Oaxaca

A Glimpse into Mexico’s Roots

Oaxaca is one of Mexico’s most diverse regions, rich in ancient and modern history and geography. The state’s multi-layered cultures, a mix of several Indigenous civilizations, have produced a daily parade of sights, sounds, and tastes that never fail to fascinate visitors. Every day, every village, and every ancient ruin offer a different view of a complex region. UNESCO designated Oaxaca City a World Heritage site in 1987. The capital of the state of Oaxaca has its own special flavor equal to none other, because, in addition to its artistic and architectural treasures, different ethnicities and cultures converge in it, adding their wealth and turning it into a creative and colorful city. This colonial city, founded in the sixteenth century, has an admirable urban layout, with some of the most beautiful buildings of the Spanish Baroque.

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Santo Domingo Church and the former convent are two of the top places to see in Oaxaca City. The church is one of the most magnificent examples of Baroque architecture that you will see anywhere in Mexico. The former convent adjoining the church now houses the Santo Domingo Cultural Center, which includes the Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca, an ancient books library, a periodicals library, and an Ethnobotanical Garden in the area that was once occupied by the convent’s orchards. The
Santo Domingo church is one of the finest and most lavishly ornamented Baroque churches in Mexico. Construction on the complex began in 1555, but it was not completed until more than one hundred years later. The facade dates from the early 17th century and is soberer in style than the extravagantly decorated interior.

Santa María del Tule. Tule tree. The tree is one of the oldest and largest in the world, boasting the widest girth. It has an age of at least 2,000 years, with its existence chronicled by both the Aztecs and the Spanish, who founded the city of Oaxaca. It has a height of 40 meters, a volume of between 700 and 800 m³, an estimated weight of 630 tons, and a diameter of approximately 40 meters. The trunk is so wide that thirty people with arms extended, joining hands, are needed to encircle it. The tree dwarfs the town’s main church and is taller than its spires, and it is still growing.

Teotitlán del Valle is famous for its weavings called “laadi” in the local language, with textiles as the main economic activity. This community is known for its woven wool rugs, which use natural dyes such as those obtained from the cochineal insect. These rugs can have native indigenous motifs or more modern designs.

Mitla was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010. Mitla was once an important Zapotec–Mixtec religious and ceremonial center. Here you’ll find a series of structures and patios adorned with stonework mosaics. These ancient cut-stone mosaics, created by fitting together thousands of polished cut stones, are believed to date back to the last two or three centuries before the arrival of the Spanish.
One of the distinguishing features at Mitla is the recurrence of 14 geometric designs that are represented in the stone carvings throughout the complex. You’ll be amazed at the intricacy and detail of the carvings, especially those found in the palace building.

San Bartolo Coyotepec: Black pottery is a traditional Zapotec method of making pottery. The clay is molded and spun by hand, without the use of modern tools, then polished.
In the town of San Bartolo Coyotepec, just 12 km (7 miles) southeast of Oaxaca City, you can visit family-owned workshops where the traditions of Barro negro have been passed down from generation to generation. The actual clay that’s used to make black clay pottery is found in the valley surrounding the village.

San Martín Tilcajete, where you can experience the art of alebrije making. Alebrijes are small animal figurines hand-carved from copal wood and intricately hand-painted, often with natural dyes such as pomegranate and huitlacoche (corn fungus), an ingredient you may not know until you go to Mexico. Translating to “imaginary” or “fantasy”, the word alebrije is used to describe the whimsical style of the colorfully painted creatures.

Monte Albán, meaning “White Mountain,” is an ancient Zapotec capital and one of the most important archaeological sites in Mexico. Perched on a spectacular mountaintop overlooking Oaxaca’s valleys, it lies just a few kilometers west of Oaxaca City. Recognized for its cultural and historical significance, Monte Albán was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

Mezcal Factory Oaxaca is the country’s capital of mezcal culture.
The agave spirit has been made in Oaxaca for more than 500 years. Mezcal is made in several Mexican states, but Oaxaca arguably produces the world’s best—apparently, the soil is just right. Like its cousin, tequila, mezcal is distilled from the juices of the agave (or maguey) plant; the main differences between them are that tequila uses only blue agave and a steam-cooking method in production, whereas mezcal involves underground roasting, which imparts a very smoky, earthy flavor.
Its popularity outside of Mexico is a new phenomenon.