Want to escape the Distrito Federal without getting on a bus? No, it's not a trick question. The campus of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) is technically a separate city with its own transportation system, police force, and government, and has therefore escaped much of the sprawl and overdevelopment that plagues the city surrounding it. The grounds are carpeted with lush plants and shaded by tall trees. The best place to get a feel for the university is the sculpture garden located in front of the Torre de Rectoría, which is adorned with a three-dimensional mural by socialist painter David Alfaro Siqueiros. The new Museum Universitario Arte Contemporáneo (MuAC; tel. 55/5622-6972; www.muac.unam.mx; admission 30 pesos, free Sun; Wed, Fri, Sat 10am-6pm, Thurs and Sun noon-8pm) sits along the side. The huge green lawn strewn with sculptures by modern Mexican artists among giant lava rock beds is a great place for lounging and people-watching in a university atmosphere; during the week, expect to see everything from lovers holding hands to student violinists rehearsing before class or auditions. On the weekends, families visit with their picnic blankets.