This article is about the Mexican city; for other uses, see Monterrey (disambiguation).

City of Monterrey Ciudad de Monterrey
Nightview of Monterrey Nightview of Monterrey
Coat of arms
Nickname: The City of the Mountains
Motto: El Trabajo templa el Espíritu
Location of Monterrey in northern Mexico Location of Monterrey in northern Mexico
Coordinates:
Country	Mexico
State	Nuevo León
Founded	20 September 1596
Government
- Mayor	Adalberto Madero ( PAN)
Area
- City	860 km  (0 sq mi)
Elevation	537 m (0 ft)
Population (2005)
- City	1,133,814
- Density	1989/km (0/sq mi)
- Metro	3,664,334
- Demonym	Regiomontano
Time zone	Central Standard Time (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	Central Daylight Time (UTC-5)
Website: [1]

Monterrey IPA: [ˌmontɛˈrei] (Spanish: Monterrey (helpinfo)) is the capital city of the northeastern Mexican state of Nuevo León and a municipality of the same name. Also known as the "City of the Mountains" and "Sultana del Norte" (Sultanette of the North), the city is a modern industrial and business center. It is the third most populated metropolitan area in the country, has the highest GDP per capita of all metropolitan areas in Mexico ^[1] and is also the third largest in area after Guadalajara. The whole metropolitan area has been ranked as having the highest GDP per capita and as the most secure conurbation in Latin America in 2005^[2] The city is named after the Countess of Monterrei (a city in Galicia, Spain) wife of the Viceroy of New Spain Gaspar de Zúñiga y Acevedo, Count of Monterrey.

History

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In the mid-1500s, the valley which Monterrey now occupies, was known as the Extremadura Valley, an area largely unexplored by the Spanish. Several expeditions led by Alberto del Canto tried to colonize the area, the most important in 1577 but were always unsuccessful because the population left for more prosperous towns. The Spanish expeditionary Luis Carvajal y de la Cueva negotiated with King Philip II of Spain to establish a territory in northern New Spain, which would be called the New Kingdom of León. In 1580 he arrived in the newly granted lands but it was not until 1582 that he established a settlement called San Luis Rey de Francia within present-day Monterrey. The New Kingdom of León was an enormous area extending westwards from the port of Tampico to the limits of New Galicia (now State of Jalisco), and around 1,000 kilometers northwards. Carvajal's plans of colonization were frustrated by the Spanish Inquisition that accused and jailed him. For 8 years the Kingdom was abandoned and uninhabited but finally, a third expedition of twelve families led by Diego de Montemayor founded Ciudad Metropolitana de Nuestra Señora de Monterrey (Metropolitan City of Our Lady of Monterrey) on September 20, 1596, next to a spring called Ojos de Agua de Santa Lucia, where the Museum of Mexican History is now located.

During the years of Spanish Rule, Monterrey remained a small city, and its population varied from a few hundred to only dozens. The city was a place that facilitated trade between San Antonio (now in Texas), Tampico and from Saltillo to the center of the country. Tampico's port brought many products from Europe, while Saltillo concentrated the Northern Territories trade with the capital, Mexico City. San Antonio was the key trade point with the northern foreign colonies (British and French).

In the 19th Century after the Mexican Independence War, Monterrey rose as a key economic center for the newly formed nation, especially due to its balanced ties between Europe (with its connections to Tampico), the United States (with its connections to San Antonio), and the capital (through Saltillo). In 1824 the New Kingdom of León became the State of Nuevo León and Monterrey was selected as its capital. However, the political instability that followed the first 50 years of the new country allowed two American invasions and an internal secession war, during which the Governor of the State annexed the Coahuila and Tamaulipas states, designating Monterrey as the capital of the enlarged state.

In 1846, the earliest large-scale engagement of the Mexican-American War took place in the city, known as the Battle of Monterrey. Mexican forces were forced to surrender but only after successfully repelling US forces during the first few advances on the city. The battle inflicted high casualties on both sides, much of them resulting from hand-to-hand combat within the city center walls.

Most of the generals in the Mexican War against France were natives of the city, including Mariano Escobedo, Juan Zuazua and Jerónimo Treviño.

