The city of Oaxaca is considered a land of artists and intellectuals, between majestic mountains, a mixture of architectural currents, enough culture and, without a doubt, the best, unique and delicious dishes for you to enjoy. With a spirit full of contrasts, the city of Oaxaca is one more extension of the beauty and charm of the state. It stands out for the kindness of its people, the beauty of its streets and the displays of natural splendor that are distinctive of the place.
Besides being the economic and cultural center of the region, it is a visual delight, amid the shadows of its own history, the modern world and the embers of the colonial era. It was originally established under the name of Huaxyacac (in Nahuatl, “On the place of the guajes”), in 1486. After the Spanish conquest, it was replaced by Nueva Antequera, when its nickname, La Verde Antequera, was replaced by the green quarry. with which the façade of many buildings was dressed. It was until 1821 that it was officially called Oaxaca, a derivation of the original word.
To this day, it is one of the most visited and famous cities in the country. It is a faithful reflection of the Mexican soul, an ideological and cultural set, which can be appreciated from its gastronomy, locations and even its traditions. Here we present to you, those that we believe are part of essential places to visit.
1 The Zocalo and the Alameda
A good place to start touring the city is the zócalo, also known as Plaza de la Constitución, established as the center of the city since colonial times. It is surrounded by old buildings whose ground floor, open to the square, is known as Los Portales, where there are many cafes and shops, and without a doubt, one of the most popular and popular places in the city for locals and visitors.
The most remarkable building to the northeast of the zócalo is the Cathedral, a 16th century construction that had to be rebuilt twice in subsequent centuries, as it was demolished by various earthquakes. Its green quarry facade, in the baroque style of the 16th century, is adorned with columns and niches; although simple, the cathedral is extremely beautiful inside and out. To the southwest of the zócalo, where Valerio Trujano and Flores Magón streets converge, is the Church of the Company of Jesus, with a baroque façade and a chapel of the Virgin of Guadalupe with a phrase from the Nican Mopohua, an original Nahuatl text that narrates the apparitions. of the Virgin of Tepeyac, written in Nahuatl, Spanish, English and where else languages, including four variants of Zapotec.
At one end of the zócalo, next to the cathedral, is the Alameda, the most important garden in the capital, which vibrates with life practically every day of the year, with visitors, children playing, balloonists and others. Around the Alameda there are some highly relevant public buildings, such as the Museum of Painters, Post Offices and Telegraphs, and the Beatriz de la Fuente library at UNAM.
2 Markets Benito Juárez and November 20
The markets and tianguis of Oaxaca are among the most colorful and varied in the country. One of the must-sees is the Benito Juárez Market, located one block south of the zócalo, and the November 20 Market, in the next block, also known as the Food Market. The first offers everything from fresh flowers and fruits to handicrafts and cutlery. The Food Market will delight you with its smells and sounds from before entering: pumpkin water, corn gruel, various types of chili peppers, and fresh vegetables to take away. You can sit down to taste the dishes that are prepared instantly in front of your eyes; The traditional thing is to choose one of the meats that are displayed for grilling: chorizo, jerky, jerky, tripe or udder, accompanying it with tamales, nopales or tortillas. It is quite an experience to be in the market.
You can visit others outside the city, which usually take place on a specific day. In the around the capital, on Thursdays, for example, is Market Day in Zaachila; Fridays, in Coyotepec (famous for its handicrafts) and in Ocotlán, where they offer everything from textiles and embroidery to goats and turkeys; and the Sundays in Tlacolula, where you can taste the best mezcal in the region. A little further away are the Miahuatlán markets, which are set up on Mondays to offer a great variety of articles for everyday use; Ayoquezco, where you can go on Tuesday if you are interested in acquiring peculiar wooden furniture; and Etla, a Wednesday market famous for its dairy.
3 Macedonio Alcala Walker
As you go down from the zócalo along Avenida Hidalgo, turn left onto Macedonio Alcalá Street, a wide pedestrian walkway where there are many bookstores, art galleries, travel agencies, handicraft vendors and small museums, as well as the magnificent Santo Cultural Center. Sunday.
At the corner of Independencia and 5 de Mayo streets, you will see the Macedonio Alcalá Theater, a construction from the early years of the 20th century that you will immediately recognize by its elegant carved quarry façade and its imperial dome of metal plates. Eclectic in style, this venue is dedicated to the composer of the waltz Dios Never Die, considered one of the hymns of Oaxaca. In the sumptuous interior you can see the five floors that make up the theater hall, which impress with their gilded moldings in boxes, anterooms, balconies, columns and the arch of the proscenium. If you look at the ceiling, you will be able to appreciate the medallions with the images of Beethoven, Víctor Hugo, Molière, Wagner, Calderón de la Barca, Racine and Shakespeare.
