little bit off the beaten path which was fine! read more

AMAZING COLLECTION OF ANCIENT ART IN A UNIQUE BUILDING. Diego Rivera was known for his murals, but did you know he was one of, if not The most prolific collector of ancient Mexican art? Here you may see a fraction of his collection of 200000 objects. And yes that also have a couple of his mural patterns. There is not catalog so the objects don't have any information. The museum is filled With nooks and cranny you can explore. I recommend it. Excelsior. read more

Museo Diego Rivera Anahuacalli - Museums Near Me - México, D.F., DIF

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I honestly wasn't going to come here if not for Frida Kahlo's tickets including this experience. This is pretty close to the Frida Kahlo museum by Uber so it's totally reachable. We couldn't get into Frida Kahlo because I bought the wrong dates and you should DEFINITELY ORDER IN ADVANCE. I didn't which is why I ended up paying for tickets that couldn't work for our trip. At least I got to see Diego Rivera's private collection. This opened my eyes to teotihuacan and since this was our first couple of days in of Mexico City we saw this before the anthropology museum and it's true- you won't see this in there and I totally prefer this over looking at tons of artifacts in that huge museum as this one is a lot more pleasurable to view. The grounds are just beautiful and the displays are very neat. It really made the site beautiful. Not to mention all the ceiling work really worked with the art and you can see the entire view from where Frida and Diego used to live of Mexico City on the top of the anahuacalli. I would say this place became a must visit on my list since the place is just stunning in itself and such a breeze to walk through. It really showed you where Diego gets most of his pleasures in terms of his art and where he gets his references. read more

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Even if this building were empty, it would be a great work of art. It was designed to echo pre-columbian pyramids in the region. When you walk its rooms, you feel like you're in a holy place, a place of worship. It is perhaps one of the most moving buildings I've ever been in. It is like a cathedral. Everything is on purpose, the levels, the floors, the ceilings, the walls made from volcanic rock, the placement of the windows and stairwells. Diego Rivera imagined this museum to house his collection of historic artifacts. The collection is immense and worthy of its own review, but the building is the show-stopper here. I received a free ticket with my entrance to the lackluster Frida Kahlo museum, and I am so glad that I took the opportunity to visit Anahuacalli. Whatever I write about this museum cannot even come close to the way it made me feel. In addition to the building and the collection, there is a temporary exhibit (completely unnecessary and in some ways out of place) and some of Rivera's original work including sketches. read more

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Anahuacalli (from the Nahuatl word, whose meaning is "house surrounded by water"), is a temple of the arts designed by the Mexican muralist Diego Rivera. This museum stands out for its extensive collection of pre-Columbian art, as well as for its ecological space that protects endemic flora and fauna. The architecture is inspired by Mesoamerican structures, built with volcanic stone extracted from the same place where it stands. Rivera created the Anahuacalli to display his collection of pre-Hispanic art with the people of Mexico and the world. On a recent visit to CDMX my family and I enjoyed Anahuacalli's natural and architectural spaces, as well as the rich collection of Mesoamerican art bequeathed to Mexico by Rivera. Although the site is out of the beaten path it's easily accessible by subway. read more

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Your ticket to the Frida museum gives you free access here. A huge win. Museo Frida was messy so I bolted out of there and hopped over here instead. Best decision I made that day. This place is huge. Huge and dark. Also, a little confusing. The constant crisscrossing and going up and down the stairs was dizzying. Overall, a great collection of Diego's work. There was however so much unused space. Some were sectioned off like it was private property since doors were locked. I can only assume they were offices. I'm glad I decided to spend some time here. Make sure to go to the top for the amazing views. It's breathtaking up there. read more

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Huge, dark, a bit confusing  The Museo de Diego Rivera is, much like him, a great and deeply opposite experience from his better half, Frida Kahlo.  This museum is huge, dark, a bit glowering, and somewhat confusing, but also an interesting experience.  It's construction / architecture are remarkable (based on pre-Colombian temples and plazas) and inside is really a unique experience.  It feels almost more like a temple than a museum / art gallery, which is cool and different. That said...there were almost no interpretative panels at all, and the inside was dimly lit and confusing (which might be intentional).  Only the upper story exhibited some of Diego Rivera's iconic gigantic murals about workers and social movements.  Was it worth it?  Yes, but it's not what you expect and it is odd the beaten path; best to go with a guide who can explain it to you. read more

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Great museum of prehispanic art, and modern art and architecture that it inspired. Not a museum of Diego riveras own art (although there is some), and not a history/anthropology museum. It is an art museum curated by Diego Rivera and mostly displaying art of historical/anthropological significance. So don't expect much explanations of history, as Rivera arranged the pieces artistically rather than historically. That said, it is fascinating to see this art displayed this way. And the architecture is really interesting in its own right. The most interesting thing of the visit to me was thinking about the decisions that went into the museum itself--and that made for a fascinating visit!! Note they technically charge to take pictures, which I found a bit ridiculous :( read more

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Great museum. The house itself is a museum on its own and the exhibits are well laid out. It gives you a good overview of what life, politics and culture were in Diego Rivera's time read more

