Meagan Drillinger
One of the richest parts of Mexican culture is its wealth of beautiful colonial cities. Brilliantly colored buildings flank the cobblestone streets, where locals sell everything from handmade sandals and candy to sizzling street food and indigenous art. The colonial cities are some of the best places to get a peek at Mexico’s past. But beyond the most-popular colonial cities such as Oaxaca, Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende are several others below the radar that should be at the top of your list to visit.
“Mexico has so much to offer in the way of colonial cities that are not on the busiest tourist paths,” said Adamarie King, a travel specialist with Connoisseur’s Travel. “One of my favorites is Puebla. It is easily combinable with Mexico City, Guanajuato and more. I like to have clients fly into Mexico City and immediately transfer to Puebla for three days.”
In Puebla, travelers will find a beautiful colonial center with small but gorgeous museums. Puebla is a culinary capital, as well, with great markets, wonderful restaurants and plenty of opportunities to cook. For another excellent market, visit nearby Atlixco. King suggests a daytrip to nearby Cholula to see the pyramid topped by a colonial church as well as the amazing chapels in nearby villages.
“Continue on to Cuernavaca for a stay at the beautiful Las Mananitas Hotel and Spa,” King said. “From a base here, visit Cortez’s summer palace, which is home to a very important Diego Rivera mural featuring Emiliano Zapata.” Just outside Cuernavaca, consider taking a daytrip to the archaeological site at Xochicalco. This site has been excavated fairly recently and is hardly ever crowded. A longer daytrip would be to the colonial silver town of Taxco, a hub for silver mavens and shoppers.
Jewell Ramos, a vacation specialist with Worldview Travel, highly recommends the city of Patzcuaro. It is three miles south of Lake Patzcuaro, and 36 miles from Morelia. It’s a beautiful town full of colonial architecture, markets and vibrant traditions. The city has two main plazas and several smaller squares. The Plaza Principal is wreathed by 17th century mansions overlooking a central fountain. The city’s second main plaza, the Plaza Gertrudis Bocanegra, is where the colorful Mercado de Artesanias market is found along with the Gertrudis Bocanegra Library and the Emperor Caltzontzin Theater, which are both decorated with murals. One of the most magical times to visit Patzcuaro is during the Days of the Dead, Nov. 1 and 2, when fishermen row across the lake to the island of Janitzio in canoes that glow with candlelight.
Ramos also highly recommends Morelia, a designated Unesco World Heritage Site. Morelia is the capital of the state of Michoacan, and its largest and most populated city. It has a wide array of activities and sights for visitors, from the colonial architecture to regional cuisine. Since 2003, Morelia has also been home for the Morelia International Film Festival, held each October, which has welcomed directors such as Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Quentin Tarantino, Pedro Almodovar and more. Morelia is full of museums, galleries and cafes as well as stadiums, sports arenas, restaurants and hotels. One of the best times to visit is Sept. 30, the anniversary of the birth of national hero Don Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon. The festival pays tribute with theatrical works, music, fireworks and flowers.