Mexico Guide
The north
Macroplaza
At the heart of Monterrey, if not the physical centre, is the Macroplaza (officially the Plaza Zaragoza, and sometimes known as the "Gran Plaza"), which was created by demolishing some six complete blocks of the city centre and opening up a new vista straight through from the intensely modern City Hall to the beautiful red-stone Palacio de Gobierno on what used to be Plaza 5 de Mayo. This is Mexican planning at its most extreme: when the political decision comes from the top, no conservationist or social considerations are going to stand in the way, especially as the constitution's "no re-election" decree makes every administrator determined to leave some permanent memorial. The result is undeniably stunning, with numerous lovely fountains, an abundance of striking statuary, quiet parks and shady patios, edged by the cathedral, museums and state administration buildings. There are frequent concerts, dances and other entertainments laid on; in the evenings people gravitate here to stroll, and to admire the laser beam that flashes out across the city from the top of the tall, graceful slab of orange concrete known as the Faro del Comercio.