Museo Soumaya

Founded by Carlos Slim Helú, one of the world's most prominent philanthropists, the Museo Soumaya is named in honor of his late wife, Soumaya Domit. While the institution was originally established in 1994 at Plaza Loreto, its most iconic presence is the shimmering, avant-garde structure at Plaza Carso, which opened its doors in 2011. The museum was conceived as a non-profit cultural institution to share Slim's massive private art collection with the Mexican public, ensuring that world-class art is accessible to everyone regardless of their economic background. The architecture of the Plaza Carso building is a marvel of modern engineering, designed by Mexican architect Fernando Romero. Its distinct anvil-like shape is wrapped in a skin of 16,000 hexagonal aluminum tiles that reflect the sunlight, creating a dynamic visual effect. Inside, a continuous spiral ramp connects six levels of exhibition space, leading visitors through a chronological and thematic journey of art history, culminating in a vast, column-free top floor illuminated by a translucent ceiling. The museum's collection is staggering, housing over 66,000 works spanning 30 centuries of human history. It is most famous for holding the largest collection of Auguste Rodin sculptures outside of France, but its reach is global. From Pre-Hispanic artifacts and colonial-era Mexican art to masterpieces by European greats like Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, and Vincent van Gogh, the Soumaya serves as a bridge between diverse cultures and eras, solidifying its place as a cornerstone of Mexico City's cultural landscape.