During the last decade of the 19th Century, the city of Monterrey gained access to the railroads, which benefitted industry. It was during this period that José Eleuterio González founded the Colegio Civil, an early effort to create a non-religious university in Monterrey; he also founded the Hospital Civil which is now one of the best public hospitals in the northeast of Mexico, and serves as medical school support to the School of Medicine of the Autonomous University of Nuevo León (UANL). Vicente Ferrara founded the Fundidora de Fierro y Acero de Monterrey^[3], a steel-producing company that accelerated the already fast industrialization of the city and became one of the world's biggest at its time.

In 1988, Hurricane Gilbert caused great damage to the city; the Santa Catarina River overflowed, causing about 100 deaths and severe economic damage.

The city has hosted international events such as the 2002 United Nation Conference on Financing for Development with the participation of more than 50 Heads of State and Government, as well as other ministers and senior delegates from over 150 countries. The conference resulted in the adoption of the Monterrey Consensus, which has become one relevant reference point for international development and cooperation. In 2004, the OAS Special Summit of the Americas was attended by almost all the presidents of the Americas. In 1986, several official games of the 1986 FIFA World Cup were hosted.

In 2007, Monterrey will hold the Universal Forum of Cultures. The cost of holding this event is stirring controversy in the community, but also bringing a necessary upgrade of the current urban infrastructure.

Geography

The city of Monterrey is located at , and 530 metres (0 ft) above the sea level in northeastern Mexican state of Nuevo León. The Santa Catarina River—dry most of the year—bisects the city.

Monterrey lies at the foothills of the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range, which start abruptly south of the city. A small hill, the Cerro del Topo and the smaller Topo Chico are located in the suburbs of San Nicolás de los Garza and Escobedo. West of the city rises the Cerro de las Mitras (Mountain of the Mitres), which resemble the profile of several bishops with their mitres.

Cerro de la Silla (Saddle Mountain) dominates the view east of the city. Cerro de la Loma Larga—South of the Santa Catarina river—separates Monterrey from the suburb of San Pedro Garza García. At the summit of the Cerro del Obispado, north of the river, is the the historic Bishopric Palace (Obispado), site of one of the most important battles of the Mexican-American War.

Natural areas

The mountains surrounding Monterrey offer a breathtaking landscape harboring many canyons, trails and roads, which cross deserts and forests. Suitable trails are available for casual hikers to expert rockclimbers. The Sierra Madre Oriental mountains south of the city are included in the "Parque Nacional Cumbres de Monterrey" (National Park), which was added to UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Program of Biosphere Reserves in 2006.^[4]

Cumbres de Monterrey includes:

• Parque Ecológico Chipinque,^[5] which contains forested areas (oak and oak-pine mainly).^[6][7][8] Parque Ecológico Chipinque is within a 10-minute drive from downtown Monterrey; this park and the adjacent park land include spectacular scenery of mountains and forests.
• La Estanzuela state park, about 7 km (4 mi) south of downtown Monterrey and includes a small river and forested area.^[9].
• La Huasteca, with vertical-walled cliffs and canyons in a desert setting by the city. It is in Santa Catarina, west of downtown towards Saltillo.

Birding is also a popular activity around Monterrey.^[10]

Demographics

The municipality has a population of 1,138,335 inhabitants.^[11] With 3,612,991 inhabitants,^[12]the Monterrey metropolitan area is the third most populous city in Mexico. It is composed of the adjacent cities (municipalities) of: Apodaca, Escobedo, García, Guadalupe, Juárez, Salinas Victoria, San Nicolás de los Garza, San Pedro Garza García, Santa Catarina, and Santiago.^[13]

Monterrey is the second most important financial and manufacturing hub after Mexico City.

