CollazoProjects calls Mexico City home for part of the year, and though Mexico’s capital city is often overlooked by tourists, who are drawn instead to the eastern shores of Cancun or the western beaches of Baja California and Cabo San Lucas, it’s well worth a visit.

Here are a few reasons why:

6. Its architecture: Between the old buildings in the Centro Historico, the lavishly detailed buildings of the early 20th century, or the bold urban designs that have characterized Mexico City’s architecture since the 1970s, structural and design buffs will find Mexico City to be an architectural afficionado’s playground. And even someone without profound knowledge of architecture will find many of the city’s buildings stunning. (photo: weisserstier: creative commons)

5. Its transportation: Though Mexico City is one of the largest metropolises in the world, it also has a well-developed public transportation system that makes traversing the city easy– not to mention cheap. The city’s subway system, built in the 1970s, covers a large portion of the capital and a ride costs just 2 pesos, approximately 20 cents. The city also has an impressive modern bus system and passengers can enjoy a number of other alternatives, including micros (mini-buses), inexpensive taxis, and, more recently, a bicycle rental program.

4. Its markets: Mexico City has maintained a strong market tradition, and across the capital you’ll find a mind-boggling number of markets that specialize in almost every product you could imagine: flowers, food, clothing, DVDs/CDs, handcrafts, and much more. Markets are a great place to get a feel for the intersection between the past and the present.

3. Its art. It’s hardly surprising that Mexico’s capital has an impressive number of museums of all sorts: art, anthropology, photography, and many more. But perhaps even more impressive and interesting is Mexico City’s well-developed public art scene. Some of the best art can be found in the city’s subway stations, where glass vitrines exhibit photography, drawings, installation art, and video art.

2. Its food: Of all Latin American countries, Mexico’s food is perhaps the most varied and most complex. Incorporating a palate-stimulating array of spices, vegetables, meats, and cooking styles, Mexican food goes way beyond tacos.

1. Its dynamism: The past and the present. The traditional and indigenous alongside the intensely cosmopolitan. Ranchera and reggaeton. The city bears an incredible number of contradictions that could easily create tension with remarkable ease.