Magical Pueblos
Beyond the glossy travel poster depicting
honeymooners waist deep in clear blue waters is a country where
civilizations that inhabited the land were tied to it and believed
their destiny to be one of cosmic significance. But twenty-seven
years after Columbus made the initial European contact with the
New World, Spanish conquistadors landed on Veracruz beach and
changed Mexico’s history forever. A mixture of cultures,
or mestizaje, ensued and a unique fusion of customs and traditions
emerged to create the delicate balance of old and new that Mexico
is now famous for. As a direct result, Mexico’s Secretariat
of Tourism (Sectur), responsible for promoting tourism to Mexico,
has developed a project called Magical Pueblos. The project was
conceived in order to showcase these special towns of historic
or religious significance, increase the local tourism economies
and show the world the magic of these destinations.
In the state of Nayarit lies Mexcaltitlan,
a mysterious little island in the middle of the saltwater Laguna
Mexcaltitlan. The island, which covers an area less than 400 by
350 meters is termed “the cradle of true Mexico” because
legend says the original Aztecs gathered here in order to set
out on their fabled search for the mystical sign of an eagle devouring
a serpent. It was said that wherever the Aztecs witnessed this
act is where they would establish Tenochtitlan, or what is today
Mexico City. The peaceable nature of the just over a thousand
inhabitants and some of the islands natural and historical wonders
are what drive tourists here today.
Surrounded by desert valleys and rolling
hills, Real de Catorce was once a thriving mining community of
roughly 50,000 inhabitants. Today the destination is a semi ghost
town of just a thousand or so residents, most of whom make their
living as independent prospectors working the abandoned mines.
But what the town may lack in population it certainly makes up
for in cultural and historical heritage. The town’s remoteness
has preserved its unique flavor and exposes visitors to some of
the region’s most incredible sights including he Parroquia
de la Purisima Concepcion and Casa de la Moneda, or the old mint.
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