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All Mexico Campeche Palacio Legislativo de Campeche (Legislative Palace of Campeche)

Palacio Legislativo de Campeche (Legislative Palace of Campeche)

In the middle of this historic colonial city resides a modernist government building known as the UFO.

Campeche, Mexico

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linkogecko
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Entrance to the palace, with the inscription “Vox Legis Vox Populi”.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
Entrance to the palace, with the inscription “Vox Legis Vox Populi”.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
Campeche’s legislative and executive buildings.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
El OVNI lighted green.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
The Executive Palace featuring the mural of Campeche’s founding.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
The night time lighting changes colors.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
Congreso del Estado y Palacio de Gobierno   Mario Yair TS / Atlas Obscura User
Palacio de Gobierno by night   Mario Yair TS / Atlas Obscura User
The modernist “flying saucer” is quite close to one of Campeche’s famous colonial forts, the Baluarte de San Carlos.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
The OVNI in February 2022   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
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Inspired by Oscar Niemeyer's iconic late 1950s architectural works found across Brasília, architect Joaquín Álvarez Ordóñez began construction of this public building in 1963. A year prior, the governor of Campeche, José Ortiz Ávila, destroyed many of the government buildings and replaced them with modern structures. 

Álvarez was assigned to lead the project which oversaw the construction of the Edificio de los Tres Poderes, a complex designed to house the state's executive, legislative and judicial powers. The executive and legislative buildings are connected, with the executive building being rectangular and marked by a raised mural panel.

The Legislative Palace really stands out amid the others. Its shape resembles two truncated pyramids connected at their base. It's often referred to as El Ovni or El Platillo Volador (UFO or Flying Saucer). At night, the Flying Saucer is cascaded with different colored lights, adding to its otherworldly aura.

With Campeche having been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, the modernist works of Álvarez were under threat as the city's heritage tourism focus shifted to colonial features. In addition to governor Ortiz's construction boom, his predecessor Alberto Trueba Urbina is partly responsible for the Legislative Palace, as many of these buildings were established over territory reclaimed from the Gulf of Mexico during his mandate.

Outside the historic center's colonial walls, this reclaimed area saw many of its modern buildings fall into disrepair. By 2012, this Modernist legacy was at the center of Campeche's UNESCO heritage appreciation and buildings like El Ovni underwent renovation works. 

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Architecture Buildings Ufos History & Culture

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While the Legislative Palace's buildings are not accessible to visitors, they are visible at all times. 

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Added By

linkogecko

Edited By

Mario Yair TS

  • Mario Yair TS

Published

April 17, 2020

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Sources
  • http://www.scielo.org.mx/pdf/inter/v6n11/v6n11a8.pdf
  • http://congresocam.gob.mx/docs/Libro_Recinto%20_Legislativo.pdf
  • https://expresocampeche.com/notas/style/2015/01/18/palacio-legislativo-de-campeche-modernismo-o-platillo-volador/
Palacio Legislativo de Campeche (Legislative Palace of Campeche)
Av. 16 de Septiembre
Campeche, 24000
Mexico
19.844987, -90.540353
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

The Bastion of San Carlos

Campeche, Mexico

miles away

Xmuch'haltún Botanical Garden

Campeche, Mexico

miles away

Well of Conquest

Campeche, Mexico

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Campeche

Campeche

Mexico

Places 4

Nearby Places

The Bastion of San Carlos

Campeche, Mexico

miles away

Xmuch'haltún Botanical Garden

Campeche, Mexico

miles away

Well of Conquest

Campeche, Mexico

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Campeche

Campeche

Mexico

Places 4

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