For those of you who haven’t yet visited the largest city in the western hemisphere, Coyoacán is one of Mexico City’s most important artistic and cultural centers. It is also precisely the spot where the Extremaduran conquistador Hernán Cortés established the colonial administration of New Spain and mounted his long assault on the Aztec people. Although Mexico’s indigenous people suffered greatly under Spanish rule, the survival of the Nahuatl language and many cultural traditions is testament to the resilience of the Mexican people. Currently Coyoacán’s historic attractions as well as the numerous eateries, coffee shops, and cafes that line its cobblestone streets attract thousands of mostly-local visitors each weekend.

One indigenous tradition that continues in parts of Central Mexico today is the institution of the tianguis, or weekly artisans’ market. It is important to note that when Cortes’ men entered the Valley of Mexico nearly five centuries ago, they encountered a tianguis that was far beyond the scale of any market they had seen in Europe. The members of the Coyoacán Cultural and Artistic Tianguis have played a long and vibrant role in sustaining the popularity of the area.

I would like to point out that Plaza Hidalgo was designated the NUMBER ONE best park in the world in 2004 by the Project for Public Spaces. In a document entitled “Six Parks We Can All Learn From,” the organization describes Plaza Hidalgo as follows:

“…an important center of community life in the Coyoacán neighborhood of Mexico City. The church is an oft-visited site for both residents and tourists, but the park is the real glue that holds the area together. Although the design consists of a formal set of linear paths, Plaza Hidalgo functions quite flexibly, allowing visitors to circulate freely between different sections of the park. On a typical day, one side of the park throngs with people at market stalls; in another area, they congregate around some benches and a small fountain under the shade of trees; and elsewhere, vendors sell fresh lemonade and ices. These artfully placed amenities act as focal points, which create activity throughout the park. Rather than dictating where people can go, these linear paths act as connections between the various amenities.”

– RGK