Those looking to explore Tlaxco’s culture and landscapes will find a range of things to focus on: Historic buildings shape the town, while forests and mountainous landscapes lie nearby. Pulque features as a local specialty, a subject in a museum gallery and a product associated with a nearby hacienda. You can tailor your visit to your interests in architecture, local culture or nature.
Historic Monuments and Buildings
On April 9, 1986, Tlaxco was declared a zone of historic monuments. The zone covers 0.57 km² and 18 blocks, with buildings of historical and architectural significance dating from the 16th to the 19th century. The focus is therefore not just on a single monument, but on buildings from several centuries across multiple blocks.
The Parroquia de San AgustĂn dates from the 17th century. Its features include a pink stone façade and Baroque altarpieces. It was designed by the same architect who built Morelia Cathedral. The Palacio Municipal adds its own architectural accent with arcades, ironwork and windows featuring floral motifs.
A sculpture honoring Victoria Dornelas stands in the central garden of the Plaza principal. She was the model for Jorge González Camarena’s 1962 painting “La Patria”; for a long time, the image appeared on the covers of free schoolbooks. The square thus brings together a tribute in a public space and the story of a well-known painting.
A large flight of outdoor steps leads to the Capilla del Santo Calvario. The Templo de Nuestra Señora de Lourdes was completed in 1898. La Barca de la Fe, a ship-shaped religious temple, is also located near Tlaxco. Its design is intended to represent the Church as an instrument of redemption and ecumenism.
Pulque as a Culinary and Cultural Theme
Tlaxco’s culinary specialties include artisanally made Tenate cheese, requesón and natural pulque. A gallery at the Museo Carlos González is dedicated to pulque haciendas, the production of the drink and documents about the former administration of distribution businesses. Exhibition topics may change; if this subject is important to you, it is worth checking the latest information before your visit.
The Hacienda Xochuca, a 19th-century hacienda, is located near Tlaxco at the foot of the mountain and the Peña del Rosario. It is dedicated to pulque production. The local specialties, museum exhibit and hacienda present pulque from different perspectives: as a culinary product, as part of the history of production and administration, and in connection with a hacienda.
Forests and Mountain Landscapes Nearby
Tlaxco is surrounded by haciendas, forests, streams and waterfalls. The nearby forested, mountainous Sierra de Tlaxco is suitable for camping, mountain hiking and cycling. The forested areas are mainly home to pines, firs and junipers. Activities there include hiking, observing flora and fauna, gathering wild mushrooms, climbing and rappelling.
From the 3,440-meter summit of the Peña del Rosario, you can take in a panorama of nearby volcanoes such as PopocatĂ©petl, IztaccĂhuatl and Malintzi, as well as the Atlangatepec Lagoon. The forest activities and summit panorama offer different experiences: one is about exploring wooded terrain, the other about taking in views of volcanoes and the lagoon.
Patron Saint’s Festival and Planning Your Visit
The patron saint’s festival in honor of Saint Augustine takes place in Tlaxco on August 28. It includes the Danza de los Negritos and music played exclusively on a violin. If the festival is important to your travel plans, check the date for your visit in advance.
Discover More Destinations
Totolac, Chiautempan, Xalostoc, Santa MarĂa Ixtulco, Santa MarĂa Atlihuetzián, Tlaxcala, Terrenate, La Libertad
For the main travel overview: Tlaxcala.
