Torre Latinoamerica, Mexico City

Torre Latinoamericana.
(Latin American Tower).

Designed by architect Manuel de la Colina, and modified by architect Augusto H. Alvarez.

Construction was begun in 1950 by Adolfo and Leonardo Zeevaert in the same place (1,171 sq. meter) of San Francisco Convent, disappeared in 18th Century.

The building was finished in 1956 as the first sky-scraper in whole Latin America with only 181.33 metre height.

The building is outstanding for its structural and foundation systems (361 piles support near 25,000 ton), because of the subsoil conditions and the seismic activity in the valley.

Evidence of that is its resistence to dramatic earthquakes in 1957 and 1985 and awaiting for the next one.

From the top is possible appreciate the Palacio de Bellas Artes (Fine Arts Palace), La Alameda (Alameda Park) and Hemiciclo a Benito Juárez (Monument to President Juárez), Santa Veracruz and San Juan de Dios churchs, Museo Franz Mayer and Museo Nacional de la Estampa, Pinacoteca Virreinal (Viceroyalty Gallery), Palacio de Correos (Postal Palace) and Plaza Garibaldi (Garibaldi Square) among others...

I took the elevator up to "la Torre Latino Americana" where I got to a great view of the city, including the Zocalo. Check out the faint haze that one can observe from the sky. It's Mexico City's equivalent to the Empire State Building in New York City :).

If you want to see Mexico City from above, this is the place to be. This skyscraper has 44 floors (altitude : 2422 m), and yes there are elevators. It costs 30 pesos to go up (about 3 US$). But it is certainly worth to up, as the view is magnificent, even as the smog diminishes a bit the sight. In this building there is also the world's highest aquarium, can you imagine an aquarium at 2358 meters above sea level.

For many years the Latin American Tower, built in 1956, was the tallest building in Mexico (47 floors and 182 meters high. The observation decks on floors 43 and 44 offer an excellent view of the city and the valley (a former lake) in which it lies.

If you go to the top you can see stunning views of the city (although you can't really see to far due to pollution).

The view from el torre latinamericano is just great. It's amazing how big the city is...
From up there you have a great view onto the Zocalo (see picture) and Bellas Artes