COYOACáN

'Coyoacán' is one of the 16 ''delegaciones'' (boroughs) into which Mexico's Federal District is divided. Coyoacán also is commonly used to refer to the neighborhood at the heart of the borough. The name ''Coyoacán'' comes from Nahuatl ''Coyohuacan'' (IPA: ), meaning "place where they have coyotes".
Although geographically located in the center of the Distrito Federal, Coyoacán has long been considered to be at the southern end of Mexico City. As the southernmost boroughs of the city, especially Xochimilco and Tlalpan, have begun to grow, the view of Coyoacán as the south end of the city may begin to change.
In pre-Columbian times, Coyoacán was a town of its own and a major center of trade on the southern shore of Lake Texcoco. After the Spanish conquest, Hernán Cortés made his residence there.
It remained a separate town until 1950, when it was swallowed up by the burgeoning conurbation of Mexico City. Centered on two busy squares, ''Plaza Hidalgo'' (the district's main square) and ''Jardín Centenario'', today's Coyoacán is known as an upper-middle-class suburb, with a lively bohemian and artistic culture.
An important street in Coyoacán is Francisco Sosa, beginning at Avenida Universidad and ending in Coyoacán's main square. This street features large houses with beautiful colonial architecture, and is also lined with bookstores, cafés, and clubs. The Italian Institute of Culture "Istituto Italiano di Cultura" is located on this street at number 77.
It was home to Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, and also to Leon Trotsky, and the houses they lived in are now both museums. It is served by Metro lines 2 and 3.
Coyoacán is a Sister City of Arlington County, Virginia, USA.

Contents

Notable places

External link

Notable places

★ National Autonomous University of Mexico UNAM "Ciudad Universitaria"

★ Churubusco

★ ''La Casa Azul'' (The Blue House), former home of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera; now the Museo Frida Kahlo

★ House and grave of Leon Trotsky

★ Estadio Azteca

★ Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad Xochimilco

External link

★ Delegación Coyoacán official page

★ Official page of the Italian Institute of Culture, located in Coyoacán.