Teotitlán del Valle & Zapotec Rugs

Only 20 miles east of the capital is the valley of Teotitlán, famous for its weaving since pre-Hispanic times.

The bugs on this cactus will be use to dye Oaxaca's traditional rugs.

Artisans live in colorful houses along the road leading to the city, displaying their intricately designed natural vegetal-dyed rugs on their facades (above). Many own plants that produce indigo blue dye and the nopal cactus where weavers cultivate cochinilla (cochineal bugs) to produce the handsome red color (cochineal dye). Visitor can witness a spinning, dying and weaving demonstration, and have the opportunity to purchase some of colorful rugs produced in the village.

Carpet making is an art form and is often referred to as “painting on wool.” Hand-loomed Teotitlán rugs are famous throughout the world, and can be purchased directly from the artisans, at their own or at the marketplace on the central plaza of Teotitlán, where rugs are pretty much the only things for sale.

These Zapotecs columns are now part of a church

Next to the plaza, the church of Teotitlán is famous for having been built over a pre-Columbian Zapotec temple. Actually, many of the green stones used for the walls, as well as several of the columns in the backyard, used to belong to the original indigenous temple. Hence, some of the indigenous religious icons engraved on these columns made their way into a catholic temple (see picture).

Continued...	Tehuantepec > >
Based on video "Journey to the Heart of Mexico"	Practical Information of Oaxaca > >
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