Climate

for
J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
20   20 8	12   23 10	15   27 14	31   30 17	67   32 20	87   34 22	50   34 22	84   34 22	153   31 21	72   27 17	21   24 13	20   21 9
temperatures in C / precipitation in mm source: [2]

Monterrey has a humid subtropical climate. Its weather, though reasonably pleasant in spring and autumn, is hot in the summer; the average high reaches 35 °C (95 °F) in August, with an average low of 23 °C (74 °F). Winters are cool but not cold. The average January high is 19 °C (67 °F) and the average low in January is 8 °C (48 °F); however, temperatures below freezing are exceedingly rare.^[14] Rainfall is scarce, but more prominent during May and September. Humidity in winter can be high, although without showers. Snowfall is a very rare event.

The weather affects life in Monterrey in a number of ways. Air-conditioning is essential, though fortunately widespread in private and public buildings. Strolling streets becomes a rarity among regios in summer and has conditioned a car-driven way to get around the city, which is quite different from what is seen in the more hospitable, walkable cities of Central Mexico. Unlike other Mexican homes across the country, regios keep two completely separate sets of garments at home, each of which will never be worn for a 6 month period or so. Weather also determines the relative scarcity of tall trees within the city. Flowers are rarely seen being sold on the streets. Drinks are always served as cold as possible.

Government

Monterrey and its metropolitan area are municipalities each of them governed by a democratically elected Presidente Municipal (Municipal President) or Mayor for a period of 3 years with no right to reelection. The political environment is one of civility and in the last decade political parties have been alternating office.

The City Council of Monterrey (Cabildo de Monterrey) is an organ integrated by the Mayor, the Regidores and the Síndicos. The Mayor is the executor of the determinations of the City Council and the person directly in charge of the public municipal administration. The Regidores represent the community and their mission is to collectively define the city policies in all the subjects affecting it. The Síndicos are in charge of watching and legally defend the city interests, as well as in charge of watching the City Treasury status and the municipal patrimony ^[15].

The current Mayor of Monterrey is Adalberto Madero (PAN), and he will remain in office until October 31, 2009. He was elected mayor in the past municipal election on July 2, 2006 (Official results: PAN 45.51%, PRI 43.63%, PRD 4.9%, Others 2.85%). ^[16]

The political parties with representation in the city are the Institutional Revolutionary Party or PRI, the National Action Party or PAN, the Party of the Democratic Revolution or PRD, the Labor Party or PT, the Green Party, Convergence, Social Democratic and Farmer Alternative and Nueva Alianza.

Public safety

Monterrey was ranked as the most secure city in Latin America ^[17] and Mexico in 2005, and one of the two most secure in 2006. It is the only large metropolitan area of Mexico that boasts crime rates below the national average. Nuevo León state's capital, the metropolitan area and 2 of its surrounding municipalities (Salinas Victoria and Santiago) reported 8,034 crimes for every 100,000 people in 2004, whereas the national average of criminal incidence was 11,246 for every 100,000 people.

From 2003 to 2007, however, the city saw its share of drug violence related to turf battles between warring cartels.

There are two police departments guarding the city, the Police of the City of Monterrey ^[18] (locally known as the Policía Regia), dependant of the municipal government, and the State Public Safety ^[19]. The Policía Regia protects the city's downtown and main areas, while the State Public Safety is in charge of the farthest areas.

There are two major emergency telephone numbers: Monterrey Emergencies telephone is 060 ^[20] and the Metropolitan Area Emergency Number is 066.

Infrastructure

Transportation

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Monterrey is well connected with the USA border, the sea and inland Mexico through several modern roads, including the Carretera Nacional (also known as the Panamerican Highway) that runs from Nuevo Laredo to México City and south, and the Carretera Interoceánica connecting Matamoros with the port of Mazatlán on the Pacific; it is also crossed by highways 40, 45, 57. The divided highway Monterrey-Saltillo-Matehuala-Mexico City is the main land corridor to interior Mexico.

There are several between-cities bus lines at the bus station downtown. Buses are modern and efficient, with many arrivals and departures everyday into deeper Mexico, to the U.S. border and into the United States.

Monterrey is also connected by at least three important railroad freight lines: Nuevo Laredo-Mexico City, Monterrey-Tampico, and Monterrey-Pacific (Mazatlán).

