During the vice-regal period, Teposcolula was the most important trading area in the Mixteca region. Products arrived here from all parts, such as objects made from gold, cloth and precious stones, while silk textiles were manufactured and cochineal was produced.
Its name comes from the Nahuatl words "mexcalli," meaning "mezcal," and "titlán," meaning "wealth, abundance." It is part of the municipality of Santiago Ixcuintla, in the state of Nayarit. The island is located in the lagoon of the same name, which can be explored by boat, allowing visitors to admire the local birds and mangroves.
In the 1960s, some researchers considered that this island might be the mythical Aztlán, the place from which the Mexica departed in search of the site where they would found the city of Tenochtitlan. However, this theory was later dismissed.
The patrons of the place are Saint Peter and Saint Paul. At the end of June, the patronal festival is celebrated with music, dancing, food, and a procession to bless the waters. The ceremony culminates in a competition between the two saints: the town is divided into two teams, and they choose the navigators who will compete in a boat race around the island. The boats are adorned with religious images, and it is believed that this ensures a successful fishing season, as shrimp fishing is the town's main economic activity.
Their typical dishes include "albóndigas de camarón barbón" (bearded shrimp meatballs), shrimp-filled tamales, "tlaxtihuili" or "tixtihuil" (shrimp soup), grilled fish, and oysters in their shell.
It is a community of farmers and fishermen that has been a territorial head since the 17th century, as well as a distribution and receiving center for goods for the surrounding villages.
This town is known for its houses with gabled tile roofs, and during the rainy season, its streets often flood, making it possible to navigate them in small boats known as "pangas." For this reason, it has been called the 'Mexican Venice.'
The island has a perimeter of 1 km and a diameter of 400 meters. It is made up of 20 blocks that house buildings of historical value, constructed between the 19th and 20th centuries. Notable among these are the Temple of San Pedro, the east and west arcades, and the Government Palace, all located around the Main Plaza. There are also other historically significant buildings dedicated to educational purposes, welfare services, and use by civil and military authorities.
The island has been part of the Marismas Nacionales de Nayarit Biosphere Reserve since May 12, 2010. It was declared a Historic Monuments Zone in 1986 and was also designated a Pueblo Mágico in 2020.
19th-century building. Above the clock, there is a relief inscription that reads "Ayuntamiento de 1929.
16th-century building with a single nave, constructed with stone and finished with masonry work.
16th-century religious building. This chapel allowed a large number of people to gather in the atrium to listen to the ceremony. It is the largest in the entire country, with a height of 15 meters, a length of 43 meters, and a depth of 11 meters, featuring a ribbed vault and a hexagonal plan.
16th-century religious building constructed by the Dominicans who came from Yanhuitlán.
La Coordinación Nacional de Monumentos Históricos del Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia ...