The first thing that surprises of the Andador Macedonio Alcalá are its beautiful houses. Many of them have been converted into cultural and academic spaces, such as the Central Public Library and the Museum of Contemporary Art (MACO).
Before reaching the elegant Temple of Santo Domingo, on the corner with Abasolo, the Parroquia de la Sangre de Cristo, which preserves a part of its beautiful viceregal façade. Almost opposite you will see the narrow Plazuela Labastida, a pleasant space where some artists and artisans offer their works during the day. When you arrive at the Santo Domingo Temple, you will see on the left side the Institute of Graphic Arts of Oaxaca, founded by the Oaxacan painter Francisco Toledo in 1988. It exhibits more than 12 thousand volumes on graphic arts, as well as permanent and temporary plastic exhibits.
4 Santo Domingo Cultural Center
This impressive religious and cultural space, a must-see, divided into two main areas: the Temple of Santo Domingo de Guzmán and the Ex Convent of Santo Domingo. The first, built from 1570, offers a Renaissance masterpiece on the outside; and inside, totally covered with golden and polychrome plasterwork, one of the most valuable samples of sacred baroque art in the world. Some details stand out, such as the genealogical tree of Santo Domingo, in the vault of the sotocoro, as well as the beautiful ornaments of the vault of the main nave, with a barrel barrel.
The old cloister, for its part, today includes the Ethnobotanical Historical Garden, the Museum of the Cultures of Oaxaca and the Fray Francisco de Burgoa Library. The history of the group has been full of ups and downs. After the War of the Reform, for example, the Dominicans were forced to leave the country, so that the temple ended up serving as a stables, so some of its chapels were destroyed and much of its sacred art was lost; the impressive convent, once, ended up serving as a barracks and was divided. It was not until the end of the 19th century when the clergy recovered the temple and until 1994 when the rescue work of the cloister could begin, which only opened its doors as a cultural center in 1998.
The Museum of the Cultures of Oaxaca occupies most of the complex. Offers diverse examples of Oaxacan culture, history, and art. Undoubtedly the most impressive thing about the museum is the Treasure of Tomb 7, that is, the hundreds of pieces of gold (it is estimated that there were more than 7 kilos of this material), pearls (more than 3 thousand were counted), silver, shell , jade, turquoise, bone, coral, amber and jet found by the archaeologist Alfonso Caso in 1932 in Tomb 7 of Monte Albán. The museum also houses the Fray Francisco de Burgoa Library, which houses about 23,000 titles published between 1484 and 1940, which belonged to religious congregations.
Behind the temple, on the corner of Reforma and Constitución, are the entrances to the Oaxaca Public Newspaper Library "Néstor Sánchez H." and the Ethnobotanical Historical Garden, which occupies the enormous space where the vegetable garden and courtyards of the convent used to be. In it you will be able to know the great biodiversity of the state, through its enormous collection of living botanical species.
5 Basilica of Our Lady of Solitude and Socrates Garden
The Basilica of Our Lady of Solitude, which stands gracefully on one side of the Plaza de la Danza, a space where cultural events take place. Dedicated to the patron saint of the city, in addition to its façade in the form of a screen supported by Doric, Ionic and Solomonic columns, it boasts two bell towers and many niches with religious figures, all of great figure and in excellent condition. Inside you will come across a second dichromatic wooden gate carved with floral and fruit motifs. Also the amazing angels that hold the audience and the lamps. In the background, behind the altar, is the image of the Virgen de la Soledad. Surrounding the basilica, the Religious Museum of La Soledad.
In the garden, you will have at the bottom of the left side the Municipal Palace; and from the right, the ancient Temple of San José, originally built in 1595 by the Jesuits. Currently, this church and the surrounding buildings belong to the School of Fine Arts of the Benito Juárez Autonomous University. Do not forget to stop for a moment in the Socrates Garden, in addition to souvenirs, enjoy rich snows with exotic flavors. In the garden, you will have at the bottom of the left side the Municipal Palace; and from the right, the ancient Temple of San José, originally built in 1595 by the Jesuits.
What are you waiting to visit Oaxaca! Information collected from "Unknown Mexico Guide Oaxaca edition"
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