Zocalo: Oaxaca City
The city square is called Plaza Principal or the Zocalo. Actually it is 2 squares: one is a park with a bandstand and trees for shade; while the other contains shops and outdoor cafes. On a typical day people from all walks of life are seen at the Zocalo including protesters, soldiers, bands and groups of singing children adding to the atmosphere. At night the area fills with street musicians and vendors who sell a variety of foods and crafts. The zocalo has been the heart of Oaxaca for nearly 500 years, since it was laid out by Juan Pelaez de Berrio and Alonso Garcia Bra.
History & Background
In a way, Oaxaca’s zocalo is very similar to others in cities designed by colonial Spanish architects. Zocalos served as the symbolic manifestation of Spanish power, as each plaza had buildings representing the two main colonizing institutions: the church and the crown. The central square was the most crucial part of the layout of a new city, as it consolidated the rule of the conquistador. The space for Oaxaca’s own zocalo was originally delineated by Juan Pelaez de Berrio in 1529. Alonso Garcia Bravo, who also designed Veracruz and Mexico City, then used the plaza as a reference point when he planned the rest of the city.
The zocalo’s historical significance as a social gathering place has fortified its critical role in the fabric of Oaxacan urban life. It is not unusual for families to gather to celebrate the anniversary of parents who originally met in the zocalo. Moreover, the maintenance of the square is a matter of civic pride because the space is the location of the governor’s offices and most national festivities such as the Grito de la Independencia (September 15). Hence, the state government funds many events such as the weekly performances of the state music band.
Soledad Church near the Zocalo: Oaxaca City
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Oaxaca Regional Museum (Museo Regional de Oaxaca): Oaxaca
The Oaxaca Regional Museum is located inside the enchanting exconvent of Santo Domingo de Guzmán. Some of its recently redesigned rooms contain important samples of prehispanic and colonial history and culture. It is housed in a beautiful green stone building attached to Santo Domingo Church. It contains the Zapotec treasures from Tomb Seven at Monte Albán. This and other archaeological sections make the most sense if you visit them after seeing some sites in the Central Valleys.
Hours: The museum is generally open from 10 am. to 8 pm., Tuesday to Sunday. Entry
Teatro Macedonio de Alcalá: Oaxaca City
Teatro Macedonio Alcalá, which as well as being a working theatre houses a collection of romantic art is one of the attractions in the Oaxaca City. This beautiful 1903 Belle Epoque theater, 2 blocks east of the zócalo, holds 1,300 people and is still used for concerts and performances in the evening. Peek through the doors to see the marble stairway and Louis XV vestibule. Sometimes, a list of events is posted on the doors.
The city of Oaxaca, Oaxaca (formally: Oaxaca de Juárez, in honour of 19th-century president and national hero Benito Juárez, who was born nearby) is the capital and main city of the Mexican state of the same name. It is located in the Oaxaca Valley in the Sierra Madre del Sur Mountains, at 17°07′ N 96°72′ W. The important Monte Albán archaeological site is close to the city. In 2003 the estimated population was 259,600 people.
Oaxaca is far more than a tourist destination, and tourism does not dominate the city's life. Nonetheless, it does have a significant tourist trade, based on
Temple of the Consolación : Oaxaca City
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Oaxaca's Cathedral: Oaxaca City
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State Government Palace: Oaxaca City
Place of the State Govt. of Oaxaca.
Temple and Exconvent of CompañÃa de Jesús: Oaxaca City
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Chapel of the Sagrado Corazón de Jesús: Oaxaca City
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Temple of San MatÃas en Jalatlaco : Oaxaca City
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