Oaxaca, a historical Mexican city
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Oaxaca is one of the most attractive cities to visit in Mexico as a tourist. This is due to its historical heart which has been well preserved throughout the years and is for a large part pedestrianized or low on traffic. It is located halfway between Mexico city and the the province Yucatan so for those who are traveling around the country is makes an excellent stop to spent some time.
The city has been laid out in a grid pattern which makes it easy to navigate. One end of the city center is marked by the Santa Domingo church which combined with the little square in front of it creates a picturesque environment. There is a pedestrian street which takes you through the rest of the old town. On the way you will pass the town hall and end up at the Zocalo. The attractions here are the buildings which have been decorated with beautiful stone carvings and all maintain the same architectural style.
One of the major sights of Oaxaca is the cathedral which is an impressive work of art as an enormous amount of detail has been given to the decorations on it. There are a few other churches in the old town center which are worth visiting which go by the names of Soledad, San Francisco and Compania. It is also worth having a look at Mercado Juarez. This local market has some of local snacks and dishes that are typical for Mexico and for the region and there are a few places inside where you can get something to eat or taste what the region has to offer.
The easiest day trip out of Oaxaca is a visit to the ancient settlement of Monte Alban. It is located only a few kilometers away and there is a shuttle bus that connects the city to the old temples.
Oaxaca has a tropical Savannah climate which means that throughout the whole year it is warm during the day, but at night it cools down to comfortable temperatures. It does have a wet season which lasts from June until the end of September. The city is small enough to walk everywhere. There are buses if you want to go to some remote places. |
Oaxaca travel photo gallery
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Palm tree in the middle of a street.
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The photo albums of Mexico
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The park in front of Santa Domingo.
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Very old building now housing a shop.
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Shops on the main street.
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Old architecture on the main street.
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Typical architecture seen around town.
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Walking along the main street.
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The main street of Oaxaca.
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In the middle of Zocalo square.
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Buildings on Zocalo square.
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Front facade of Compania church.
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Old building near Mercado Juarez.
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The outer walls of Mercado Juarez.
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Shop in a colonial building.
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Typically designed church in Mexico.
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Telecommunication office.
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Hostel in the city center.
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Classic building on the main street.
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Full view of Soledad church.
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The front facade of the Soledad.
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Restored colonial building.
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The front of Santa Domingo.
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Full view of the Santa Domingo church.
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The city during sunset.
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Internet sites with travel information about Oaxaca
General information about Oaxaca can be found on Wikipedia and travel related information on Wikitravel. Another site which might be worth a read are the pages of visit Mexico. For those who are already in Mexico the best way of getting into the city is by bus. The timetables can be found on Ticketbus. If you are flying, it is possible to go straight to Oaxaca airport. For some additional travel info, a good option are the pages of the Lonely Planet or have a look at some of the user reviews of Virtual tourist.
Suggested photo albums on Mad Planet Earth
Last update: 04/07/2013
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