Native Trails MyTrails 2025 205 Oaxaca well-preserved friezes on the exterior façades and two identical stucco masks of Cocijo, the Zapotec rain god. 32 Visit of a cochineal farm Duration: 01:30 h · Level: Easy During your visit of the little cochineal farm, you will learn all you should know about the cochineal insect and the methods to rear and process it. The parasite, which lives on opuntias, is used to obtain carminic acid, from which the pigment carmine or crimson lake is produced. This pigment serves diverse uses in the food and textile industries, the manufacture of cosmetics and in pharmaceutics. 33 Visit of Museo Estatal de Arte Popular Oaxaca Duration: 01:30 h · Level: Easy The Museo Estatal de Arte Popular de Oaxaca, which was opened in its current rooms in 2004, offers you a comprehensive overview of the art and craftsmanship of Oaxaca. From typically Oaxacan ceramics of black clay, both modern and from earlier, e.g., Monte Albán times, through metal ware to fabrics with their complicated patterns, this museum gives you information about all the traditional arts of the region. To render a greater part of the collection accessible to the public, the exposition has further been supplemented by a “cyber museum.” 34 Visit of the archaeological site of Yagul Duration: 02:00 h · Level: Easy Visit of the ruins of Yagul. The temple area was built in the 5th century BC by the Zapotecs and later expanded by the Mixtec on several terraces. The fortress “La Fortaleza” offers a good view of the valley of Oaxaca. The mosaic walls of the palace still show traces of their former paint. Grave chambers in Monte Albán style can be seen in the Court of Pyramids. 35 Visit of the potters of San Bartolo Coyotepec Duration: 01:30 h · Level: Easy The small village of San Bartolo Coyotepec is known for its black pottery, which was developed by Doña Rosa in the 1950s. Whereas the pots were formerly used as containers for mezcal, they now have a purely decorative character – mostly with floral patterns. Watch as a potter molds beautiful amphorae, figures, and other objects from barro negro, a special black clay. By being polished with quartz before burning, they get their beautiful luster. 36 Visit of the Mirror Chapel of Tlacolula de Matamoros Duration: 01:00 h · Level: Easy You visit the parish church of the old Zapotec town of Tlacolula de Matamoros. The Baroque 16th century building has a particularly beautiful side chapel, the Capilla de los Espejos. Marvel at the elaborate stucco decorations from white lime adorned with gold leaf applications, countless mirrors (hence the name “de los espejos”), sculptures of saints, artistic paintings, and the silver main altar. 37 Visit of the archaeological zone Zaachila Duration: 01:00 h · Level: Medium Today a small town, Zaachila had a central function as the Zapotec capital in pre-Hispanic times. Although great parts of the original settlement, which was founded in the 13th century, are no longer accessible due to later construction, the finds in the archaeological zone testify to the former importance of the place. The four graves discovered here are particularly interesting. They show paintings of animals and humans on stucco, and the more or less rich grave goods allow conclusions as to a differentiated social structure.
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