The Pueblos Magicos (Magic Towns) program was initiated by the Mexican government to help preserve towns that embodied the best of Mexican culture, history and tradition. Launched in 2001, the program provides financial assistance to places that "reflect the beauty of traditional Mexican culture" according to Tourism Secretary Rodolfo Elizondo. The program has met with stunning success in terms of increasing tourism and bringing a much needed cash injection into these areas. Currently, there are 34 towns that are officially listed as Pueblos Magicos. If you want to experience Mexico's rich history and architectural past then these places are definitely worth visiting.
Alamos
Originally discovered in 1683 by European conquistadores, Alamos resides in the state of Sonora close to the border with Sinaloa. The town grew as a silver mining colony - much like Taxco in Guerrero - and by the 18th Century it was one of the most important industrial centers in North East Mexico. However, once it rich silver and gold deposits started to wane, the town saw many residents flock to other cities with stronger economies and by the end of the 19th Century Alamos was virtually abandoned. It's only been in the last fifty to sixty years that it's rebuilt its population to any semblance of its former glory days.
City Architecture
A striking element when walking through the streets of Alamos are the succession of colonial buildings that lead up to the main square or zocalo which is surrounded on all sides by a fantastic line of arches. The square itself boasts a hundred year-old garden which sits infront of the Palacio Municipal that was inaugurated in 1899. The local government building is made up of iron columns, giant windows and an impressive tower. Another important building on the same square is the Barroque-influenced cathedral otherwise known as El Templo de la Purisima Concepcion which was built in the 17th Century. Noted for its well-preserved wooden furniture and elegant architecture, the town's principal place of worship is an imposing edifice.
Since 1827 La Casa de Moneda has been showcasing some of Alamos' finest minerals while the Costumbrista de Sonora museum documents Alamos' rich mining history with photographs, files and precious stones all available on public display. Also open to the public is the Antigua Carcel which was formerly the town's prison but has been converted into Alamos' institute for culture.
Local Produce
They say the best meat in Mexico comes from Sonora and that in Alamos you can sample the finest cuts of what this northern state has to offer. Traditional dishes include caldo de queso (cheese broth), el menudo (spicy soup made with tripe), el puchero (beef stew), el estofado (chicken and fruit stew), higado encebollado (liver and onions) and chivichangas de frijol y queso (wheat flour tortillas filled with beans and cheese). When it comes to dessert the most popular in Alamos are cajetas de guayaba (guava candy) while the traditional town's beverage is called bancora which is made from mezcal and cactus petals.
Nearby Alamos
About 10 kilometers to the east of Alamos lies La Aduana, which was one of the first mines in the region and now has become a popular tourist spot. With its idyllic church La Virgen de la Balvanera and rustic feel, La Aduana is a must see for people who come to visit Alamos. For nature lovers there is a protected reserve along the nearby River Cuchujaqui where bird-watching and horse riding are popular past-times. If hunting takes your fancy then the Rancho Tres Marias which lies on the outskirts of Alamos offers this along with a host of other high-energy activities.
Where to Eat
Papillion Madero 74 Te. (647) 428 1387
Casa de los Tesoros Av. Obregon 10, Centro
La Mansion Obregon 2, Centro Open only during the Winter season
La Corregidora Bar Juarez 6, Opposite Plaza de Armas
Places to Stay
Casa de Maria Felix Galeana 41, Centro Tel. (647) 428 0929 www.casademariafelix.com
La Puerta Roja Inn Galeana 46, Centro Tel. (647) 428 0142 www.lapuertarojainn.com
Desperately in need of a quick trade route between Southeast Asia and the Mexican Pacific in order to better compete with the British, among other European rivals, Philip II of Spain ordered the conquest of the Philippines, his namesake, and of the Molucca or "Spice" Islands, during the mid-16th century.
The landscape along the "Highway of the Sun," that places Mexico City within a scant three hours of Acapulco, is especially dazzling after the Querendes tunnel, with its palmetto forest, organ and candlestick cactus canefields - often tipped with frail, heather-like flowers - stretching into the distance, wide riverbeds and mesquite-covered red rock hills. We are entering the "Hot Country," where the sun like a hammer on the devil's anvil is king.
Itzamná, supreme Mayan deity in Northern Yucatan, is credited not only with founding the grandiose ceremonial center that later became the Peninsula's greatest monastery, but he also founded religion and the priesthood. He discovered the cultivation and application of henequen fiber, for the ropes, mats and clothing on which the local economy was based.
Actually another world, as different from the central plateau as it possibly can be, Monterrey is considerably more than business and industry, though its well-earned fame does seem to center on steel, cement, paper, beer, glass and banking.
Everyone in México City, especially those who drive south on the Periférico or look west from a tower in Lomas, is familiar with the silhouette - like a crooked bracket lain sideways - of the Ajusco.
Mayapan was considered the last Mayan capital, at least within Mexican territory. It was undoubtedly the final, urban center just before the Spanish conquest - what academics insist on calling, euphemistically at best, the "contact period."
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The Pueblos Magicos (Magic Towns) program was initiated by the Mexican government to help preserve towns that embodied the best of Mexican culture, history and tradition. Launched in 2001, the program provides financial assistance to places that "reflect the beauty of traditional Mexican culture" according to Tourism Secretary Rodolfo Elizondo. The program has met with stunning success in terms of increasing tourism and bringing a much needed cash injection into these areas. Currently, there are 34 towns that are officially listed as Pueblos Magicos. If you want to experience Mexico's rich history and architectural past then these places are definitely worth visiting.
