OAXACA
Oaxaca
City
is located in Mexico?s
southern region in the middle of a zone surrounded by four valleys. Behind the valleys lie three
important mountain ranges, which keep
the climate mild with an
average temperature of 18º
C (64º F).
In this city,
the capital of the state of
Oaxaca, you can admire the beautiful architecture of the buildings
in the Centro Historico (Historic Center), which was declared
a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. The edifices include la
Catedral (The Cathedral), el
Templo y ex Convento de Santo Domingo de Guzman (The Temple and Ex-Convent of Saint Domingo de Guzman), la Basilica de la
Soledad
(The Basilica of Solitude) and
el Teatro Macedonio Alcala (The
Macedonio Alcala Theater), among other magnificent
colonial and 19th-century
constructions. As you visit the main
plaza, the numerous establishments surrounding the Historic Center,
and the traditional
markets, such as Benito Juarez and 20 de Noviembre, you?ll find all
kinds of crafts that come from various regions
of Oaxaca. Among the most popular crafts are the colorful alebrijes, swords, wool garments and
beautiful black pottery. At some
of the more traditional places you can try the delicious
local fare, such as tamales, mole dishes and
Oaxacan cheese. Another favorite is Oaxaca?s famous mezcal, a
regional alcoholic beverage
made from the maguey plant.
In the city?s
surrounding areas, you can visit archaeological
zones Monte Alban and Mitla, pre-Hispanic
capitals of the Zapotec and
Mixtec people. If you visit
the town of Santa Maria de Tule, you can marvel at the
famous Arbol del Tule (Tule
Tree). What?s more, the magnificent natural scenery at Parque Nacional Benito
Juarez and the spectacular fossilized waterfalls at Hierve el Agua are certain to impress you.
All of these
places are relatively close
to Oaxaca City, one of Mexico?s
most charming cities.
