Holidays in Veracruz: sea disappointment. Photo: Alexander Polezhaev

Veracruz is one of the oldest cities in Mexico with a rich history. The city is located on the Gulf Coast in the state of the same name. It is here that an important Mexican Atlantic port is located. The romantic name of this city attracts tourists. However, before traveling here, it is important to find out what the city's attractions are, what interesting things can be found within its boundaries and in the surrounding area, how to get to Veracruz, and what to expect from the trip.

Veracruz, founded by Hernán Cortés, is one of the largest historical centers in Mexico. There is an international airport in the city itself, and railway transport links allow you to easily get to Xalapoy or, and back.

To get here from Puebla, you can take the AU bus. The first morning flight departs from the CAPU bus station and arrives in Veracruz at 13:00. The fare is MXN 295.

The countryside Mocambo Beach attracts everyone who wants to relax away from the city beaches. You can get to the beach by taking the Boca del Rio bus, and back by bus labeled Veracruz. The bus stop is located at the intersection of Ignasio Zaragoza and Serdan streets. The fare will cost 9 pesos.

Another popular route is the trip from Veracruz to the island of Sakrifisios. In the area of ​​the large Veracruz Aquarium, there are many private carriers and organized excursions offering to visit the island. A trip to the island will cost 130 pesos and the journey will take one and a half hours. The ticket price includes the rental of a mask and fins for scuba diving to the corals.

Attractions

Although the city has a certain fame, some may find it a very quiet and peaceful place. However, the antiquity of Veracruz gives it a certain charm and a well-planned itinerary for visiting the sights will allow you to spend an exciting weekend. Visiting archaeological and historical monuments will be interesting for older guests of the city, and active leisure activities, such as visiting the aquarium, beach or dolphinarium, will appeal to children and their parents.

The port of Veracruz has the status of a hero city, despite the fact that this title was given to it four times. There were constant enemy attacks on the city, and pirates also hunted in the vicinity of the settlement. The fort served as protection, and a prison was later formed in it, where political criminals served their sentences.

The fort is very picturesque. It is located on the ocean shore, so you can get here by car or by boat. The fastest way is to travel by water, and from the water you can see a mysterious and majestic view of the fortress.

The name of this small island is translated as “Island of the Victim”.

The Spanish explorer Grijalva was the pioneer of this remote piece of land from the mainland. There is a legend that local tribes built an altar here, where they made their sacrifices on one specific day every year. Moreover, a young beauty was chosen for the sacrifice. After the conquest by the conquistadors, a house was built here where everyone who was struck by an epidemic, an incurable disease or due to serious injuries lived out their last days.

Later, a lighthouse was built on the island to serve as a guide for ships heading to the port of Veracruz. The lighthouse has several interesting features. Firstly, it evokes admiration for its appearance, here on a desert island. Secondly, it runs on solar panels. Thirdly, its strength allows it to withstand storm winds, the speed of which can sometimes reach 322 km/h.

It’s worth visiting here for scuba diving to the corals and their inhabitants. The beauty of the underwater world here cannot be compared with what can be seen off the coast of Veracruz.

This building is not just a religious building, but a magnificent and very mysterious architectural monument. Its history contains secrets and mysterious facts.

It was founded by the Templars, a famous spiritual knightly order. Its foundation took place back in the 12th century. Interestingly, when looking at the plan of the building, it becomes obvious that it has a dodecahedron shape. This is a very rare architectural solution, and many researchers see some mystical meaning in it. The square tower is adjacent to the church, which is decorated with numerous narrow windows. The building was created in the Mudejar style, which combines elements of Gothic, Renaissance and Moorish style.

Since its construction, the square has been and remains the cultural, religious and political center of the city. A significant part of the lives of the townspeople and significant events in their lives took place here. For example, this was where the largest supply of drinking water was, so city residents gathered here in large crowds to replenish their supplies. At Zocalo Square, people not only talked and discussed the latest news, but also listened to the mayor's speeches.

Today, the city center and the Zocalo also continue to be a vital oasis. Tourists can admire the colonial buildings, the majestic fountain providing moisture, relax in the shade of lush vegetation, or spend educational leisure time in museums, the Municipal Palace, the Cathedral or in the doll house.

Historical sights and architecture may be less interesting to teenagers and children who crave active recreation and vivid impressions. Therefore, visiting the aquarium will be an excellent solution for families.

The oceanarium combines not only aquariums, but also a dolphinarium, where guests can enjoy the performances of unique and specially trained dolphins. Each visitor can learn more about marine life, their way of life and the fauna of the entire Gulf of Mexico. 200 inhabitants of the abyss are ready to appear in all their glory to everyone who comes to look at them. There are separate aquariums with sharks and manatees, and there is also an interactive pool where tactile contact with the animals is possible.

A separate terarium gallery provides an opportunity to get acquainted with turtles, octopuses, snakes, exotic birds, crocodiles, as well as other inhabitants of Mexico, Africa, Asia and South America. The room is created in the likeness of a cave, and is equipped with a unique aquarium, where residents of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, the Gulf of Mexico and the Red Sea live together. Here you can see skates, shrimp, squid, mollusks and a variety of arthropods.

The displacement of the aquarium is 1,250,000 liters. A tunnel runs through it, where you can seem to find yourself at the bottom of the sea, while remaining completely dry.

Promenade in Veracruz

The embankment runs parallel to a large and busy street, where everything is dotted with restaurants, shops and souvenir shops. Special attractions of the waterfront include lush palm trees, colonial monuments and, of course, breathtaking views of the Gulf of Mexico.

