Here stands a monument to excess. This is the Partenon, a relic of a bygone era. It’s a testament to the dizzying heights of corruption.
The Partenon was built in the late 1970s. Arturo Durazo Moreno erected it. He was the former Mexico City police chief known as “El Negro.” The construction sprawled across 20,000 square meters. Its cost reached approximately 700 million pesos. However, it saw little use. The Partenon closed in 1982.
Imagine a wrought iron gate. It measures 20 meters wide and 10 meters high. Some say it once stood at the entrance of the presidential residence. Others claim it was originally in Chapultepec Castle. This gate marks the boundary between paradise and what some might call hell. It is a monument to the corruption of the López Portillo era.
White marble statues stand imposingly. They are replicas of David, Apollo, nymphs, and helmeted Spartan warriors. These life-size figures offer a surreal welcome. To the right, there’s a cage. Legend says Durazo kept a captive feline here.
The Greco-Roman-style residence features enormous columns. Cantera stone walls and marble floors add to its opulence. Decorated walls, paintings, a disco, and a swimming pool complete the picture.
Durazo rose from humble beginnings. He worked in the police force from a young age. He harbored delusions of grandeur. He longed to be governor. Durazo was addicted to alcohol and drugs. He was linked to women in the entertainment industry. He flaunted enormous gold rings. He faced accusations of serious crimes. His life inspired books, films, and documentaries. Despite everything, he became the second most powerful man in Mexico.
His success rested on his friendship with President José López Portillo. They attended primary school together. “El Negro” defended the future president in fights. He was known for his fighting skills. In 1976, he became the head of the Mexico City police. Few imagined he would become one of the most corrupt officials. Some even called him “the nightmare of Mexico City.”
In 1982, President Miguel de la Madrid launched a “Moral Renovation” campaign. Durazo became a target of the purge. Interpol arrested him in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on May 31, 1984. Two years later, he was deported to Mexico. He faced charges of extortion, arms hoarding, tax evasion, multiple homicides, and illicit enrichment.
He spent five years in prison, though his sentence was 16 years. Durazo lived his final years in Acapulco. He died on August 5, 2000.
Despite over 32 years of neglect, the Partenon remains. Five state administrations have done little to restore it. It could be an incredible space for art exhibitions or a library. Instead, it has become an illicit tourist attraction. People are drawn to its ghostly atmosphere and the allure of mystery. The Partenon is a stark reminder of a dark chapter in Mexico’s history. It stands as a symbol of corruption and impunity.