Public transportation in the city includes a modern but limited in length, rapid transit system or metro with only two lines ^[21][22], the Metro Línea 2 is currently being expanded to the north of the city, and construction works are estimated to finish by September 2007. There are many city bus lines that vary in quality and route, although by decree, all bus lines (privately funded) had to change their vehicles by January 2007. Thousands of economical and efficient taxi cabs can also be found. Traffic jams, although less impressive than those seen in other Latin American big cities, are becoming more frequent, primarily at rush hours.

Airports

There are two international airports: General Mariano Escobedo International Airport (served by major international carriers and moving more than 5 million passengers in 2006) and Del Norte International Airport, a primarily private airport.

Monterrey is linked through frequent non-stop flights to many Mexican cities and to key United States hubs (Atlanta, Chicago-O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles and Houston-Intercontinental). There is also a twice a week non-stop service to Madrid, Spain, operated by Aeroméxico and another planned to Paris, France. According to Aeromexico, Monterrey is the second most important city for its operating routes. ^[23]

Five airlines have their operational bases and headquarters in Monterrey, Aviacsa, Aerolitoral, a new LCC Viva Aerobus; and two charter airlines, Magnicharters and Aladia. There is no public transportation from Monterrey International Airport to the city. However, a cartel of taxi services link the airport with the city and charge around $20 US for a one-way ride to the city. From this airport, there is a bus shuttle to nearby Saltillo^[24]. Inter-city bus services run daily into the interior, as well as north to the US border and points beyond.

Hospitals

Monterrey has some of the best hospitals in Mexico, especially in cancer treatment, heart diseases, obesity surgery and plastic surgery. There are public and private hospital care. The Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) have two major regional hospitals in the city, the Specialities Regional Hospital # 33 and the Gynecology and Obsterics Regional Hospital, serving also the northeastern states of Coahuila and Tamaulipas. Several smaller IMSS hospitals can be found such as the Traumatology and Orthopedics Hospital and the General Hospital # 25. State government owns the Metropolitan Hospital, located in the suburb of San Nicolás de los Garza and it is building the Hospital of the Children and Mother Care in Guadalupe suburb.

The University of Nuevo León runs the public University Hospital, with a high-level shock-trauma unit and a specialized clinic for child cancer treatment. It is recognized as the best public hospital in the city and the UANL School of Medicine as one of the best in the country. On the other hand the Monterrey Tec runs the San José Hospital, as a private medical center.

Several world class hospitals such as the Hospital OCA, the largest private hospital in Mexico ^[25], Christus Muguerza Hospital, Santa Engracia Hospital, San Vicente Hospital and the San Lucas Hospital (Plastic Surgery) can be found in the city and its metropolitan area.

Economy

''See also

Monterrey is a major industrial center among cities in Mexico , producing a GDP of 41.242 billion US dollars (2005). The city's GDP per capita in 2005 was 11,654 US dollars. The city was ranked as the best to do business in Latin America in 2005 and currently is ranked as the third best by the América Economía magazine.

As a result of its strong steel industry, it is often called "the Pittsburgh of Mexico". The city has prominent positions in sectors such as steel, cement, glass, auto parts, and beer. In 1999 Fortune magazine recognized Monterrey as the best city in Latin America in which to do business. The magazine attributes its economic wealth in part to its proximity with the United States-Mexican border and mentions Monterrey as a significant city with economic links to the United States, recognized around the world for its entrepreneurial character. Monterrey is considered one of the best cities for business in the world. ^[26]

Industrialization process was accelerated in the mid 19th Century by the Compañia Fundidora de Fierro y Acero Monterrey a steel-processing company. Nowadays Monterrey is home of transnational conglomerates such as Cemex (world's largest cement company), FEMSA (Coca-Cola Latin America), Alfa (petrochemicals, food, telecommunications and auto parts), Axtel (telecommunications), Vitro (glass), Gruma (food), and Banorte (financial services). The FEMSA corporation owns a large brewery, the Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma that produces the brands Sol, Tecate, Indio, Dos Equis and Carta Blanca among others. By the end of the same year, there were more than 13,000 manufacturing companies, 55,000 retail stores, and more than 52,000 service firms in Monterrey.^[27]. Monterrey accounts for about 95% of the State of Nuevo Leon's GDP, and 18% of Mexico's manufactured exports come from this city. ^[28] The metals sector, dominated by iron and steel, accounted for 6 percent of manufacturing GNP in 1994. ^[29] The steel industry is centered in Monterrey, where the country's first steel mills opened in 1903. Steel processing plants in Monterrey, privatized in 1986, accounted for about half of Mexico's total steel output in the early 1990s. <ref name="steel" />

