If you have ever visited Mexico City and walked through its busy streets, you have probably noticed one of its most historic and important roads. Stretching from the downtown area to the southern neighborhoods, the Calzada de Tlalpan is one of the city’s oldest avenues.

This avenue has been a witness to centuries of history, from pre-Hispanic times to modern urban life. It carried travelers, merchants, and armies, linking neighborhoods, markets, and cultural centers, becoming an essential thread in the fabric of Mexico City’s growth and society.

For drivers, this road is more than a path for transportation. Along its length, you can encounter markets, historic buildings, parks, and cultural landmarks, forming a living timeline that seamlessly blends ancient origins with contemporary city life, commerce, and heritage.

Calzada de Tlalpan has influenced social life, urban planning, and cultural memory throughout the centuries. From ancient stone causeways to modern asphalt roads, it has adapted to the city’s needs while preserving strong links to its pre-Hispanic and colonial heritage.

Over the centuries, Calzada de Tlalpan witnessed historic events from colonial skirmishes to revolutionary movements. Its streets served as a stage for social, cultural, and political transformations, reflecting the broader changes in Mexico City over hundreds of years.

Pre-Hispanic origins

The avenue traces its origins to pre-Hispanic times as one of three main causeways linking Tenochtitlan with the surrounding mainland. The southern route connected the city with settlements like Xochimilco, enabling trade, travel, and military campaigns effectively.

This southern causeway, originally called Iztapalapa, was built between 1427-1440. It allowed the Aztecs to access nearby towns and control the surrounding lakes. Its elevated stone and earth structure protected travelers from floods and facilitated movement efficiently.

In 1519, this road witnessed a historic encounter between Hernán Cortés and Emperor Montezuma, a turning point in Mexican history. Stretching 19 km, it passed through Mexicaltzingo, Mixhuca, and Churubusco, linking vital pre-Hispanic settlements and trade routes.

During colonial times, this route was known as Camino a Coyoacán, reflecting its function as the road leading to the town of Coyoacán. Spanish authorities maintained and extended the causeway, overlaying new administrative and settlement structures atop the ancient path.

Colonial and early modern transformations

After the Spanish conquest, the causeway became a main entry route to Mexico City. By 1532, it extended to San Agustín de las Cuevas, now Tlalpan. By the mid-16th century, it was one of New Spain’s most important roads, central to commerce and administrative access.

In the 19th century, mule-drawn trams traveled along the avenue, taking one and a half hours or longer in rainy weather. Travelers stayed in inns and early hotels, creating a hub of economic activity and encouraging settlements along this historic southern route.

The advent of electric trams in 1900 transformed travel. Animal-drawn vehicles were replaced, and hotels, cafes, and services flourished along Calzada de Tlalpan. This modernization marked a shift from a rural passageway to an urban artery essential for commerce and daily life.

Calzada de Tlalpan continues to shape the social fabric of the surrounding neighborhoods. Local markets, community centers, and cultural hubs along the avenue make it a space for social interaction, daily commerce, and traditional celebrations.

Metro integration and modern transport

Metro Line 2, inaugurated in 1970, runs from Taxqueña to Pino Suárez along Calzada de Tlalpan, integrating it into Mexico City’s mass transit network. The line was later extended to Cuatro Caminos, improving connectivity and making the avenue a critical commuter corridor.

Today, Calzada de Tlalpan serves as a major route to southern exits toward Morelos and Guerrero. It accommodates cars, buses, and pedestrians, while the Metro provides efficient transport, illustrating the avenue’s adaptation to the evolving needs of Mexico City’s residents.

Cultural and historical landmarks

Calzada de Tlalpan is lined with cultural and recreational sites. Highlights include Parque Toriello, the Mercado de Flores de San Fernando, the National Museum of Interventions, and the Centro Nacional de las Artes, all reflecting Mexico City’s artistic and social richness.

The historic center of Tlalpan is ideal for cultural exploration, featuring Museo del Tiempo, History Museum “La Casona,” and Centro Cultural Casa Frissac. These sites showcase the region’s layered history from colonial times to modern Mexico, attracting both locals and tourists.

Several parks and natural areas along Calzada de Tlalpan, including Parque Nacional Fuentes Brotantes and Bosque de Tlalpan, provide residents with leisure, walking paths, and ecological preservation. These green zones maintain harmony between urban development and nature.

Green spaces, including Parque Nacional Fuentes Brotantes, Cumbres del Ajusco, and Bosque de Tlalpan. These parks preserve natural habitats and provide recreational areas, demonstrating how urban development and ecological preservation coexist along this historic avenue.

Sports and Olympic heritage

Calzada de Tlalpan passes near Estadio Azteca, inaugurated in 1966, which hosted the 1968 Olympic Games and the 1970 FIFA World Cup. Nearby Olympic Villages were constructed for athletes and now serve as residential areas, reflecting a lasting sports heritage.

During the 1968 Olympics, Calzada de Tlalpan became a vital route for transporting athletes, officials, and spectators between central venues and the southern stadiums. The road symbolized the city’s efforts to modernize its infrastructure for the international event.

The Olympic legacy also shaped the urban landscape along Calzada de Tlalpan, where new housing, sports facilities, and murals appeared as part of the preparations. Many of these structures remain, marking the avenue as a living reminder of Mexico City’s Olympic history.

Fun facts and curiosities

The avenue begins at the historic downtown near Viaducto Río Piedad and ends at Insurgentes Sur, connecting to the Mexico-Acapulco highway. Over centuries, it has seen pre-Hispanic travelers, colonial expeditions, mule trams, electric trolleys, and now modern Metro trains.

Calzada de Tlalpan

Calzada de Tlalpan is one of the busiest avenues in Mexico City, with its commerce, markets, and historic hotels reflecting urban life. It exemplifies how a single road can mirror the city’s growth, culture, and history, making it an essential stop for visitors and locals alike.