These two neighborhoods are located in the central borough of Mexico City known as Cuauhtemoc. The region is popular for its art deco design and architecture. The area was once the Condesa racetrack. The development of the city occurred in 1902. Today, the only evidence of the racetrack is in what it became: two elliptical streets called Avenida Mexico and Amsterdam.
When visiting the city, you will notice that it is mostly a residential area. The streets are lined with restaurants and shops, particularly interesting to the tourists who flock to the area each year. A stroll down the street allows you to take in the pubs, sidewalk cafes, and interesting shops along the way. The two neighborhoods have a division by Insurgentes Avenue. The neighborhood of Condesa is located on the west side of the street with Roma located on the east.
People come to the region for a number of reasons, including the art deco architecture that is prevalent throughout the neighborhoods. There are large parks for strolling and enjoying, and an atmosphere that is welcoming. Roma is developing faster than Condesa is. Condesa used to be a very upscale, fashionable part of the city, which attracted many people for its elegance and charm. In the 1940’s, people flocked to Condesa to watch Mexican cinema which was very popular during that time period.
Today, both cities are quite modern and new developments have helped new modern buildings to take the place of older ones. Some of these buildings have a more modernist style to them, instead of the art deco that has been the normal in the city. These new, modernized developments are concentrated in the Condesa region, but can be seen throughout the city.
There are many things to do when you visit Roma and Condesa. You can tour local attractions on foot or opt for a cheap auto rental (don’t forget the insurance) to drive and see more of the country. In 2006, in the Roma neighborhood, a 3,000 square meter cultural center opened called Centro Cultural Bella Epoca. This shopping center and cultural center offers numerous art exhibits and shows throughout the year. There is also a small cinema located within it that is in use for art films. Although this building is new, the preservation of the art deco look.
When you visit the city, do take some time to learn about its unique history. For example, the Condesa neighborhood was build on the old Hacienda of the Countess of Miravalle. Today, you can still visit the hacienda, in its original form, though it is now serving as the Russian embassy for the country.
On the other hand, perhaps you are not coming to visiting Condesa or Roma but rather are considering living here. The recent developments in these cities have a design to encourage more people to move into the region. With modern facilities and full features, it is no wonder this area of the city has seen a significant real estate boom in the last few years. Many of these new buildings are on the empty lots that were vacated after the 1985 earthquake that rocked the city.