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Biblioteca Palafoxiana (1773) in Puebla, the first public library in the Americas.

An extremely ornate and large Baroque door surround.

A long library room with carved wooden shelves underneath an arched ceiling.

A gilded altar-like wall next to wood shelves filled with books.

The same room looking in the opposite direction towards an open doorway.

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Block after block of these beauties.

A row of two story buildings painted in yellow, blue, and peach

A two-story building located on a corner, painted in lime green.

A row of buildings with canopies along the storefront along the ground. The building in the center is covered in raised white and blue ornament.

A row of buildings connected by a small arcade in the center.

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The spectacular buildings of Puebla’s historic city center, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

An elaborate stone building with a dome above the entrance, located on a corner

A two-story commercial building covered in blue and cream tiles.

An old, spooky Second Empire building with Art Nouveau details over the windows.

A church covered in tile and painted red, pink, and green.

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Max Chavez @maxchavez.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Chapel of the Rosary (c. 1650-1690) in Puebla, Mexico, located inside Templo de Santo Domingo.

A chapel with a high ceiling, covered in dense layers of gilded Baroque trim.

An altar inside of a chapel with a high dome, covered in dense layers of gilded Baroque trim.

The ceiling of a chapel covered in dense layers of gilded Baroque trim.

Close-up detail of a chapel covered in dense layers of gilded Baroque trim.

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The terrific variety of architecture centered around Fuente de la República, including the first building pictured, Edificio El Moro, formerly the tallest building in the city and one whose Art Deco character has sadly been taken away.

A tall white skyscraper with an Art Deco silhouette.

A tall orange skyscraper with a gridded frame. The building consists of two towers connected by a bridge on its upper floors.

A tall, all glass skyscraper. Cars drive by in front of it.

An earth colored building with open screens. The building consists of interlocked pointed volumes.

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Max Chavez @maxchavez.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

El Frontón (1929) by Teodoro Kunhardt and Joaquín Capilla.

Red Art Deco corner building with a dramatic, swooping entryway and vertically emphasized piers.

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Max Chavez @maxchavez.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Still posting through Mexico City stuff, like this Brutalist building that’s the office of local newspaper El Universal.

A large Brutalist building with a protruding, angled wall extending from its center.

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Max Chavez @maxchavez.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

The highlight of this market is arguably the giant “Historia de México” by Isamu Noguchi, his first public commission, located on an empty upper floor of the market between two quiet office spaces.

A large sculptural work along a wall depicting human figures and symbols.

A large sculptural work along a wall depicting human figures and symbols, including part of a swastika.

A large sculptural work along a wall depicting images such as a clenched fist and symbols of industry.

The words “Isamu Noguchi 1936” carved into a wall.

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Max Chavez @maxchavez.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

The absolutely incredible Mercado Abelardo Rodríguez (1934) by Antonio Muñoz, filled with mural work by students and contemporaries of Diego Rivera (and overseen by Rivera himself).

A market entrance with the lower halves of mannequins.

A mural of laborers, located behind a fruit stand.

Large murals on wall and ceiling with mannequins in front.

Large mural of Mexican laborers painted on a wall in a staircase.

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Max Chavez @maxchavez.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Turns out when you stop cars and buses from moving for over an hour, the city gets incredibly peaceful.

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I’d also like to make it clear the below carnitas are from an adorable counter called Los Tacos Michigan.

A pink-tiled lunch counter with signs reading “Los Tacos Michigan.”

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But that’s not all: terrific carnitas, mole in Puebla, shrimp and scallop aguachile, and even more tacos.

Plates of carnitas tacos next to bowls of salsas, onions, and limes.

A plate of chicken covered with mole and sesame seeds.

A bowl of scallop and shrimp aguachile topped with onions and cilantro.

Trays of tacos and smashed, fried potatoes.

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Break from posting buildings to post some of the best things I ate on my trip: menudo, grilled octopus, piles of tacos, and tuna tostadas.

A hand holding a spoon in a bowl of menudo with toppings and orange juice on the table.

