Mitla — Decipher the Entrance to Lyobaa

Your quest begins in front of the Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, a National Historic Monument whose construction began in 1535 and was completed in 1733. Its 40-meter-high Churrigueresque Baroque facade is adorned with Salomonic columns that conceal, according to INAH archaeologists, an underground passage beneath the main altar. This tunnel, discovered in the 20th century, potentially connects the cathedral to pre-Hispanic structures, marking the integration of ancient and colonial worlds in the history of Oaxaca, a city designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985.

Continue to the Palacio de Gobierno de Oaxaca, a colonial building constructed between 1674 and 1702 from local carved stone. Formerly the Episcopal Palace, it became the seat of government in 1872 after the Reform. Its monumental staircase is adorned with murals by Arturo García Bustos (1961), depicting Zapotec and Mixtec history, offering a vibrant insight into the region's past. This site, at the heart of Oaxaca's Zócalo, testifies to the political and cultural transformation of this historic city.

The Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán, a Dominican construction begun in 1570 and consecrated in 1611, is another National Historic Monument. Its 32-meter-high facade, made of local limestone, is richly adorned with 17th-century Churrigueresque elements. Remains of pre-Hispanic Zapotec structures were discovered beneath the edifice during restorations between 1992 and 1995, documented by INAH, revealing the superposition of cultures that defines Oaxaca's rich heritage.

Your journey then leads you to the Mercado Benito Juárez, a covered market built in 1884 under Manuel González. Named in homage to Benito Juárez, a reformist Oaxacan president, this 4,800 m² market houses over 1,500 vendors. Here, Oaxacan craftsmanship, including textiles, ceramics, and cochineal – a traditional Zapotec dye whose trade dates back to pre-Hispanic times – is showcased, offering an immersion into the daily life and commerce of the city.

By exploring these iconic sites of Oaxaca, from the majesty of the Cathedral to the colors of the market, you decipher the layers of history. The colonial urban plan, laid out in 1529 around the Zócalo with its 16th-18th century portales, overlays pre-Hispanic traces. This thematic circuit reveals how every stone, every facade, every archaeological vestige tells a part of the city's story, a Pueblo Mágico that has preserved its Zapotec identity while integrating its colonial legacy.