Marvel at the exquisite collection of stained-glass windows housed within a striking art nouveau building with a vast array of plants.
The Cosmovitral (Cosmovitral Jardín Botánico) is a combined botanical garden and art gallery. Browse displays of hundreds of exotic plant species from Mexico and all parts of the globe. Admire an exhibit of stained-glass windows, representing humankind and its connection with the universe. The Cosmovitral sits inside the building of a onetime marketplace built in 20th-century art nouveau style.
Tiled pathways run around the garden and dissect the many perfectly maintained flower displays. See large cactus, ferns and perennial hedges, among others. Find interpretative signs with information about the individual species. Look for a bust of Eizi Matuda, a revered Japanese-Mexican botanist. Note plaques that commemorate contributors to the garden and the former market, Mercado 16 de Septiembre.
Surpassing the beautiful botanic exhibits is the set of colorful window murals designed by Leopoldo Flores, a renowned Mexican artist. Flores’ vision was to portray themes such as the disparities between day and night and good and evil. View these works of art decorating the building’s walls and the ceiling of a central gallery with 28 different colors of glass.
The centerpiece is the huge Hombre Sol (Sun Man), which depicts the image of a man embedded in an orange-hued sun. It is purposely aligned to receive the passing of the sun during March’s spring equinox. Other windows show humans and animals in elegant poses and mythological scenes. Visit on a sunny day, when the garden is bathed in shades of red and blue and generates a compelling cosmic energy.
Find the garden located in Toluca’s city center. It’s about 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometers) north of Toluca’s main bus terminal. Nearby city attractions include the Museum of Fine Arts, San José de Toluca Cathedral and Temple of Carmen. Adjacent to the garden is the vast Plaza Ángel María Garibay, which connects to Plaza de los Mártires.
The Cosmovitral is open from Tuesday to Sunday and has an admission fee. Inquire at the entrance desk about guided tours.
