Oaxaca City

World Heritage City, called the "Verde Antequera" for its beautiful constructions of green quarry of colonial style.

Since ancient times, our capital has been the meeting heart of countless cultures, that are in force in the state, when the splendor of the cities of Mitla and Monte Alban radiated the southwest of Mexico. It is a city of noble and friendly people, who have great talents, which invite the traveler, as national as foreign, to know and live an experience rich in culture and tradition, and specially makes them feel at home.

To appreciate why Oaxaca is great, you just have to integrate yourself into its marvelous festivities that result really extraordinary, and, for the benefit of our travelers, we have them the entire year; in them, the heart of its people is reflected; it is to know the very essence of the oaxacan people, that shows his joy in the Carnival festivities, that is respectful and supportive in the Easter activities, as the giving of flowers and love poems to the young ladies on Lent Fridays on the “Paseo Juárez, El Llano”, and that is extremely devoted and reflexive about the “Encuentro”, “El Via Crucis”, “La visita de las 7 casas”, “La Crucifixión”, “Las Siete Palabras”, “El Descendimiento” and finally “El Pésame a la Virgen”.

The Central Valleys have archaeological sites, XVI Century convents, baroque temples, civil buildings from the colonial period and museums. There are also many important cultural expressions, such as religious celebrations with their typical parades (calendas) and holiday celebrations where they offer food, music and drinks (mayordomías).

In all the month of July with the “Lunes del Cerro” festivities and the “Guelaguetza”, its sports and folkloric activities as the election of the “Diosa Centéotl”, the parades of Delegations, the presentation of “Donají la Leyenda”, the “7 Moles” festivals, the “tejate” and the “tamal”, among many others. Experiment the nostalgic joy in the “Todos los Santos” festivities and “Fieles Difuntos”, tasting its delicious traditional gastronomy of the “Day of Deaths” which dishes are ancient familiar recipes.

It is to know the religious fever with the parades of children carrying the very mexican flower of “Nochebuena” attired as “Juan Diego” and “inditas”, that make their pilgrimage by the historical center streets to reach the Temple of the Virgen of Guadalupe.

Our traditional “Noche de Rábanos” that takes place each December 23rd, where the oaxacan gardeners show, to the amazement of visitors , their transformed art into radish figures, inmortal flower and totomoxtle leaves; the “calendas” with their giants, faroles, marmotas and floats that look a thousand shapes and colors.

And finally it is to experiment the enormous feeling of joy with Christmas, New Year, “Reyes and Belenes” when the familiar peace and welfare are renewed. The warmth of its people and the shelter of its mountains will make you fall in love with this beautiful city.

You will always be welcome with your loved ones, come to Oaxaca and feel at home, rounded of the warmth and joy of its people and the sweet flavor of the lived moments.

Oaxaca is a complex but intensely attractive city whose majestic churches and refined plazas have deservedly earned it a Unesco World Heritage badge. Lovers of culture come here to indulge in the Mexico of Zapotec and colonial legend.

HISTORICAL DOWNTOWN

The Plaza of the Constitution (zócalo) is located in the historic center which is downtown, where the State Band and a marimba band perform concerts. (A marimba is a type of wooden xylophone.)

The government palace (Palacio) is located in the south end of the zócalo, it has now been converted into a center for art and photography exhibitions. In the Palacio, there is also a mural of Arturo García Bustos, which represents the History of Oaxaca. At the north end of the zócalo is located the beautiful Cathedral, which was built near the end of the XVI century, the Alameda de León Park.

Enjoy the exquisite regional food in the restaurants located in Los Portales (arches of the zócalo), at the same time you can enjoy the beautiful and magnificent architecture surrounding the zócalo. The tourist walkway is located a few blocks from the zócalo, on Alcalá Street where you can buy handicrafts; you can also visit the Contemporary Art Museum of Oaxaca (MACO), the beautiful Temple of Santo Domingo and its Cultural Center where you will be able to visit the Oaxaca Historical Museum of Anthropology, the botanical gardens and the Francisco de Burgoa Library.

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