Mexico City is often called simply Mexico by both Mexico City natives and tourists. But this can confuse newcomers who may think that Mexico City already encompasses the whole of Mexico. Actually, Mexico City is the capital city of the country of Mexico and is known to locals as Ciudad de Mexico. Mexico City is often officially written as Mexico City, D.F. – the acronym D.F. stands for Federal District. Mexico City has the biggest population among all of the cities of Mexico, inhabited by 8,720,916 residents as of 2005.
The city was built in the center of the country of Mexico, within the Valley of Mexico. It came to be called Ciudad de Mexico only in 1598. Visitors should know that it was initially the home of the ancient Aztec people, and later on inhabited by Spanish settlers.
The influence of Spain on Mexico City, and the country of Mexico as a whole, is so pervasive that the Spanish language and culture have been deeply imbibed by Mexico City natives up to the present. Under the Spanish regime, Mexico City was granted great political importance because other territories of Spain (such as the Philippines in Asia) were governed using the City as the base of administration. Some structures that serve as reminders of the Spanish colonial influence on Mexico City are the Basilica of Guadalupe, and the Metropolitan Cathedral (the latter being a good example of Spanish baroque architecture.)
Do take the time to visit this wonderful town and discover how it has progressed from Spanish colonial territory to a progressive and independent modern metropolis today.