Centro Cultural Clavijero (Palacio Clavijero)

The former Jesuit College of San Francisco Javier, begun in the 17th century, is one of the grandest baroque civil buildings in Mexico, built around a vast arcaded courtyard that now serves as the heart of the cultural center. Named for the Jesuit historian and naturalist Francisco Javier Clavijero, the building hosts rotating temporary exhibitions of art, design and history, drawing visitors as much for the architecture of the courtyard and arcaded galleries as for individual shows. A typical visit to the courtyard and current exhibitions takes 1 to 2 hours, and is best undertaken in the afternoon when light fills the open courtyard for photographs. Most exhibitions are free to enter, with only some special shows charging a modest fee. The building sits a short walk from the Jardín de las Rosas and the Conservatorio de las Rosas, making it easy to combine with other historic-centre stops. It is closed Mondays, and weekday afternoons tend to be quieter than weekends, when exhibitions often coincide with other cultural events in the centre.