Travel to Oaxaca, city in Mexico

Oaxaca is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of the same name. It is situated in the Central Valleys region of the state, in the foothills of the Sierra Madre at the base of the Cerro del Fortín extending to the banks of the Atoyac River. It is at 1500 m above sea level and has a mild climate year-round. Its popularity, Oaxaca owns to splendid architecture, brilliant handicrafts and amazing archeological sites. It is the type of the city that mostly relies on the tourism because of the large number of colonial-era structures and archeological sites such as Monte Alban and Mitla. Due to all that, this city is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. It has been inhabited in prehistoric times and the first Europeans to arrive in the area were Dominican friars who came to convert the native people to Catholicism.
All around the city, there are different building all decorated with the colonial architecture, and every one beautiful in its own way. The most outstanding architectural masterpiece is Santo Domingo church. It is a jewel in the crown of Dominican architecture, built between 1550 and 1619. The opulent baroque interior of Santo Domingo church contrasts with its sedate exterior, making it really special. A short distance from Oaxaca city there are several archaeological sites located. The most distinguished is Monte Alban. It is the capital of the Zapotec people from 500 B.C. to 800 A.D. Located on the mountain-top; it offers impressive views of the valley below. The monumental center of Monte Albán is the Main Plaza. It is delimited by large platforms accessible from the plaza via monumental staircases. One characteristic of Monte Albán is the large number of carved stone monuments one encounters throughout the plaza. Another important site is the site of Mitla. It is located in the Eastern arm of the Oaxaca valley and five main groups of buildings remain including the Grupo de las Columnas and the Grupo de Iglesia. The walls are decorated with distinctive geometric mosaics that characterize Mitla’s buildings and traces of paintwork and some artifacts are still retained.
Oaxacan handicrafts are known all over the world and some of the most sought-after items are Zapotec wool rugs, Black pottery and Wood carvings called “alebrijes”. What is more, it is also known for its distinctive cuisine, you have to try mole, quesillo and tlayudas. Hotels range from small, informal places to luxurious hotels, it all depends how much you want to spend on it. During the year there are several fiestas in Oaxaca, and some of them are Day of the Dead celebrations, Radish Night and The Guelaguetza, dance festival. This folk dance festival is the most popular festival in the state and it is held every July and takes place in an auditorium overlooking the city.

Visiting a city in Mexico – Puebla City The City of Puebla is the 4th largest city in...
Exploring the Mexico City area, Teotihuacan, Part 2 Next stop on your tour is the Avenue of the...
Visiting other cities in Mexico? Visit Guadalajara The second largest city in Mexico is Guadalajara. Among the...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Posted by admin in City In Mexico, Mexican Culture, Other Places in Mexico

City In Mexico

Organize your paradise vacation in Mexico!

Travel to Oaxaca, city in Mexico