Monterrey was ranked 94 worldwide and 5 in Latin America in terms of Quality of Life according to Mercer Human Resource Consulting (2006) ^[30], and was ranked number 2 in 2005 and number 4 in 2006, according to America Economia.

Monterrey is also a great city to do shopping. Some of the shopping malls in the city include, Paseo San Pedro, Plaza Fiesta San Agustín, Galerías Monterrey, and Galerías Valle Oriente, which distribute goods and services to the Mexican population.

Education

The Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (Autonomous University of Nuevo León, UANL), is the third largest Mexican university and is ranked by the Reader's Digest-AC Nielsen Survey 2005 as the top public university in northeast Mexico.^[31] Its main campus, Ciudad Universitaria (University City), covers approximately 67,630,000 square metres (0 acres).^[32] The UANL system comprises 26 colleges (faculties), 22 graduate divisions, 24 high schools, 1 center of bilingual education and 3 technical high schools.

Also, one of the best universities in Mexico is Universidad de Monterrey (University of Monterrey, UDEM). UDEM stands out as model of liberal arts education. UDEM believes that education does not only consist of the acquisition of knowledge, but should also seek the comprehensive and holistic development of the human being.

Our fundamental challenge is to go beyond the graduation of professionals who excel in their chosen fields of specialization; we seek to shape the whole person, providing him or her a liberal arts education and social sensitivity.

This is supported by a comfortable and functional technological infrastructure and several national and international institutions accredit our quality.

We can confidently assure that UDEM forms excellent professionals, extraordinary people.

---

Monterrey is the headquarters of the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Studies, ITESM), a private university ranked by the Reader's Digest-AC Nielsen Survey 2005 as the top university (public or private) in all Mexico. As the centre of its own educational network, it has 33 campuses and exchange agreements with more than 400 universities world-wide.

Each semester the Monterrey campus receives more than 600 exchange students from more than 60 different countries.^[33] The Monterrey campus has more than 500 foreigner students at ITESM, most of them coming Central and South America. The campus accounts for about 17,000 students from all the regions and states of Mexico; 65% of its students are non-local.

The research at the institute is becoming more important. During year 2006, ITESM registered 17 patents in Mexico, with a focus on new technology. 240 professors are part of the National System of Investigators, mainly in the areas of biotechnology, social sciences, medicine, engineering and earth sciences. Its reputation, especially for MBA (EGADE school is one of the best business schools in Latin America) and other managerial and technological programmes is solidly established.

The city in considered one of the main educational centres in Mexico, with students coming from other Mexican states. Other universities include University of Monterrey (UDEM), Universidad del Norte (UN)^[34] and the Universidad Regiomontana.^[35]

The Biblioteca Central located at the Macroplaza, the Biblioteca Magna Universitaria^[36] and the Biblioteca Alfonsina within the UANL University campus, are the main public libraries in the city.

Culture

Food

The most traditional dish from Monterrey is cabrito al pastor, kid goat cooked on embers based on the Jewish cuisine of the founders of the city. Other local dishes and customs that perhaps date back to the Crypto-Judaism of these founders are the "semita" (bread without leavening), the capirotada dessert (a mix of cooked bread, cheese, raisins, peanuts, and crystallized sugarcane juice), and the relative absence of pork dishes. Another famous local dish is machacado con huevo, prepared eggs, dry beef and salsa.