In all transparency, I had thought I was going to see more of Diego Rivera's murals and while there are some, that's not what this place is about. What I imagine happened in the creation of this place is that Frida, like many wives, was like...you HAVE to find a place for all this stuff. And so, Diego constructed a home for his love of pre-Columbian artifacts. The architecture of the building is mesoAmerican in inspiration. Because it's built with volcanic stone, it feels like you're walking through a cave. Absolutely enjoyed the many artifacts through the entire building, the view on the roof, and exploring the cultural center, a short walk away filled with artisans, dancer, etc. read more

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This was not my cup of tea... I enjoy art and sculptures, but I could have gone without coming here. Lots and LOTS of figurines, sculptures, pottery, archaeological artifacts. The mosaic ceilings were beautiful. What I enjoyed most was the architecture outside the museum, toward the back of the property. It was serene. We purchased tickets for the Frida Kahlo Museum and we had free entry here. read more

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The building is amazing. A mix of diffrent cultures like Mayan, Inca, ect. During the building Diego Rivera collaborated with Frank Lloyd Wright. You can see his influence in the windows. The museum holds some origional drawings by Diego Rivera as well as paintings. Also inside is pre columbian art. Im partial to the little dog clay pots. Totally worth the Uber to get there. They charge extra pesos for taking photos and they give you a little sticker to wear so the folks inside know you paid. Really cool seeing Casa Azul ( Frida Kahlos house ) then seeing this. This was part of our tickets for Casa Azul that our Guides from Explora Latin America got us in advance. read more

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Diego Rivera had the best collection of pre-hispanic artwork and you can see it here. He collected over 60,000 pieces and you can see 2,000 randomized pieces here, what a fabulous historical collection! It's a 3 level grandiose museum, with a beautiful architectural building. I'm for sure, a legend's soul roams room by room, it is fabulous, you would need around 3 hours approx. Do not miss it!!! read more

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This is a very interesting, austere, elegant and stylish museum. All of the art pieces are arranged in an interesting and tasteful manner. The ceiling mosaics, by Rivera, are wonderful. It is very dark in some passages so beware. Also, if you are paying by credit cars check your receipt carefully. I was almost overcharged by $140 for the entrance fee. read more

Definitely worth the time to tour the museum . This museums entrance is included with the purchase of the Frida Kahlo Museum. After we enjoyed the museum we crossed the street to eat at a local mom & pop restaurant with authentic Mexican food with excellent service and affordable prices ! Try the flautas ( hibiscus flower ones are amazing). read more

Museo Diego Rivera Anahuacalli - The restaurant we ate at right across the street . - Museums Near Me - México, D.F., DIF

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Diego Rivera's gift to Mexico upon his death was his vast collection of pre-Hispanic art. This black edifice that holds it all was designed by Juan O'Gorman. Step through the small entrance into a dark womb of a main level where all building surfaces are volcanic stone. Only brilliant alabaster stone windows on the main level are the exception. This sensory deprivation introduces your eyes to the lighting calling you toward Mr. Rivera's collection. The pieces on display are grouped thematically so, unfortunately, most items are not individually labeled. Once your eyes have adjusted to the low light, the jaw-dropping interior of this tomb fully comes into view and you won't forget it. It's like being in a modern-day pyramid. Take the weighty steps to the upper levels and more natural light is introduced into the galleries via glass windows. Check out the stone murals on the interior ceilings and outdoor balcony floors. Views of the city are dramatic here, too. Diego Rivera's preparatory charcoal sketches for some of his famous murals are in display in a large gallery on one of the upper levels so this is the room that attracts all the attention. What about his collection, you know, the reason for the museum in the first place? Once you get this amazing over-the-top building out of your system -- and it may take repeated visits to do so -- the collection is of a breadth and quality that only a few other museums in Mexico can match. It was quite a gift to the people of Mexico. read more

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Anahuacalli is a little-known museum that houses some of Diego Rivera's artwork and thousands of archaeological artifacts he collected throughout his lifetime. In my opinion, this museum is a MUST for any fan of Diego Rivera and/or Mexican history. In addition to the artwork and the expansive collection of historical objects, the building itself is really cool. It's shaped like a pyramid and made of black volcanic stones. I read a sign that the building was influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture, and I believe it! Apparently Frank gave Diego advice while it was under construction. There are dozens of small rooms with different collections of artifacts, and one very large hall in the center of the pyramid with some of Diego's artwork, including sketches of a very large mural. Outside there are lounge chairs and umbrellas on a lawn. The outdoor courtyard was very relaxing. Overall the museum compound felt secluded and almost like we stumbled upon a secret art club. We only encountered MAYBE 10 other visitors during the two hours we were at the museum. Entrance fee is 90 pesos (approx. $5 USD) and there's an extra fee if you want to take photos inside the museum. read more

Imposing. Travel from hell to heaven. Dark and cold inside. Look at the ceilings. Wow.

Excellent museum. Designed and conceived to mimic an ancient pyramid, it houses Diego Rivera's relic collection. This is really worth the visit. 1000 times better than the overrated Frida Khalo read more