Tag Archives: history

Chiapa de Corzo, A Mexican Magic Town

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La Pila

The La Pila Fountain landmark was constructed in1592 with a diamond shaped Moorish design made of brick.

Chiapa de Corzo was once the capital of the state and is now one of Mexico’s  Pueblo Magico’s  due to it’s historical significance. It is located between San Cristobal de Las Casas and Tuxtla Gutierrez on the banks of the Grijalua river. The main tourist attractions here include some impressive church architecture, sumidero canyon and ecological park, waterfront restaurants on the river and the waterfalls of Chorreadero Park. Touring  Sumidero Canyon requires an inexpensive 2 hour boat ride that cruises down the Grijalua river through steep vertical walls that rise up as high as 1000 meters in some places while the park offers hiking, cycling, rappelling, rock climbing and kayaking recreational activities. The  Chorreadero waterfalls and ecological park is only a 15 minute ride by taxi or car  from Chiapa or the waterfront. The main attraction here is  a stream that emerges from a cave which is the end of an underground river and plunges like a waterfall from a height of about 25 meters to form a series of cascading pools for swimmers to enjoy. The caves and underground river can also be explored by arranging a guided tour. Take the guided photo tour for more information about these attractions.

The Santo Domingo Church and former monastery was buildt in the 16 century and is the largest structure in the city
Here’s one of several hotels in the central historic district
a public market behind the church
One of several waterfront restaurants on the Grijalua river
The Temple of Calvario was built in the 17th century but was later renovated in nineteenth century style Gothic architecture
a street muscian entertaining shoppers in the main plaza
a view of the canyon that was carved by the river over a 12 million year period
a view of some rock outcroppings also carved by the river
While cruising along the river, you will see crocodiles and a variety of birds such as egrets and heron’s
Here a look at the stream emerging from the cave where the underground river ends at the Chorreadero Park
a view from the top where the stream emerges from the cave and flows down to form cascading pools of water

 

Mexico and Monuments

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a tribute to the maya people and civilization

a tribute to the maya people and culture

Mexico loves it monuments and that’s why one of its most important  cities, Oueretaro, was inscribed as a historic monument  U.N.E.S.C.O. world heritage zone in 1996. A  tourist in Mexico can learn much about the history of this country  by simply visiting these monuments which can be found in most every large city and resort area. There are several kinds of monuments such as statutes  built as a lasting tribute to a person, a group of people or an event. Other kinds of monuments that are most common can be either a place, building site or structure that is preserved because of its historic culture and/or aesthetic importance. In addition to Queretaro;  most of the national monuments are found in Mexico city, Gaunajuato, and Guadalajara but there are many other significant monuments to be found in a variety of locations nationwide.The photo essay below shows a variety of these monuments including some of the most important and popular in Mexico.

A monument in Puerto Vallarta dedicated to mexican culture
El Caballito a monument in Puerto Vallarta dedicated to the sea
monument to Father Hildago, the spiritual leader of Mexico’s revolutionary war
the fishermans monument is dedicated to the importance of commercial and recreational fishing in Mazatlan
Monument to Mazatlan which translated means land of deer
a monument to Danzante and the Otomi indian culture in that existed in Queretaro before the Spanish conquest
Ruins of La Pintura building which housed works of art in the ancient city of Tulum
a monument about the Mayan people in playa del carmen on the caribbean sea
mermaid and dolphin monument in La Paz
The ninos hero’s monument dedicated to 6 cadets age 13 to 20 who lost their lives after they volunteered to defend a fortress against overwhelming odds.
a monument to the Pacifico brewery founded in Mazatland
a monument statute of aesthetic beauty in Puerto Vallarta
A chapel monument located on the hill in Queretaro where the Mexican army defeated Maximillian to win freedom from Austria.

Architecture of Mexico

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Office building in Cancun, Mx

Modern  Office building in Cancun, Mexico 

The architecture of Mexico is known for its variety that developed in several phases from different cultures. During the pre-hispanic period from  300 A.D. through the year 1581 A.D. most architecture was the product of Maya and Aztec civilizations which can be seen today at such archeological sites as Palanque, Tulum, Coba, and Chichen Itza.  After Cortez and the Spanish armies conquered mexico in the year 1581, European architecture  replaced Maya and Aztec building techniques with  baroque, renaissance, gothic,  and neoclassical architectural styles during what is known as the colonial period of Mexican history.  Existing examples of this transition can be seen in several Mexican  cities like  Guanajuato, Morelia and San Miguel de Allende that have all been declared UNESCO  world heritage sites due  to the well-preserved colonial buildings in these area’s.   In the year  1821, Mexico  finally gained it’s independence but there where very few new developments in the field of architecture for several decades until the emperor Maximilian and the dictator Porfirio Diaz started to import French architectural designs around 1860.  Perhaps, the most famous example of French influenced architecture of the day is the Palacio de Belles Artes in Mexico City commissioned by Diaz.. The next and most recent evolution in Mexican architecture came along just after  the Mexican  civil war  ended in 1910 when modern and contemporary architecture started to replace obsolete  building techniques. During this time frame  architects started  blending Mexican stylistic  elements with expressionist and functionalist design concepts  to create innovative works of modern architecture that continues to this day. A few representative examples of Mexican architecture from past to present are included in  the photo essay below.

Tulum ruins, maya architecture, circa 800-1000 A.D.
Tulum Ruins, maya architecture, the castle, circa 800-1000 A.D.
Franciscan Mission, mestizo baroque architecture, circa 1750’s, jalpa, mx
La Parroquia, renovated with Gothic Facade architecture in 1880.
Former Monastery Morelia, Circa 1619, restored 1977
Canada de la Virgin, archeological site, circa 600-900 A.D. Guanajuato
Coba archeological site, Nohoch Mul Pyramid, Circa 300-900 A.D.
Main Cathdral of Guanauato, combination of Baroque and Churrigueresque Architecture, circa 1671-1695
University of Guanajuato, established 1732, this addition completed in 1940 in neo-classical style
Moorish influenced architecture, Guanajuato, now a restaurant, tavern and inn
Baroque interior architecture, Mazatland main catherdral, circa 1899
Teatro Juarez, neo-classical architecture, circa 1870- 1903, guanajuato
French Quarter Style of architecture , circa 1870’s, restored, centro historic district of mazatland
surreal architecture, edward james,garden, Sierra Gordo, Circa 1950’s
Live Agua Hotel, Cancun, modern, contemporary architecture
modern architecture, valentino’s entertainment center, mazatland
modern expressionist architecture, museum, puerto morales
modern, contemporary architecture, cancun

Hill of Bells, Queretaro, Mexico

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A chapel monument located on the hill in Queretaro where the Mexican army defeated Maximillian to win freedom from Austria.

A chapel monument located on the hill in Queretaro where the Mexican army defeated Maximillian to win freedom from Austria.

This chapel sits on a hill which was the scene of a defining moment for the republic of Mexico. Here, on June 19, 1867; the verdict of the war tribunal was carried out when Maximillan of Hapsburg together with his generals Miguel Miramon and Tomas Mejia  were executed by a firing squad. This act sealed the triumph of the Republic and returned sovereignty to Mexico. In 1900 the government of Austria asked permission to build a chapel on the spot. Today this hill is a national park called Cerro de las Campanas and is located in the city of Queretaro. It also includes a large statute of former President Benito Juarez, a museum, the University of Queretaro, and a recreation area.