Blessed with endless attractions, such as architectural masterpieces, beautiful landscapes and green areas to visit, Monterrey is frequented by a wide variety of tourists. It is ideal for people who enjoy the city life as well as for visitors looking for peaceful areas away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

The felicitous combination of history and modernism is reflected in the city’s streets. Also, colorful and natural landscapes can be enjoyed such as forests, canyons and wildlife refuges.

In the central area of the city the well known Gran Plaza or Mega Plaza (the Main Square) is located. One of the main attractions that can be found within this square is a seventy meters tall modern lighthouse that is lit when the sun sets. Moreover it is surrounded by important buildings such as one of the world’s best museums of Contemporary Art and a Cathedral built in the XVII century in a typical Baroque style.

Even sports lovers and people who enjoy challenges will hugely enjoy themselves, since it is possible to do sports such as climbing, cycling, and horseback riding along the large pine forests.

When the night falls, a broad variety of bars and restaurants become the chief attraction. Visitors can consult menus offering international food or typical Mexican dishes such as the famous flat maize pancake and fritada de borrego (lamb stew).

This Macro Plaza or Gran Plaza is located in the heart of the city of Monterrey and covers an area of about forty hectares.

Modern monuments can be found at this place and one striking example of this is the Faro del Comercio (Lighthouse of Commerce), which was built in 1984 in commemoration of the founding of the Chamber of Commerce of Monterrey's on its 100 year anniversary and it is about seventy meters tall.

Another important landmark at this Macro square is the Fuente de Neptuno, a beautiful fountain surrounded by eight bronze sculptures, representing the image of god Neptune.

Important buildings can be found in the surroundings of this square where the most important institutions of Nuevo León State work, such as the Government Palace.

Given the excellent quality of its exhibitions, the MARCO or Museum of Contemporary Art is one of the world´s most important ones.

It boasts fine collections of paintings, photographs, sculptures, electronic arts and graphic arts as well as excellent facilities and people who visit it will experience a whole range of feelings.

Regarding the structure, the museum’s design bears great similarity with that of most museums in the United States. Large areas, two spherical sculptures and a water mirror are the main features of this museum designed by the distinguished architect Legorreta.

Built in a neoclassical style, the well known Palacio de Gobierno of Monterrey (Government Palace of Monterrey) is an architectural masterpiece that dazzled the world in 1908. The construction of this building began in 1865.

Time later, owing to the magnificence of this work it was designated as a national monument by the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (National Institute of Anthropology and History).

In general terms, this Palace consists of two floors and a portico with eight Corinthian columns. Inside the Palace, the rooms are decorated with frescos and there is a large colonial-style patio. The facade is covered with pink quarry stone from San Luis de Potosí.

Currently, the Government Palace houses the history museum, where exhibitions showing the weapons used in the execution of Emperor Maximiliano are held.