MEXICO CITY --
Mexicos colonial cities attract millions of international tour-ists
every year. Although destinations such as Guadalajara, Oaxaca,
Puebla and San Miguel de Allende are widely known, others are less
visited but no less spectacular.
The following are
some of Mexicos colonial treasures worth recommending to
clients:
Aguascalientes
Named after the local
thermal springs, Aguascalientes is one of the loveliest colonial
towns in Mexico. Located in the middle of the country,
Aguascalientes flourished as silver was mined in Zacatecas and
surrounding areas.
Since its founding in
1575, the citys historical center has preserved civil and religious
buildings that reflect its importance during the colonial era. The
government palace, municipal palace, the baroque-style cathedral
and the Museum of Aguascalientes are some sites worth
touring.
Visitors should not
miss the popular San Marcos district, where the annual Feria de San
Marcos takes place in the spring. The fair features music,
folkloric dance, fireworks and bullfighting.
Cuernavaca
The capital of
Morelos state, Cuernavaca is a charming city with a warm climate,
captivating architecture and spring flowers year-round. About 50
miles south of Mexico City, Cuernavaca is famous for its hot
springs and is known as the city of eternal spring.
One of Cuernavacas
most historic works of architecture is the Palacio de Cortes
(Palace of Hernan Cortes), with its Diego Rivera murals added in
the 1920s. The palace was built in 1535, shortly after the conquest
of Mexico by the Spaniards.
It is the oldest
civil building in the city and the Americas and serves as a museum
showcasing the countrys history, culture and tradition. Cuernavaca
features an annual flower festival in early April that attracts
thousands of locals and international tourists to the weeklong
celebration.
Guanajuato
This city is the capital of
Guanajuato state, and its popularity with Mexican tourists enhances
its authenticity. Guanajuato was founded in 1559 in a highland
valley and soon gained fame as a silver-mining town. At the center
of town is a pie-shaped garden flanked by the Juarez Theater and
the Church of San Diego.
For a small city,
Guanajuato is rich in museums. The Museo del Pueblo houses a
hodgepodge of local history; the Museo Iconografico del Quijote is
devoted to art about Don Quixote; and the birthplace of Diego
Rivera serves up a comprehensive collection of the muralists
paintings and drawings as well as contemporary exhibits by local
artists.
Also notable is the
Museo Alhondiga, which holds a collection of Mexican history in a
building that was the scene of one of the earliest battles of the
Mexican Revolution.
The Museo de los
Momias is a must-see. On display are hundreds of mummies, former
residents of the town cemetery. Bodies are exhumed periodically to
make room for the more recently departed. The mummies are exhibited
in fantastic, often gruesome, poses.
Clients interested in
the citys most famous ceramist shouldnt miss the Majolica-style
pottery at the Gorky Gonzalez workshop, a short walk from the
garden.
Morelia
New Spains first
viceroy, Antonio de Mendoza, founded Morelia in 1541. In 1580, it
became the capital of Michoacan state. By 1640, construction of
Morelias Cathedral had begun, and, in 1787, Fray Antonio de San
Miguel built the citys magnificent aqueduct featuring 253 baroque
arches.
Morelias clean
streets and shady parks and plazas are a delight. The citys
historic center, designated a World Heritage Site in 1991 by
Unesco, features dozens of restored mansions, churches and
buildings painted in soft pink.
Morelia has a long
history of music and is spotlighted every year during an
international guitar festival held in March. Morelia is home to one
of the oldest music conservatories in Latin America.
San Cristobal
de las Casas
Founded in 1528 and
situated in the state of Chiapas, San Cristobal de las Casas was
named after its first bishop, Bartolome de las Casas, who was a
supporter of the local indigenous people.
Today, San Cristobal
is a classic colonial town with a rich indigenous culture. A series
of neighborhoods specialize in traditions like candle-making,
carpentry, blacksmithing and fireworks-making.
The city also
features several festivals, including Semana Santa
(Easter), Feria de la Primavera y de la Paz (Spring Fair)
and Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).
San Luis
Potosi
Founded as a
Franciscan mission in 1592, San Luis Potosi quickly became a mining
center when deposits of gold and silver were found there by the
Spanish. Known as the City of Gardens, San Luis Potosi has at least
one garden in each of its seven original districts. There is also
at least one church in each of the seven districts, giving San Luis
Potosi a religious feel.
The main historical
district is concentrated in the center of the city, with several
streets closed to traffic. The town brims with architecture that
reflects its early wealth. The 18th-century cathedral and the
municipal palace face each other across the main plaza, the Plaza
de Armas.
The Church of San
Agustin, Church of San Francisco and La Paz Theater grace other
plazas throughout the city. San Luis Potosi is also a town of
festivals. In mid-January, pilgrims flock to the shrine of San
Sebastian. Music, theater and dance entertain revelers at the
10-day Festival of the Arts in May. July brings the Festival of
Dance, while the towns patron saint, San Luis Rey, is commemorated
in August with a parade.
Taxco
This colonial gem is
known as the silver city and is located in Guerrero state, just a
few hours east of Acapulco and a few hours west of Mexico City.
Founded in 1529, Taxco spreads out across a hillside. The city has
narrow, cobblestone streets, tile-roofed buildings and plazas with
a European influence.
The discovery of
silver brought fortune-seekers and great wealth to Taxco. Hernan
Cortes discovered Taxco in the early 17th century as the Spaniards
combed Mexico in search of silver.
Taxcos monumental
church, Santa Prisca, is a baroque masterpiece completed in 1758.
The interior displays some of Mexicos most beautiful gold leaf
ornamentation. Taxco also hosts a variety of annual festivals
including the Alarconian Theatrical Festival in May and the Silver
Fair in November, which showcases the depth and breadth of
silverwork in Taxco.
Xalapa
Referred to as the
Athens of Veracruz, Xalapa is Veracruzs capital city, rich in
history and a renowned cultural center dating to the 19th century.
Several fine-arts schools had been headquartered in Xalapa,
including El Colegio Nacional de Xalapa, established in 1843, and
the Escuela Normal Veracruzana, opened in 1886.
Today, the city is
the headquarters of the University of Veracruz, the Veracruz
Cultural Institute and the Xalapa Symphony Orchestra. In addition
to orchestras and theater productions, Xalapa is famous for its
museums, including the Xalapa Museum of Anthropology and the Museum
of Science and Technology.
The annual Xalapa
Fair takes place in April. Dating to the 18th century, it features
a variety of artwork, handicrafts, music, dance and family
activities.
Zacatecas
Located in the center
of Mexico between the hills of El Cerro and La Bufa, Zacatecas is
one of Mexicos highest colonial cities, at 8,200 feet above sea
level. Zacatecas features a variety of attractions, from museums
and cobblestone streets to villages where traditional silversmiths
live and work.
The mine located at
Cerro del Grillo is a place to learn about the citys silver-mining
past. It features a gallery with guided tours showcasing how miners
worked during the colonial era and how techniques kept changing
until the mine shut down in 1964.
At night, the mine
serves as one of the citys most popular discos.
Other landmarks
include the Zacatecas Cathedral with its pink stone facade, the
former convent of San Francisco and the baroque church of Santo
Domingo.
Zacatecas hosts a
cultural festival each May featuring dance, theater, music and
regional arts and crafts.
To contact
reporter Jorge Sidron, send e-mail to [email protected].