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The greatness of Oaxaca is not only in the capitol. The neighboring
villages also have rich Archeological Sites, architecture from Colonial
times and the Porfiriato, Community Museums and handcrafts.
Here you have several routes:
Santa María El Tule
Among the natural beauties of this town is the huge, ahuehuete cypress
called El Árbol del Tule. It is
12 kilometers from Oaxaca City, on the highway towards Tehuantepec,
beside the church of Santa María el Tule. The tree is a wonderful
example of Oaxacan flora, 40 meters high with a diameter of 52.58
meters, it weights around 509 tons and is approximately 2000 years
old. We suggest you visit the handcraft market of the community
and to sample the wide variety of local foods.
San Jerónimo Tlacochahuaya
It is located 23 kilometers from Oaxaca City on Highway 190, turn
right to find this town, whose name in Nahuatl means humid
place. The 16th century religious complex, built by Dominicans,
is worth visiting. The original interior décor is still visible,
with frescos painted with grana cochinilla (a natural red dye).
Some of the altarpieces were made by the painter Juan de Arrué and
there is also a recently restored 17th century polychrome tubular
organ.
Dainzu
This small archeological site is 20 kilometers from Oaxaca City
on Highway 190 in the direction of Tehuantepec.
The stone bas-relief gallery is interesting because it shows ball
players in action as well as four figures which are probably the
four gods of fire.
Teotitlán del Valle
It is located 28 kilometers from Oaxaca City on Highway 190, turn
left and after 2 kilometers you will find this town where woolen
rugs made on domestic looms are sold. The artisans here use natural
dyes such as indigo, moss and grana cochinilla. We suggest you visit
their houses if you are interested in buying a rug.
Lambityeco
It is located 30 kilometers from Oaxaca City on Highway 190, this
recently discovered site was inhabited in period IV of Monte
Albán (600-750 AD). Its name means still
hillocks. The constructions were of stone and adobe, except
for the pyramid, where a Zapotec market probably existed. This was
built of engraved stone with the lower part covered in geometric
designs.
Tlacolula
It is located 30 kilometers from Oaxaca City. Tlacolula has a 17th
century Dominican complex with an extraordinary chapel in the baroque
style dedicated to the Señor de Tlacolula. On Sundays, you can visit
the biggest market of the Central Valleys, where you can buy all
kinds of handicrafts and typical food. The mezcal sold in some establishments
surrounding the main square is of very good quality.
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Santa Ana del Valle
To get to this town take Highway 190 to Tlacolula, then take the
turning which leads to Díaz Ordaz and drive another 3.5 kilometers,
35 km in all. The church of Santa Ana is in the baroque style of
the 18th century. Its main doorway has two halves and a semicircular
arch. South of the main square there is a community museum where
you can see the ancient textile traditions of this place with woolen
blankets, jorongos, rugs, bags, tablecloths, curtains, etc. Some
of them are traditional and some modern in design, using some motifs
from prehispanic or recent history. The rug market is one of the
most important of its kind.
Yagul
It is located 36 kilometers from Oaxaca City is this important prehispanic
center whose name literally means old
tree. Among its monuments is a ball court, the largest in
the Oaxaca region and the second in size in all Mesoamerica. The
most interesting remains are the Palace with Six Patios, a huge
construction with several rooms of complex distribution and intercommunication
that makes us think it was probably a governors residence.
Mitla
This ancient Zapotec Ceremonial Center is 46 kilometers from Oaxaca
City. Its name in Nahuatl means Place
of the Dead, while the Zapotecs called it lyobaa,
meaning Place of burials.
Mitla was a place of residence for the Zapotec priestly class. It
was inhabited from the classic period of Monte
Albán (100 to 650 AD) , and reached its peak in the post-classical
period (750 to 1521 AD). The layout of the city was probably planned
with structures grouped in five sets, currently called the Columns,
the Church, the Stream, the Adobes and the South.
Hierve el Agua
This fascinating area is 57 kilometers from Oaxaca City on Highway
190, then in Mitla take the turning to Ayutla. After about 17 kilometers
you will find another turning to San Lorenzo Albarradas and after
5 kilometers you will find Hierve el Agua.
Due to the variety and high concentrations of mineral salts, a prehispanic
irrigation system ad various waterfalls are now petrified. A series
of small natural pools have been excavated to form an esplanade
called "The Amphitheater", from which you can admire the amazing
scenary.
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