Carne asada (grilled beef) on weekends remains one of the most cherished traditions in Monterrey's families. When people gather to celebrate birthdays, family reunions, soccer games or just to share time with their friends, carne asada is a must. It is usually served with grilled onions, baked potatoes and sausages or chopped as tacos. Carne asada gatherings generally take place in the afternoons opposed to central Mexico tradition of having carne asada between 2 and 4pm. Locally brewed beer and cola soft drinks are an almost mandatory part of the weekly ritual. And lets not forget the traditional desserts, "glorias" and "obleas" both delicious traditional candies from Nuevo León.

Although not still comparable with the kaleidoscopic gastronomy of Mexico City and some major Mexican beach resorts, several good restaurants offering Italian, Chinese, Mediterranean, German, Japanese, and Argentinian food can be found throughout downtown Monterrey and San Pedro Garza Garcia suburb.

Sports

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Monterrey has two soccer teams in the Mexican league, the Club de Fútbol Monterrey, known as the ''Rayados' who plays in the Estadio Tecnológico, a facility owned by the ITESM, and rented to the team. And the UANL Tigres, the team of the U.A.N.L. and they play at Estadio Universitario wich is located at the main campus of the university. Both teams are related to the city on the derby, called Clásico Regiomontano, Monterrey vs Tigres, the team of the U.A.N.L. doesn´t belong to Monterrey City but to the city of San Nicolas De Los Garza, N.L.

In addition, two professional indoor soccer teams were hosted in the past, the Monterrey La Raza, members of the Continental Indoor Soccer League and World Indoor Soccer League and the Monterrey Fury, members of the current Major Indoor Soccer League. The city was awarded another franchise to begin play in the fall of 2007 in the MISL.

The city hosted many official games during the 1986 FIFA World Cup.

Baseball has a long history in the city, where it became the most popular sport during the early 20th century. Monterrey has been champion of the Little League World Series three times (1957, 1958 and 1997), and has been host of US Major League Baseball games. In the Mexican Baseball League, the Sultanes de Monterrey are one important team every season and have won the national title several times. In the year 2003, the city unsuccessfully attempted to buy (and relocate to Monterrey) the Montreal Expos franchise of the US Major League Baseball.

There are two professional basketball teams: Fuerza Regia that plays in the Mexican league and the Monterrey Venom that plays in the American Basketball Association. Fuerza Regia plays at the Monterrey Arena while the Monterrey Poison plays at the gymnasium of the ITESM.

The city has hosted the Champ Car race in Fundidora Park from 2001 to 2005 and hosted the A1 Grand Prix of Nations on February 2006.

In 2004 Monterrey hosted the World Karate Federation Senior World Championships.

In 2007 Monterrey hosted the Women's WTBA World Tenpin Bowling Championships

American football is well represented nationwide, with two college local teams: the Auténticos Tigres (UANL) and the Borregos (ITESM) that play in the National College League (ONEFA); their games attract thousands (mainly student crowds). A vast number of kids with ages ranging from 5 to 15 practice this sport during summer and fall, and play on Sunday mostly; teams with a great history in the city are Halcones, Aguilas, Pumas, Avispones and Potros.

People can also find golf, fishing, camping, and extreme-sports outdoors near the city (bungee jumping at Cola de Caballo, rock-climbing, hiking, mountain bike). In particular there is international-level rock-climbing places like la Huasteca, Potrero Chico and many other canyons.

Contemporary music

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Starting in the 90's, Monterrey has witnessed the birth of several bands that have become internationally acclaimed. Their genres vary considerably. Bands include Plastilina Mosh, Control Machete, Kinky, El Gran Silencio, Jumbo, Panda, Genitallica, Zurdok, Volovan, and Melrose. The song "Los Oxidados" by Plastilina Mosh opens the 2005 movie Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Kinky performed at the 2004 edition of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California, along with Radiohead, The Cure and The Killers. Monterrey has recently earned the nickname "Monterrock", and is considered the musical capital of Mexico's rock scene. A few of the most popular live music venues in Monterrey include Cafe Iguana, McMullen's and La Fonda, all located in the Barrio Antiguo section of the city.

Broadcasting and media

Monterrey is an important producer and broadcaster of media and entertainment in Mexico. Grupo Multimedios operates 2 television channels in the city, one of them broadcasting also to the Mexican states of Coahuila, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Chihuahua and Guanajuato, and to several cities in the United States. Televisa and TV Azteca, the two only national television networks, have local stations in the city.

