Mexico 🇲🇽 – collection postcards

Protective town of San Miguel and the Sanctuary of Jesús Nazareno de Atotonilco

May 3, 2017

The fortified town, first established in the 16th century to protect the Royal Route inland, reached its apogee in the 18th century when many of its outstanding religious and civic buildings were built in the style of the Mexican Baroque. Some of these buildings are masterpieces of the style that evolved in the transition from … More Protective town of San Miguel and the Sanctuary of Jesús Nazareno de Atotonilco

Pre-Hispanic City of Teotihuacan

January 10, 2016

The holy city of Teotihuacan (‘the place where the gods were created’) is situated some 50 km north-east of Mexico City. Built between the 1st and 7th centuries A.D., it is characterized by the vast size of its monuments – in particular, the Temple of Quetzalcoatl and the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, … More Pre-Hispanic City of Teotihuacan

Hospicio Cabañas, Guadalajara

December 29, 2015

The Hospicio Cabañas was built at the beginning of the 19th century to provide care and shelter for the disadvantaged – orphans, old people, the handicapped and chronic invalids. This remarkable complex, which incorporates several unusual features designed specifically to meet the needs of its occupants, was unique for its time. It is also notable … More Hospicio Cabañas, Guadalajara

Historic Centre of Puebla

December 27, 2015

Puebla, which was founded ex nihilo in 1531, is situated about 100 km east of Mexico City, at the foot of the Popocatepetl volcano. It has preserved its great religious structures such as the 16th–17th-century cathedral and fine buildings like the old archbishop’s palace, as well as a host of houses with walls covered in … More Historic Centre of Puebla

Historic Centre of Zacatecas

December 25, 2015

Founded in 1546 after the discovery of a rich silver lode, Zacatecas reached the height of its prosperity in the 16th and 17th centuries. Built on the steep slopes of a narrow valley, the town has breathtaking views and there are many old buildings, both religious and civil. The cathedral, built between 1730 and 1760, … More Historic Centre of Zacatecas

Pre-Hispanic Town of Uxmal

December 23, 2015

The Mayan town of Uxmal, in Yucatán, was founded c. A.D. 700 and had some 25,000 inhabitants. The layout of the buildings, which date from between 700 and 1000, reveals a knowledge of astronomy. The Pyramid of the Soothsayer, as the Spaniards called it, dominates the ceremonial centre, which has well-designed buildings decorated with a … More Pre-Hispanic Town of Uxmal

Pre-Hispanic City and National Park of Palenque

December 21, 2015

A prime example of a Mayan sanctuary of the classical period, Palenque was at its height between AD 500 and 700, when its influence extended throughout the basin of the Usumacinta River. The elegance and craftsmanship of the buildings, as well as the lightness of the sculpted reliefs with their Mayan mythological themes, attest to … More Pre-Hispanic City and National Park of Palenque

Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro

December 19, 2015

The old colonial town of Querétaro is unusual in having retained the geometric street plan of the Spanish conquerors side by side with the twisting alleys of the Indian quarters. The Otomi, the Tarasco, the Chichimeca and the Spanish lived together peacefully in the town, which is notable for the many ornate civil and religious … More Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro

Historic Fortified Town of Campeche

December 17, 2015

Campeche is a typical example of a harbour town from the Spanish colonial period in the New World. The historic centre has kept its outer walls and system of fortifications, designed to defend this Caribbean port against attacks from the sea. Since 1999 it is a Unesco site. Thanks to Pieter for the postcard.

El Tajin, Pre-Hispanic City

November 27, 2015

Located in the state of Veracruz, El Tajin was at its height from the early 9th to the early 13th century. It became the most important centre in north-east Mesoamerica after the fall of the Teotihuacan Empire. Its cultural influence extended all along the Gulf and penetrated into the Maya region and the high plateaux … More El Tajin, Pre-Hispanic City