March13_2010

Botanical Glossary - Home - References Cited

Continuing exploration of the greater and lesser touristy places around Oaxaca city, my guide decided that we needed to go and explore Cuilapan. Cuilapan de Guerrero is a town in the state of Oaxaca, located about 10 km. south of the city of Oaxaca on the highway heading toward Zaachila. Cuilapan de Guerrero is one of the oldest settlements in the Valley of Oaxaca.

Photos - Frames left and right: As we rolled into town in the VW van we saw a group of 30 or so folks parading down the main street. The head dresses in frame left are typical of headdress that were traditionally used during ancient celebrations through out the history of this sector. Styles and color combinations differ with each village, and the styles of them have been handed down from generation to generation. Unfortunately there was no place to quickly park, so I had to stick the camera out the window of the van to get these shots.

Center frame: Moving on to the monastery and church of Santiago Cuilapan: A pile of Terra Cotta roof tiles in a pile near the Monastery. This is the largest monastery in the region built at Cuilapan de Guerrero in the 16th century, indicating that this was once an important Mixtec population center. This ex-monastery and church is a national treasure and easily visible from the highway.

Photos - Outside the monastery, marking the monastery land boundaries are piles of terra cotta tiles, glass, stones and a long adobe and stone wall.

Photos - Frames left and center: The main, southern entrance to the Monastery and church. The Cuilapan Monastery includes the features characteristic of colonial monasteries. However, what makes it especially unique is a roofless nave segmented into three sections by two rows of columns supporting thirteen arches. One of the two rows stands complete; the other row has only its first and last arches still standing. Open-air chapels were not common at the time of its construction, but open-air services were common since the native people found indoor ceremonies claustrophobic.

Frame right: A view inside the main entrance, looking at some of the many arch doorways of the roofless segment. These stone churches were also a means to protect the people when they were in danger, so they tend to look a little like a fortress.

Click here for photos of San Agustin, Mexico for this day.