The Hilton Mexico City Reforma will be the venue of Wikimania 2015. It is located in the Historic Center of Mexico City, the heart of the big city and is the largest and newest hotel of the Mexican capital. It was built in 2004 across from the historic Alameda Central, the first public park on the American continent, with all the rooms and spaces for the realization of our activities and will also be the main property of accommodation for the scholarships recipients.
The hotel is located on Avenida Juárez, historical connection between the Centro (Downtown) and Paseo de la Reforma, landmarks of the capital. It is a busy avenue and a frequent destination for taking a walk even for the Mexico City people. A former space for jewelry stores and towering hotels during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Avenida Juárez was severely damaged by the 1985 Mexico City earthquakes. Since the early 21st century public and private efforts were undertaken to restore its former beauty and make this avenue a significant area in the capital.
In this edition of Wikimania, the hackathon, preceding events, the conference and the accommodation will be held at the same venue.
Address: Avenida Juárez 70, Colonia Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06010 Mexico City.
Alameda Central Park: is a public municipal park in downtown Mexico City, adjacent to the Palacio de Bellas Artes, between Juarez Avenue and Hidalgo Avenue. The Alameda Central park is a green garden with paved paths and decorative fountains and statues, and is frequently the center of civic events. The name comes from the Spanish word álamo, which means poplar tree, that were planted here. This park was part of the viceroy's plan to develop what was, at that time, the western edge of the city. It has become a symbol of a traditional Mexican park and many other parks in the country take on the name "Alameda" as well
Palacio de Bellas Artes: (English: Palace of Fine Arts) is one of the most important cultural centers in Mexico City as well as the rest of the country of Mexico. It is located on the west side of the historic center of Mexico City next to the Alameda Central park and five minute walk from Hilton. The first National Theater of Mexico was built in the late 19th century, but it was soon decided to tear this down in favor of a more opulent building in time for Centennial of the Mexican War of Independence in 1910. The initial design and construction was undertaken by Italian architect Adamo Boari in 1904, but complications arising from the soft subsoil and the political problem both before and during the Mexican Revolution, hindered then stopped construction completely by 1913. Construction began again in 1932 under Mexican architect Federico Mariscal and was completed in 1934. The exterior of the building is primarily Neoclassical and Art Nouveau and the interior is primarily Art Deco. The building is best known for its murals by Diego Rivera, Siqueiros and others, as well as the many exhibitions and theatrical performances its hosts, including the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico.
Torre Latinoamericana: (English: Latin-American Tower) is a skyscraper in downtown Mexico City, Mexico. Its central location, height (188 m or 597 ft; 44 stories) and history make it one of the city's most important landmarks. It is also widely recognized internationally as an engineering and architectural landmark since it was the world's first major skyscraper successfully built on highly active seismic land. The old skyscraper withstood the 1985 Mexico City earthquake without damage. The Torre Latinoamericana was Mexico City's tallest building from 1956, when it was built, until the 1984 completion of the Torre Ejecutiva Pemex, which is 22 m higher (although, if one subtracts the height of the television transmitter atop the Torre Latinoamericana, it had already been surpassed in 1972 by the 207 m-tall Hotel de México, which was subsequently remodelled and turned into the World Trade Center Mexico City). It is situated on the corner of the Eje Central and Madero Street.
Monumento a la Revolución: (English: Monument to the Revolution) is a landmark and monument commemorating the Mexican Revolution. It is located in Republic Square (Spanish: Plaza de la República) which divides Revolution Avenue between the avenues Paseo de la Reforma and Avenida de los Insurgentes in downtown Mexico City. It has a panoramic rooftop and hosts the National Museum of Revolution, recently remodeled. In April 2015, Wikimedia Mexico opened its first office in this square.