Grupo Reforma, one of the most widely read newsources in Mexico originated in the city with the newspaper El Norte. Milenio is another newspaper of high distribution, daily printing local editions in the most important Mexican cities. Other local newspapers include El Porvenir and ABC.

Monterrey also has several radio stations broadcasting news, music, entertainment, and culture for the city. The main radio broadcasting groups are Multimedios Radio, Grupo Radio Alegría and Nucleo Radio Monterrey.

There are 11 Air TV channel broadcasting in the city:

Name	Network	Channel	Contents	Type
Teleactiva	Televisa	2	Entertainment	Local
Azteca 13	TV Azteca	4	Entertainment	National
Canal 5	Televisa	6	Cartoons, Series	National
Azteca 7	TV Azteca	7	Series, Movies	National, Local
Canal de las Estrellas	Televisa	10	Entertainment, News	National
Multimedios Televisión	Multimedios	12	Entertainment, News	Regional (Mexico and US)
Galavisión	Televisa	22	Entertainment	National
TV Nuevo León	State Government	28	Cultural, News	Local
Monterrey Televisión	Televisa	34	Entertainment, News	Local
Canal 53 UANL	UANL	53	Cultural	Local
Canal 64	Multimedios	64	Music videos	Local

Landmarks

• The Cerro de la Silla (Saddle Mountain) is with no doubt the primary and most recognized symbol of the city.
• La Macroplaza, one of the world's largest plazas, is the cultural and administrative heart of the city featuring remarkable monuments, green areas and buildings.
• Faro del Comercio (Lighthouse of Commerce), another trademark of the city. This monuments beams a green laser around the city in the nights.
• The Barrio Antiguo (old neighborhood), charming area where bars, cafes, art galleries and restaurants can be found. On November of every year the Festival Cultural Barrio Antiguo takes place with national and international artists and performers.
• Fundidora Park.
• Opened in 2003, the Puente de la Unidad (sometimes called Puente Atirantado) is a suspension bridge that crosses the Río Santa Catarina and joins San Pedro Garza García with Monterrey.
• Recently opened, Santa Lucia Riverwalk

Historical and cultural sites

• El Cerro del Obispado (Bishopric Hill) which includes a public, scenic lookout called Mirador del Obispado, a Monumental flag and the museum inside the Palacio del Obispado (the Bishopric Palace).
• El Palacio de Gobierno (Government Palace), a pink marble Neoclassical construction where the office of the governor is located.
• The Museum of Mexican History (Museo de Historia Mexicana) ^[37], with exhibits and collections dating from Pre-Columbian days through the early 90s. The museum features interactive displays and a large collection of pieces of Mexican history. Guided tours are available in both English and Spanish. An artificial river (Canal de Santa Lucía) is currently under construction below the mail level of the museum, that will be surrounded by recreational areas.
• The Museo Metropolitano de Monterrey, formerly the City Hall, is a lovely small museum across from the south end of la Macroplaza.
• El Museo del Vidrio, http://museovidrio.vto.com, devoted mainly to glass art and history; remarkable, diverse and changing exhibits.
• El Planetario Alfa (Alfa Planetarium). It is the first IMAX Dome in Hispanic world, and the fourth dome installed in the world (1978).
• The Museum of Contemporary Art, MARCO^[38]. A remarkable model of post-modern Mexican architecture, boasting some of the best exhibits nationwide.
• ITESM, ITESM has two distinctive buildings CEDES which houses the administration of the ITESM nationwide system and the CETEC which houses the main computer classroom and other offices.
• La Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma, with its XIX century buildings and where the national Baseball Hall of Fame (Salon de la Fama) is located.
• Parque Fundidora. A large, urban park including a variety of spaces: a landscaped area ideal for easy bicycle and jogging, the Cineteca (alternative cinema); the Photo Collection; the state plastic arts collection, and other exhibits and spaces: ^[39]
• La Basílica del Roble, one of the three Catholic basilicas of the city (the others being of Guadalupe and "La Purisima". The Basilica del Roble was built in honor of the Virgin "del Roble", patron of the City.
• Catedral Metropolitana de Nuestra Señora de Monterrey- This imposing cathedral is the seat of the local archdiocese. Its exterior and interior demonstrate different architectural styles, having taken from 1770 until 1889 to complete. A pair of towers zealously guarding its belfries flanks the elaborate ornamental work of the facade. Inside there are paintings of the colonial period to the 19th century, as well as murals by Angel Zárraga depicting themes for the most part of the Franciscan evangelisation. It is worth visiting for its delicate beauty.
• A listing of these and smaller museums, in Spanish: ^[40]

