Centro Cultural Iztapalapa

What it is. The main cultural venue of Iztapalapa, the city's most populous borough: a theatre, exhibition space and workshop rooms running a programme aimed at local residents —dance, music, theatre and visual arts, generally free or very cheap.

Why it matters here. Iztapalapa's cultural life is community-driven, built around the pueblos and their patron saint festivals, and this is the building where that activity gets a formal stage. If you want to see what the city programmes outside the Centro and Coyoacán, this is where to look.

Before you go. Programming is announced locally and changes month to month, so check what is on rather than turning up. It sits near the borough's historic core, within reach of the Cerro de la Estrella. Iztapalapa station on metro Line 8 is the closest.