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Culture & Wonders of Oaxaca

Part of the front cover of the DVD Alexandra Travelogues - Oaxaca

The history of Oaxaca is rooted deep in the past, from being home to the thriving Zapotec civilization two thousand years ago, to becoming a fertile land for many religious groups after the arrival of the Spaniards.

 

As a result, in today's Oaxaca descendants from the Zapotec live side-by-side with fifteen other indigenous groups, speaking between them more than 150 different dialects. Their culture has changed over time but still retains its roots and bestows on Oaxaca some of the richest and most colorful traditions of food, music, costume and dance to be found in Mexico.

 

This rich cultural heritage can best be witnessed through the many festivals of the region. Any excuse can be cause for celebration in Oaxaca, and each town has its own set of festivals, always based on an alchemy of parades, dances in traditional costume, music, food and fireworks.

 

Oaxaca's cities are packed with magnificent churches, as if the many religious groups that set foot on this land competed to leave their own contribution to the unique architectural equilibrium of the region. No surprise then that the most famous churches of the city, like Oaxaca's cathedral or the Santo Domingo Church, are a blend of European design and indigenous patterns.

Even among its thousdand years old historical sites, no single culture dominates Oaxaca. Unlike the Spanish Colonial influence of Mexico City or the Mayan heritage that dominates the Yucatan peninsula, Oaxaca reflects a collage of early civilizations. Although these ancient groups might not have coexisted harmoniously within their own era, centuries later their ceremonial centers and religious sites are wonderful examples of how cultures layer, one upon the next, to create results far more beautiful and fascinating than any one group alone could have produced.

 

The most visited indigenous site is Monte Albán, the former capital of the Zapotec, with its dozen of well-preserved pyramids in a magnificent setting, 1,300 feet high. The city of Mitla has also several well-preserved indigenous constructions, including a temple that was still inhabited by a grand priest when the Spaniards arrived there in the sixteenth century.

 

Oaxaca has retained a very strong handicraft tradition, with each town specializing in different art form, from the green glazed pottery of Santa María Atzompa to the serapes of Teotitlán del Valle. Throughout the state, its numerous markets are always packed with theses colorful art crafts and the unique charm of its people all dressed in traditional costumes.

In the late 80's UNESCO recognized Oaxaca as "Cultural Patrimony of Mankind"