Added: 12/13/2005 |
The magic of central MexicoIf you ask people what they think when they hear the phrase "central Mexico" the most common answer you hear will be connected either with Mexico's historical heritage or with its rich mountain ranges and volcanoes. Truly, central Mexico has the biggest number of historical sites, or so-called places of historical interest, than the rest of that beautiful country. After all, it was nowhere else but in central Mexico that the Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortez with his small army of only a few hundred men conquered a significantly outnumbering native army and established the Spanish dominance in the region. In our days, central Mexico stands proud of the variety and mixture of its ancient Aztec ruins, baroque style churches and monasteries, colonial architecture along with the best museums in the country.
The region consists of 11 states: Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Mexico, Michoacan, Morelos, Puebla, Queretaro, and Luis Potosí and Tlaxcala, each one of which has its own pecularities that shouldn't be missed. Cities and places like Guanjuato, Morelia, Queretaro, Xochicalco were named world heritage sites for their well preserved colonial architecture of great historical significance. Cuernavaca, aka "the city of eternal spring" can boast not only its awesome climate, but also the first Mexican house of Hernan Cortez, which has been remodeled into a Museum of Mexican History and Culture. The towns of Patzcuaro, Puebla de los Angeles and Hidalgo are also known for their native handicraft so popular among tourists.
Another attraction that central Mexico has to offer is pyramids: five small ones in the archeological site not far from Morelia; 65 meter high and 450 meters square at the base, the largest pyramid in Mesoamerica located in the ruined city of Cholula not far from Puebla; finally the circular famous Pyramids of the Spiral and the Pyramid of Flowers in the sites of Cacaxtla. All different, yet all worth seeing.
Last but not the least are the natural attractions of central Mexico. The region is rich with mountains, waterfalls and grottoes. That's why ecotourism and adventure travel is what makes cities like Queretaro, Tlaxcala, Puebla and many others so alluring for tourists. The world's smallest and Mexico's second biggest volcanoes are located in this region, presenting an outstanding opportunity of rock climbing for adventurous spirits. Popocatipetl and Iztacchuatl, second and third highest mountains in Mexico are also the two most famous ones. There is even an Aztec legend behind their appearance, which tells a tragic love story of a warrior Popocatepetl, who could reunite with his beloved one, Iztacchuatl, only if he came back from the war he had been sent to.
Popocatepetl goes to war and meanwhile Iztacchuatl dies of grief as she is told that her beloved was killed. In turn, the warrior also dies of grief as he finds out what has happened. The legend claims that the gods made their dead bodies mountains and covered them with snow. Respectively, the names of the mountains - Iztacchuatl translates as "Sleeping Woman", and Popocatepetl - as "Smoking Mountain", which in rage and grief over the loss of his beloved one splits fire on Earth. The story is fascinating, the view of the mountains is even more so.
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