Latin-American Tower

Latin-American Tower (Torre Latinoamericana) is at avs. Madero and Lázaro Cárdenas (M: Bellas Artes, lines 2 and 8); entrances are on both streets. At 545 feet, this slender, 45-story glass skyscraper was once the city's tallest but now ranks in the lower half of the top ten. It rests on floating concrete pylons sunk deep into the underlying clay; because of this adequate foundation, it has survived every earth tremor that has occurred since its 1956 opening. An elevator takes visitors to the 37th floor, where there is a café. A small museum is on the 38th floor; the Bicentennial Museum, on the 36th floor, displays documents relating to Mexico's independence.

The open-air observation deck on the 44th floor offers magnificent views of the city and the surrounding mountains on rare smog-free days; the 42nd and 43rd floors are enclosed for viewing on rainy days.

Time: Allow 1 hour minimum.