Tlaxcala

This article is about the Mexican city Tlaxcala, capital of the state of Tlaxcala. For other uses see Tlaxcala (disambiguation).

Carnival dancers in Tlaxcala

The city of Tlaxcala (in full, Tlaxcala de Xicoténcatl) is the capital and chief center of population of the Mexican state of Tlaxcala. The city is located at 19°31′N 98°24′W / 19.517°N 98.4°W / 19.517; -98.4 in the south-central portion of the state. At the census of 2005 the city had a population of 15,777 inhabitants and was by far the smallest state capital in Mexico. It is only the tenth-largest city in the state of Tlaxcala. The city is the municipal seat of its surrounding municipality of Tlaxcala, which had a population of 83,748. The municipality has an area of 41.61 km² (16.066 sq mi) and includes several other communities, the largest of which are Ocotlán, Santa María Acuitlapilco, and San Gabriel Cuauhtla. The city of Tlaxcala is not even the largest in its own municipality, as Ocotlán, with a population of 22,082 is larger than Tlaxcala.

The city, though originally settled by native peoples, was officially "founded" in 1520 by Hernán Cortés – with whom they had an alliance against their former Aztec oppressors.

Tourism

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The State Tourism Office in Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, is located just one full block (northeast) from the principal plaza on the intersection of Juárez and Lardizábal avenues. The office provides handouts regarding areas and cities in the state of Tlaxcala to visit, along with a "calendar of monthly events" that one must specifically ask for.

Within a few blocks of the principal plaza (especially on the south end) are several museums, a bull fighting ring, and the first chapel and first church building constructed on this continent.

The church building (Tempo de San Francisco) is unique in that the bell tower is not on the church building but attached to it and reached through an elevated passageway. Also, the church building was the probable location of the first Christian baptisms on the continent by the priests associated with the "invader" Cortez. It was in the Tempo de San Francisco that four local (but powerful) kings were baptized and given Christian names. The chapel is also special in that it was the first "place" of worship because the native people would not go inside buildings to worship. A scale model of the church building and the chapel can be studied in a nearby museum and is worth investigating.

The first bull ring on this continent (and still operating) is located just below the Templo de San Francisco. One can see it from the "front yard" of the temple (i.e., church building). Beside the church building is located the "exconvento" which is now small museum. The outdoor chapel, as previously noted, is just below the front church yard and beside the bull ring.

Probably the most important place to visit and study is the Government Palace located on the corner of the principal plaza. It contains many colorful and historical accurate murals based upon original codexes. The murals were painted by Desiderio Hernández Xochitiotzin over a period of 40+ years based upon careful research. (The muralist's home can be seen on the left when one's back is to the outdoor chapel noted earlier.)

However, one cannot be a tourist in Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, without frequently visiting the main plaza and the adjoining two plazas because they are the scene of many events both planned and unplanned by the residents of the city, state, and visiting Mexican adults and young people. On the principal plaza one can find colorful costumed dancing, mimes, instrumental music, marching bands, and much more, depending upon the "schedule of monthly events" (cited at the beginning of this article) or one's good fortune (depending upon how frequent one circles through the plaza). On the minor plaza to the south one can find many vendors on Sundays and inexpensive extra large T-shirts featuring Tlaxcala in the regular shops (if one specifically asks). Also the minor plaza to the north, the plaza of three fountains, is a nice area to "people watch in" and to view another old church building. If you go into the church building, please notice the baptismal font on the right which "mixes" Christian symbols with non-Christian symbols via carvings on its base.

While the city of Tlaxcala has many things to see, the entire tiny state has other cities also of some significance. The information from the State Tourism Office can be utilized to help one decide which other cities and locations are "must see" attractions for travelers.

Partnership

Tlaxcala has a partner city, it is the city of Salé, in Morocco.

References

• Link to tables of population data from Census of 2005 INEGI: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática
• Tlaxcala Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México

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