Exploring Another Neighborhood

 On Wednesday, after visiting the San Carlos Museum, I crossed Insurgentes Avenue and wandered into the "colonia" or neighborhood known as San Rafael.  Other than Parque Sullivan where the Sunday artists' market is held, I was not familiar with the neighborhood.

San Rafael, like its neighbor to the north, Colonia Santa María la Ribera, was one of the earliest real estate developments in Mexico City.  Former ranchlands were converted into a residential district in the late 1800s.  The area attracted wealthy families wishing to escape the congestion of the central city.  Eventually, however, as the city continued to expand, the wealthy moved out to newer neighborhoods.  Their mansions were subdivided into apartments.  The area declined further after the 1985 earthquake which damaged many buildings.  Some abandoned houses were taken over by squatters.  Crime and prostitution increased.  But the good news is that San Rafael is on the rebound.  Young artists and professionals are moving in because rents are affordable compared to the astronomical prices in trendy neighborhoods such as Condesa and Roma.  

As I walked around San Rafael during the daylight hours, the neighborhood felt perfectly safe and quite charming.  Just on the few streets along where I wandered, I passed dozens of architectural gems from the area's heyday.  Some structures were well maintained; others were in a state of elegant decay.  There are 383 buildings in San Rafael which have been classified as having historic value.

Here are some photos of the architecture of San Rafael...

This interesting building is an elementary school.

The striking neo-Gothic facade of the Church of San Rafael Arcangel was built in 1943 and is one of the most unique in the city.

As in neighborhoods throughout the city, there are new apartment buildings under construction.  I just hope none of the historic structures will be sacrificed.

I will definitely return and do some more exploration of this interesting neighborhood.