Sightseeing

• Grutas de Garcia - an extensive (2 km?) cave system located northwest of Monterrey in the Villa de Garcia. A scenic "chair-lift" vehicle lifts visitors to the caves' entrance hundreds of feet above, on the hill slope.
• The Cola de Caballo (Horse tail) waterfall, on the mountains near the towns of Santiago and El Cercado, about 35 km. (22 miles) south.
• On the way to the Cola de Caballo waterfall (Carretera Nacional going to Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas), in Santiago, the Presa Rodrigo Gomez or "La Boca" ("La Boca" Dam) ^[41][42] lays nested between green hills.
• On this area, before La Boca Dam, at Los Cavazos (25 km from Monterrey) there are many small, family-owned restaurants which serve Mexican and local food, produce, flowers, and candies at low prices; there are also stands of Mexican and local handcrafts and hand-made wooden and metal furniture. This area is a mercado by the road; traffic is heavy on summer Sundays.
• The Carretera Nacional area south of Monterrey enjoys a relatively humid micro climate that allows the growth of lush, subtropical vegetation; this gives this area a garden-like atmosphere. Indeed, most of the city's plant nurseries (viveros) are located in this zone.
• Bioparque Estrella- Wildlife Safari park (www.bioparque.com.mx)

International development

2007 Universal Forum of Cultures is an international cultural event intended to take place every four years in different cities, for peace, sustainable development, knowledge sharing, human rights and respect for cultural diversity. It will be held in Monterrey starting September 20, 2007. This event is currently a hotly debated topic in the city; its programmed duration has been cut substantially, and the final program is being prepared and will be disclosed soon.

Notable people

''See also articles in the category

Famous people from Monterrey include:

• Alfonso Reyes, Mexican writer, intellectual, poet and essayist, also known as El Regiomontano Universal.
• Eloy Cavazos, bullfighter.
• Eugenio Garza Lagüera, businessman.
• Eugenio Garza Sada, businessman and philanthropist.
• Gloria Trevi, singer.
• José A. Muguerza, businessman and philanthropist.
• José Eleuterio González, a medical doctor and professor.
• José Marroquín Leal "Pipo" Clown and children TV show host
• José Woldenberg first President of the Federal Electoral Institute
• Lorenzo Zambrano, businessman and billionaire.
• Mauricio Fernandez Garza, businessman, politician and millionaire
• Valentín Canalizo, Mexican president (twice between 1843 and 1844)
• Giovani dos Santos, football player of FC Barcelona
• Fernando Elizondo, Mexican politician
• Fernando Canales, businessman, and Mexican politician
• Fernando Margáin, Mexican politician

Sister cities

'' See article Sister Cities International

• Barcelona, España
• Corpus Christi, USA
• Dallas, USA
• Hamilton, Canada
• Iaşi, Romania
• Medellín, Colombia
• Orlando, USA
• Rosario, Argentina
• San Antonio, USA
• Shenyang, China
• Marikina, Philippines

References

Further reading

• Michael Snodgrass, Deference and Defiance in Monterrey: Workers, Paternalism, and Revolution in Mexico, 1890-1950 (Cambridge University Press, 2003) (ISBN 0-521-81189-9)

External links

Coordinates:

• Government of the City of Monterrey
• Monterrey and Nuevo Leon state government tourism website
• Monterrey and Nuevo Leon pictures archive
• How to drive to Monterrey from U.S.
• Map of Monterrey
• Red Catolica en Monterrey

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