Torre del Caballito and contemporary sculpture by Sebastián: Torre del Caballito is a skyscraper located on Paseo de la Reforma #10 at the Cuauhtemoc delegation in Mexico City. It was designed by Grupo Posadas de Mexico. It is 135 metres (443 feet) and 35 storeys tall. 33 of the floors are used as office space which measures 60,000 square meters.The building's total area is 131,000 square meters. The building houses the offices of MPs and senators. Torre Prisma, Edificio El Moro, the Melia Mexico Reforma Hotel, and the Fuente de la Republica are located nearby. The Caballito sculpture serves, in its modern design, a utilitarian purpose as a vent for underground ducts
Popular Art Museum: (Spanish: Museo de Arte Popular) is a museum in Mexico City, Mexico that promotes and preserves part of the Mexican handcrafts and folk art. Located in the historic center of Mexico City in an old fire house, the museum has a collection which includes textiles, pottery, glass, piñatas, alebrijes, furniture and much more. However, the museum is best known as the sponsor of the yearly Noche de Alebrijes (Night of the Alebrijes) parade in which the fantastical creatures are constructed on a monumental scale and then paraded from the main plaza or Zocalo to the Angel of Independence monument, competing for prizes. This was the first museum with a GLAM agreement with Wikimedia Mexico chapter.
Benito Juárez Hemicycle: is a Neoclassical monument located at the Alameda Central park in Mexico City, Mexico and commemorating the Mexican statesman Benito Juárez. The statue of Juárez is flanked by marble Doric columns. The pedestal bears the inscription ‘’Al benemerito Benito Juárez la Patria’’ (Spanish: "To the meritorious Benito Juárez, the Homeland"). The construction began in 1906 to mark the centennial of Juárez's birth. The engineers for the construction of the monument were assigned by Porfirio Díaz. The monument is one among several commemorating Benito Juárez across the world.
Museum of Memory and Tolerance: inaugurated in 2010 and backed by the Memoria y Tolerancia (Memory and Tolerance) group, the museum aims to instill a sense of equality and respect to diversity based on the historical records of genocides. The museum main exhibition is centered around the Holocaust and often holds multimedia shows promoting tolerance and related human values.
Diego Rivera Mural Museum: The Diego Rivera Mural Museum is home to ‘’Sueño de una tarde dominical en la Alameda Central’’ (Dream of a Sunday afternoon at the Alameda Park), one of Diego Rivera’s most famous murals. The museum’s objective is to preserve and show Rivera’s works. The museum also holds temporary exhibitions, art talks, concerts and several other cultural activities.
José Martí Cultural Center: This center is dedicated to hosting and promoting cultural activities in the city. Inside the building there’s a sculpture of José Martí, liberator of the Americas. The Center also has a library and a theater stage for independent troupes. Its temporary exhibition hall is frequently used to host workshops for the general public. Opens Monday through Saturday, 9-21 hours.
Franz Mayer Museum: (Spanish: Museo Franz Mayer), in Mexico City opened in 1986 to house, display and maintain Latin America’s largest collection of decorative arts. The collection was amassed by stockbroker and financial professional Franz Mayer, who collected fine artworks, books, furniture, ceramics, textiles and many other types of decorative items over fifty years of his life. A large portion comes from Europe and Asia but most comes from Mexico itself with items dating from the 15th to the 20th centuries. Many pieces in the collection are fine handcrafts, such as textiles and Talavera pottery, and they are important because they are items that often did not survive because most did consider them worth preserving. The museum is housed in the historic center of Mexico City in the former San Juan de Dios monastery and hospital, an 18th-century structure which was rehabilitated for the museum. In addition to displaying the items Mayer collected, of which only over a quarter is visible, the museum still makes acquisitions, hold workshops, sponsors temporary exhibits and has a café located in the center courtyard/garden.
Shops in the vicinity of the hotel
Puerta Alameda Mall: drugstores, restaurants, gymnasium, boutiques, shoe stores, electronic and computer shops, fast food area, coffee shops and ATMs.
SEARS: Sears is a department store. They carry clothing, jewelry, home appliances, household hardware, lawn and garden supplies, lawn mowers, paint, sporting goods, automobile repair, office supplies, electronics and school supplies. This Sears location is housed in a multi-level antique building.
Sanborns Casa de los Azulejos: or "House of Tiles" is an 18th-century palace, built by the Count del Valle de Orizaba family. The building is distinguished by its facade, which is covered on three sides by Talavera, a blue and white tile of Puebla state. The palace remained in private hands until near the end of the 19th century. It changed hands several times before being bought by the Sanborns brothers who expanded their soda fountain/drugstore business into one of the best-recognized restaurant chains in Mexico. The house today serves as their flagship restaurant.
Gandhi bookstore: established in 1971; they are now one of the biggest bookstore chains in Mexico. After 40 years and more than 36 stores all over the country, besides being one of the biggest chains, it is also the best known. Products: books, CDs, DVDs, T-Shirts, games for children.