A plate of grilled octopus covered in chives, next to onions and French fries.

A plate of tacos covered in onions and cilantro. Next to it, there are containers of salsas and limes

A plate of blue corn tostadas topped with thick cuts of raw tuna and avocado.

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Palacio de Bellas Artes (1904-1934) by Adamo Boari and Federico Mariscal.

A dramatic Art Deco interior with a large dome. The walls are covered in stone and glowing, brassy accents be seen throughout.

A dramatic Art Deco dual staircase. The walls are covered in stone and glowing, brassy accents be seen throughout. Artwork covers the walls.

Geometric, Art Deco renditions of Mayan iconography.

A woman stands atop an Art Deco staircase, framed by glowing fountain sculptures.

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Cine Teresa (1942) by Francisco J. Serrano.

A Moderne movie theater with a blade sign and affixed signage that read “TERESA.”

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Don’t worry, there’s more where that came from.

A three-bay Art Deco apartment building with a stepped arch entryway.

A blue Art Deco home with decorative geometric elements along the cornice.

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Max Chavez @maxchavez.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Some Art Deco cuties in Mexico City.

Art Deco doorway with decorative light fixture, gates, and window bars.

White and green Art Deco building with a sign reading “Casa Dek.”

Blue and white Art Deco home with geometric reliefs.

Blue and red Art Deco home with zigzag reliefs and motifs.

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Edificio Basurto (1940-1945) by Francisco J. Serrano

A tall streamlined apartment building with two rounded wings.

A close up of streamlined balconies and window bays.

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Max Chavez @maxchavez.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Okay I just forgot to keep posting my Mexico City shots lol. Torre Latinoamericana (left, 1956) by Augusto H. Álvarez and Edificio La Nacional (right, 1932-1934) by Manuel Ortíz Monasterio.

A tall glass skyscraper with an Art Deco silhouette next to a small high-rise with a temple-like crown with a large open plaza in front.

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Max Chavez @maxchavez.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Edificio San Martín (1931) in Mexico City, by Ernesto Buenrostro.

A stepped Art Deco archway leading to another rounded door. Above, letters read “EDIFICIO SAN MARTIN.”

A stepped Art Deco archway crowned by a canopy overhang with glass blocks. Above, letters read “EDIFICIO SAN MARTIN.”

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Max Chavez @maxchavez.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

In the middle of my Mexico City vacation and while I have a lot of beautiful buildings to post, arguably nothing has moved me more than these tortas.

Tortas stuffed with milanesa, sausages, and avocado on a metal counter.

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Max Chavez @maxchavez.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

Gateway Arch (1965) by Eero Saarinen.

The corner of a stainless steel triangular base.

Looking upwards towards a thinning, vanishing seam along the base of the arch.

Tall metallic arch framed at the upper left by leaves.

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My personal favorite mosaics were in this side chapel designed and installed by Tiffany Studios.

Small side chapel with a mosaic ceiling in greens, blues, and reds.

Mosaic ceiling in greens, blues, and reds.

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It’s most well-known for its endless mosaic collection, containing over 41 million mosaic tiles!

Grand cathedral interior with domes and arches covered in elegant mosaics depicting religious iconography.

Grand narthex covered in elegant mosaics depicting religious iconography.

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Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis (1914), designed by Barnett, Haynes and Barnett.

Massive cathedral with two towers and a central dome towering above worshippers.

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Up close and personal with the Sullivanesque ornament is where this building really comes to life. Sat there marveling for quite a while.

Intricate Sullivanesque relief carved into terra cotta.

Intricate Sullivanesque reliefs carved into terra cotta.

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The iconic Wainwright Building (1891) by Adler & Sullivan.

Tall, boxy high-rise clad in terra cotta with an ornate cornice.

Doorways that read “Wainwright State Office Building” framed by a surround featuring Sullivanesque motifs.

Closeup of the decorative cornice and spandrels featuring intricate Sullivanesque motifs.

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One Hundred (2020) by Studio Gang

A high-rise with gemlike windows fanning upwards and outwards, creating a jagged effect.

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