WOW! Castillo de Chapultepec is absolutely gorgeous. Construction began in 1785 and wasn't entirely completed until 1863. It started out as a home for a viceroy from Spain, but he left before it was finished. It sat empty and unused for quite a while until it became a military college in 1833. It was the home of Maximilian I and the Empress Carlotta in 1864. When the empire was overthrown in 1867 it again sat empty until 1873 when it briefly became an astronomical observatory. It was the presidential residence from 1882 to 1939 when it was finally made a history museum. The north wing is typical museum-like and the south wing is the residential area that has been kept as it was for the presidency. The furniture, woodwork, stained glass, marble, and artwork are all opulent and incredible, but my favorite (as always) is the grounds.
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