Above: Oaxaca Cathedral and plaza.
Photo: Daniella.
Oaxaca (pronounced "wah-hah-kah") has long been a popular Mexican destination because of its cultural diversity and abundance of interesting sights.
Situated in a fertile valley 1,500 m (4,900 ft) up in the mountains, Oaxaca is one of the best preserved and most charming of Mexico's colonial cities. Oaxaca has several interesting museums and colonial churches, all within walking distance of the city center.
Another great attraction is the streets themselves, with their rich blend of cultures. Each Saturday, Zapotec Indians, Mixtecs, and many other groups converge at the Mercado de Abastos, Mexico's largest Indian market, to sell traditional crafts.
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Basilica de la Soledad
The holiest site in Oaxaca, this 17th-century church was built to house the image of the Virgin of Solitude (Soledad), Oaxaca's patron saint. She wears 600 diamonds and a 4-lb gold crown. |
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Catedral de Oaxaca
An imposing structure with an attractive Baroque facade. Rebuilt after a fire in 1730, it features a bronze altar and a much-revered crucifix that was the sole survivor of the lightning-caused blaze. |
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Regional Museum
Housed in a beautifully-restored colonial convent, this excellent museum displays finds from ancient Mexico, including artifacts from Monte Alban's Tomb 7. |
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Santo Domingo Church and Convent
The most splendid Oaxaca's 27 churches, with gilded walls and ornate statues. When the sun shines through the yellow stained-glass window, it looks like a Baroque vision of heaven. |
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Monte Albán
Situated on a mountain 1,315 ft above the Oaxaca Valley, this was once the holy city of more than 30,000 Zapotecs. It flourished from 300 BC to 800 AD and was later adopted by the Mixtecs. |
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