archaeological and architectural remnants. These traces of history are interwoven with the vibrant daily life of the city's inhabitants, reflecting the rich mestizo heritage. Mexico City, once a dazzling metropolis that captivated Spanish conquistadors and ultimately fell with the help of the Mexica’s rivals, now stands as a modern city, layered over the remnants of an ancient civilization that still evokes the splendour of its past. Writer Álvaro Enrigue poses an intriguing question: "What if Moctezuma had chosen to confront the small Spanish force that landed on the Gulf coast in April 1519? A swift and decisive attack might have stopped Hernán Cortés from rallying the indigenous allies who ultimately helped him enter the Mexica capital on November 8th of that same year. How different might the great Tenochtitlan appear today? Perhaps it would resemble the scenes captured in Pablo Ortiz Monasterio’s photographs, taken within the boundaries of what historians believe was once the imperial islet..."