The Jardín Borda is one of the finest colonial-era gardens in Mexico, laid out in the 18th century for the wealthy silver magnate José de la Borda. The gardens occupy a steep hillside on Avenida Morelos, arranged in a series of terraced levels with fountains, paths, and viewing platforms. The property includes a substantial mansion that operated at different times as the residence of Borda, of Mexican bishops, and of Emperor Maximilian.
Today the garden functions as a cultural centre under INBA (the National Institute of Fine Arts) and hosts concerts, open-air film screenings, and art exhibitions in the pleasant grounds. It is one of the calmest spots in the city, shaded by old trees and cooled by the fountains — a good place to spend an hour away from the traffic of the centre.