Oaxaca City

Oaxaca - Other Cities and Attractions

Oaxaca is far more than a tourist destination, and tourism does not dominate the city's life. Oaxaca City is a well preserved, charming and vibrant colonial city. The city center is undergoing some changes and has been restored and polished in recent times.

The center of town around the Zocalo (Main Plaza) is completely closed off to traffic, and cafes and restaurants that surround the tree-line square make a perfect setting for a relaxed drink or two while enjoying the sun and watching the world go by.

Nonetheless, it does have a significant tourist trade, based on its numerous baroque churches and religious buildings (many of which have recently been restored), its proximity to Monte Albán, the ready availability of attractive local craft products in its markets and in local villages, and on a reputation for a relaxed style of life and friendly and courteous local population.

It has a very wide range of cafes and restaurants, many of them specialising in the distinctive regional cuisine and some of them claimed to be among the best in Mexico.

Iglesia de Santo Domingo

The church was originally a Dominican Monastery; the internal decor is quite brilliant. In the evenings, the inside of the church is illuminated by soft candlelight. As its name implies, the church and monastery were founded by the Dominican order.

It was constructed over a period of 200 years, between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries. The monastery was active from 1608 to 1857. In the period of the revolutionary wars, the buildings were turned over to military use, and from 1866 to 1902 they served as a barracks. The church was restored to religious use in 1938.

Iglesia de San Juan de Dios

It's the oldest church, built around 1521, and is very popular with the local people.

Palacio de Gobierno

The old Palacio de Gobierno (Government Palace) is on the south side of the Zocalo and features some great architecture both inside and out. The seat of local government has moved out of the historic building to an out-of-town location. As a result the impressive palace is being converted into a museum and cultural center.