The La Viga area is still centered around the former fish market in the minds of Mexico City residents. In fact, the area's history is quite a bit more alluring.
During much of the 19th century, and even earlier, it was a lively canal side promenade. This connected in the south with the better-known areas around the present-day Jamaica market and Santa Anita. Here, traffic went through the historic Garita de la Viga, part of a series of garrisons which served as customs posts. 13 garrisons circled the colonial capital. The only one surviving to our day is that at San Lázaro in the east.
At the north, of course, the canal entered into Mexico City. It was still prominent enough at the beginning of the 20th century to have briefly hosted the Indios Verdes monument. This was at the intersection with today's Fray Servando, at the very north of the canal, and just west of the Mercado de Sonora.
Today, City residents will remember better La Nueva Viga. It's part of the giant Abastos center, to the south in Iztapalapa. But La Viga's long history can be recalled in the Linear park at the southern reaches of the old promenade.
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