Fonoteca Nacional de México
On the western end of picturesque Avenida Francisco Sosa, this grand mansion with a dramatic facade was built in the Moorish and Andulusian style in the 18th century and eventually became the home of Mexican Nobel poet Octavio Paz, who lived here in the late 1990s until his death in 1998. In 2008, the building—known as Casa Alvarado—became the home of Mexico's national sound archive. Today, visitors can explore the archives and, in the listening rooms, hear digitized recordings from the archive's immense collection, which includes Frida Kahlo, Álvaro Obregón, and dozens of other historical figures. There's also an extensive library of books related to music and sound, and you can saunter through the gracious gardens and grounds, which are a perfect spot to relax with a book or rest your feet for a bit. Fonoteca also hosts a rich array of lectures, concerts, and other events—check the online calendar for details.
