National Palace

The National Palace stretches over two hundred meters along the east side of the Zócalo, defined by its long, rhythmic facade of reddish tezontle stone. This building sits directly atop the site of the former palace of the Aztec emperor Moctezuma the second, and many of the original stones from that structure were reused in its construction. Since the sixteenth century, the site has functioned as the seat of government, passing from the home of Hernán Cortés to the residence of Spanish viceroys and eventually to the Mexican heads of state.