Mexcaltitan and the mystery of the legendary Aztlan

According to the story, in the early 12th century Mexicans abandoned their homeland, the island of Aztlan (city of herons in Nahuatl), fleeing from their master’s territory. Their god Huitzilopochtli predicted that he would recognize the place where they should settle. When they found a lake with an island with a rock growing out of it On which there will be a cactus and an eagle will be sitting swallowing the snake.

After a journey of more than 200 years, the prophecy was fulfilled at Lake Texcoco. there, In 1325, the Mexica founded the city of Tenochtitlan.The future capital of the most powerful empire in all of Mesoamerica (the vast region formed by Mexico and part of Central America) until the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors.

The Mexica themselves considered themselves a people destined to become great, and claimed to come from an island called Aztlan, which archaeologists have not yet been able to identify. Here, researchers are still faced with an unresolved question. While some people believe so It is a legendary place, others have attempted to locate it in various locations.

Regarding its origins, data from indigenous and Hispanic texts and histories, in addition to data provided by archeology and linguistics, is mixed. Most sources, with some idealized depictions of the location, match the description of a city on a lake. The Mexica probably tried to make the city of Tenochtitlan similar to the mythical Aztlan.,

Some accounts suggest it was located in northern Mexico, in the area between Zacatecas and New Mexico. Other writers have stepped forward and selected To look for scenarios that match descriptions in historical texts. Thus, he postulated that Aztlan may have been present-day Mexcaltitan, an island city in the Mexican state of Nayarit.

In fact, the island of Mexcaltitan is oval in shape and has a large plain in the middle, from which different roads emerge that lead to the lagoon. A The urban layout is similar to that depicted in the famous Nuremberg Plan From the second letter of relation of Hernán Cortés in 1524.

All of these theories about the origins of the Mexica reflect Museum of Genesis, in Mexcaltitan, through the information panel. One of the outstanding pieces is a replica of a statue of a heron swallowing a marine reptile (the original is in the Tepic Regional Museum), which may mean that the Mexica confused it with the great sign and continued the pilgrimage.

a quaint village

Whether the cradle of Mexicanness is the present-day island of Mexcaltitan It is home to a charming fishing village, and, of course, it’s worth a watch. Its difficult accessibility (you can get there only by boat) makes it even more special. With a perimeter of one kilometer and a diameter of 400 meters long and 350 meters wide, we already see that this is a quick island to explore, but it is actually one of those enclaves that need to be explored in peace.

The starting point to visit this beautiful city is the Central Plaza, headed by Church of St. Peter and St. PaulDating from the late 19th century and Baroque style, with a beautiful kiosk in the center and the Genesis Museum on one side.

After visiting the square, the best thing to do is to wander around aimlessly and enjoy the simplicity of the city colorful house Where Mexcaltecos, willing to interact with foreigners, leave the doors of their homes open while going about their daily tasks.

Venice of Mexico

The final touch to this enjoyable trip is a boat ride around the island at sunset. Its greatest quality is its authenticity; This is not a typical tourist town full of souvenir shops, but a place that exudes peace and where the only danger is the sidewalks, which are higher than usual. There is a reason for this fact. C in the rainy seasonThey flood, turn into veritable canals, And neighbors traveling in boats offer equally picturesque pictures, which is why Mexcaltitan has earned the nickname “Venice of Mexico.”

However this is not the only adjective that has been applied to him; His name also means ““The house of the Mexicans”, “The place of the heron” or “In the house of the moon”. With so many qualities it is not surprising that in December 2020 he achieved the position of magical cityHonored by the Government of Mexico for maintaining its traditions, history, culture and architecture over time.