3 Best Sights in Zona Rosa, Mexico City

Known as El Angel, this Corinthian column topped by a gilt angel is the city's most uplifting monument, built to celebrate the 100 anniversary of Mexico's War of Independence. Beneath the pedestal lie the remains of the principal heroes of the independence movement; an eternal flame burns in their honor. As you pass by, you may see one or more couples dressed in their wedding apparel, posing for pictures on the steps of the monument. Many couples stop off here before or after they get married, as a tribute to their own personal independence from their parents.

The bronze art deco dome of the monument commemorating Mexico's bloody, decade-long revolution, which began in 1910, gleams like a beacon at the end of Avenida Juarez, one of the Alameda's busiest thoroughfares. Take an elevator to the observation deck up top, which offers 360-degree views of the city, or admire the Oliverio Martinez sculptures that adorn the four corners of the monument from below. There's also a small café and museum devoted to the history of the Revolution accessible at an additional cost. Lit up nightly at 10 pm, the monument is a moving sight. At the base of the pillars lie the remains of important figures from 20th-century Mexican history, including those of Pancho Villa.

Also referred to as either Mercado Zona Rosa or Mercado Londres, this is the neighborhood's large crafts market. Vendors here can be aggressive, calling you to their stalls with promises of low prices (which you may or may not find). Opposite the market's Londres entrance is Plaza del Angel, a small, upscale shopping mall, the halls of which are crowded by antiques vendors on weekends.