Tlaxcala:
From Puebla, we headed off to the very quiet and peaceful Tlaxcala, our last stop before reaching Mexico City. We could have gone directly to the capital but we wanted to have a look to this not too well known city. Well to be described as quiet, the town was quiet, not sure where were the 16,000 inhabitants! We had a nice time discovering the town and visiting the ruins of Cacaxtla and what a relief...very few tourists...
Tlaxcala or Tlaxcala de Xicotencalt is the smallest capital of the smallest State in Mexico. Only around 16,000 inhabitants! And it is even not the most populous city in the State! The city was originally settled by indigenous people who fought fiercely when the Spaniards arrived in 1519 but formed an alliance with them to combat their former Aztecs oppressors (with the exception of a chief Xicotencalt the Younger who is now a Mexican hero).
- View of the town from the capilla del Cristo del Vecino. The tower which can be seen on the right of the picture belongs to the ex-convento Franciscano de la Asuncion (16th Century) and ...
-... was not built on the church building but attached to it giving a unique "touch" to this Temple. Also this church could be where the first baptisme of Native American was made by priests associated to Cortes,
- Close to the ex-convento, the "capilla" or "chapel" del Cristo del Vecino (17th Century). There were 5 others capillas dispatched all around the town,
- The Basilica and Santuario de la Virgen de Ocotlan. The Virgen de Ocotlan is the saint patron of Tlaxcala and the close State of Puebla. The legend says that the Virgen appeared here in 1541 to a young native of Tlaxcala. Since then it is an important pilgrimage site in Mexico. The church is located on a hill overlooking the city,
- The very peacefull plaza of Xicotencalt where the craft market takes place every Saturday and Sunday.
1 comment:
Correct, Tlaxcala has very few tourists. We live in Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala about 3 months out of the year during the cold Wisconsin, USA, winters. But, when are in residence (near the State Education Building), Tlaxcala does have tourists because I am the "Genuine-Tourist" dot com. I took over 10,000 photos and 500 videos last winter. The videos are available in YouTube by searching under the name of "Silversard." We are planning on return late next January.
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