A Journey Through the Bookstores of Colonia Roma
15 February, 2025
Zócalo: Mexico City’s Historic Heart
1 March, 2025Mexico City offers you a wide range of options to get closer to Mexican culture and traditions, which is why museums in the Roma neighborhood are a great option if you want to acquire new knowledge.
El Universal describes museums as:
“Living institutions that allow for the creation of links between visitors, generations and cultures of the world. Museums preserve memory and tell stories about the development of humanity.”
In the country's capital, considered one of the cities in the world with the most museums, there are venues that tell how Mexico City was founded, in others it is possible to find clothing from ancient times and in still others visitors can learn the secrets of the universe.
Located from north to south, the capital's museums welcome with open doors anyone interested in learning about such varied and interesting topics at the same time.
So the museums in the Roma neighborhood are a great option to add to your list of must-see attractions in the Mexican capital, below we will tell you why this is so.
MODO, Museum of Objects
This museum opened its doors for the first time in October 2010. Its main objective is, through its objects, “to make a historical review of Mexico since the beginning of the 19th century: its society, cultural movements, trends, ways of thinking and contact with the outside world.”
Since its opening, MODO has attracted a large number of visitors thanks to its collection made up of more than a thousand objects dating back to 1810 and others that are a little more recent.
The collection of this museum is due to Bruno Newman, who dedicated himself to gathering interesting objects such as packaging, advertisements, bottles and photographs that serve as witnesses of different eras in Mexico. MODO offers temporary exhibitions that cover topics as varied as the history of soccer, wrestling and rock.
Location
Colima #145, between Córdoba and Orizaba.
Hours
Open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Admission cost
General public, $50 pesos; INAPAM, students and teachers, $25; Roma residents with INE, $25 and children under 12 years old, free.
Salón de la Plástica Mexicana
Founded in 1949, the Salón de la Plástica Mexicana has welcomed in its spaces the work of “painters, sculptors, engravers, draftsmen, ceramists and photographers of all tendencies and generations.”
This museum, of the National Institute of Fine Arts, houses the works of outstanding Mexican artists, who not only built a solid career in our country, but also abroad, among them we can mention:
- David Alfaro Siqueiros
- Diego Rivera
- Frida Kahlo
- Gerardo Murillo “Dr Atl”
- Rufino Tamayo
- Jorge González Camarena
- Leopoldo Méndez
- Juan O´Gorman
- Manuel Álvarez Bravo
The Salón de la Plástica welcomes temporary exhibitions that pay homage to and remember the work of engravers and painters who give and gave color to Mexico, because “all current trends in current Mexican art and all generations of artists have a place in this venue.”
Location
Colima #196, between Jalapa and Orizaba.
Hours
Monday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Admission cost
The visit to this museum is free for the general public.
Muca, University Museum of Science and Arts
A platform “that investigates and disseminates contemporary production in design, architecture and art” is how this museum defines itself, one of the museums in the Roma neighborhood that promotes art among university communities and, of course, among society in general.
With more than 15 years open to the public, the Muca lends its facilities for exhibitions, debates and different events with themes ranging from design, architecture and contemporary art from Mexico, but also gives space to Latin American and world expressions.
The exhibitions at this museum are temporary and also offer occasional activities, which are carried out with the objective of making visitors reflect on the relationship between aesthetics and technical creation with our environment.
Location
Tonalá #51, between Colima and Tabasco.
Hours
Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Entrance fee
Visiting this museum is free.
To film “Roma,” Cuarón modified the facade of the house where Gloria lives and, as she gained so much popularity, she has even heard her doorbell ring and, upon opening it, foreigners appear asking for details about the filming of the movie.
What many people are looking for is to visit the house, stand in front of the facade and take a souvenir photo with the metallic silver as the main element of the image.
Location
Tepeji #22, between Monterrey and Tonalá.
Hours
Visiting the facade of this house can be done at any time of day; however, it is recommended to be careful with Mrs. Gloria’s privacy.
The house where “Roma” was filmed
Although it is not one of the museums in the Roma neighborhood, the house where Alfonso Cuarón’s most recent film was filmed has become a very visited site since the short film arrived on Netflix and even more so after it was announced that it had Oscar nominations.
The house where Cuarón filmed the film “Roma” is a point of attraction for Mexicans, but also for foreigners. In fact, the family that currently lives there placed a metal plaque that says: “Roma was filmed here.”
Gloria Silvia Monreal, the owner of this famous house, met the filmmaker when he was a child, since the little boy lived in the house across the street, even Mrs. Monreal’s brothers played ball with the famous film creator.
Tourists, both national and foreign, can spend an afternoon visiting these museums if they stay near them. One option is Stanza, a hotel in the Roma neighborhood located on Álvaro Obregón Avenue, the most popular avenue in this neighborhood.
This hotel allows guests in CDMX to reach any of these museums in just a few minutes, so they can get closer to culture, art and a little bit of cinema.