The beach is located in a suburban area in the village of Boca del Rio. The coast of the sandy beach is wide and clean, the water of the Gulf of Mexico is also clean and pleases guests with refreshing coolness in hot weather.

City `s history

Enran Cortez arrived on the shores of Mexico and became known as the successful conqueror of numerous of its lands, subjugated under Spanish rule. Veracruz was founded by him as a port base. It became the main port of New Spain, and its name translates as “Life-Giving Cross.”

The city was attacked by the Spanish, French, Mexican-American armies and the US Navy, which occupied the city. Its former names were: Kolua, Akoula and De Ulua.

Today its importance has not diminished; it still remains a significant port city and historical center. It is home to several Mexican musical genres and hosts an annual carnival in February. It is worth noting that in terms of its scale and decoration of the surroundings, it is second only to the carnivals in Rio de Janeiro.

It's worth paying attention to the time of year when visiting this port city on the Gulf of Mexico. This part of the country has a tropical savannah climate. The rainy season here lasts from June to October. At this time, the most precipitation falls throughout the year. At this time, tropical thunderstorms occur almost every day in the evening, since the humidity in the atmosphere increases significantly throughout the day. More rain occurs in July.

The so-called dry period lasts from November to May. Although at this time almost half of the days in the month are cloudy and foggy, this period is more favorable for visiting tourists. The dry winter period is especially suitable for those who want to come here for the winter holidays. The driest month is March.

The tropical climate that prevails here is favorable for many plants. Tropical greenery grows here and blooms profusely. Therefore, while walking around Veracruz, it is worth admiring the diversity of flora and the abundance of birds of paradise nesting in the thickets.

It is worth taking note that many Mexicans from the central part of the country come to Veracruz on vacation. Getting here is much easier, and spending a vacation is cheaper than at popular Mexican resorts. Like most major port cities, Veracruz cannot surprise you with the unique turquoise color of the water on the city beaches. Therefore, if you want to plan a vacation on a pleasant, clean and beautiful beach, you should go out of town to Mocambo Beach or visit the neighboring islands.

Useful information for tourists about Veracruz in Mexico - geographical location, tourist infrastructure, map, architectural features and attractions.

Veracruz is a large Mexican port city in the state of Veracruz. It is located on the Gulf Coast. Veracruz is the second most important port in the country after Manzanillo. The city is home to more than 700 thousand inhabitants. Veracruz is a city of brave sailors, in the past a haven for pirates, and today one of the largest agricultural and industrial centers in Mexico.

The history of the city of Veracruz began in 1519, when the village of La Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz, which in Spanish means “The Rich Port of the True Cross,” was founded by the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés on Good Friday. Subsequently, Veracruz became the main Atlantic trading port of New Spain, where the most valuable Philippine silks and spices at that time were delivered, and precious metals and stones mined in Mexico were sent back to Europe.

Being an actively developing and very rich port, Veracruz was repeatedly subjected to pirate raids. To prevent such attacks, the city was fortified with the powerful fortress of San Juan de Ulua and impregnable bastions, but even they did not save the city from being captured and plundered by the pirates of Laurens De Graaf in 1683.

In the XVII-XIX centuries. The city was actively developing - a municipal palace, monastery buildings and a city hospital were built. Veracruz is called the “four times heroic city” in honor of the battles that took place near its walls. So in 1815 it successfully defended itself from Spanish colonial troops, in 1838 from an attack by the French fleet, in 1847 from American troops during the Mexican-American War, and in 1914 it was occupied by American troops for seven months.

In 1872, a railway was built to Veracruz, connecting it with the capital Mexico City. In the XX century. this city became the largest Atlantic port in the country.

The port of Veracruz, with its attractive climate, cuisine and archaeological areas, is a popular resort among Mexicans and foreigners.

Veracruz is a very beautiful and interesting city. The romance of distant travels and adventures hovers here. For many years now, the main point for excursions has been the ruins of the once powerful fortress of San Juan de Ulua on the Caribbean coast. The impregnable fortress has been repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt over its 200-year history.

While walking along the local streets, it is worth visiting the central city square of Sacala, where the town hall, the Plaza de Armas palace, the Municipal Palace and the Plaza Lerdo palace are located. In addition, the square is home to the most luxurious nightclubs and restaurants, and it is considered the starting point for all sightseeing tours of the city.

A unique city attraction is also the newly built Acuario de Veracruz Aquarium, which houses a variety of marine life that inhabit the country’s coastal waters and rare species of fish. The aquarium is surrounded by a park with ponds, tropical vegetation, inhabited by many species of animals and birds.

Among the city's cultural attractions, it is worth visiting the outstanding Museum of Naval History, located in the center of Veracruz, and the Veracruz City Museum, which tells its visitors the entire history of the city.

Disappointment. This is what happens sometimes when you go to some city, coveting only its beautiful name. “Veracruz” sounds so nice, doesn’t it? And even on the shore Gulf of Mexico. The imagination immediately draws romantic pictures of sunsets with couples in love on the embankment, sea-sun-sand and much more.

In fact, it turned out that even the sun in this city sets on the wrong side.

Beaches in Veracruz

The sea in Veracruz is very mediocre: the water is grayish in color and the sand is a dirty shade. This is definitely not what you expect from Mexico, look at the photos from Cancun and you will understand what I mean. Plus, the city is a port, which means that the city beach is, in principle, not suitable for swimming. But this is the Gulf of Mexico, the name alone is worth a look))

My verdict is harsh: tourists have nothing to do in the Veracruz region. I’m also surprised where the dozen foreigners we saw in a week came from. Probably, they are just as vain as we are, or they know something that we are no longer destined to know.

However, despite all the disadvantages of Veracruz, Mexicans love it and are happy to come here on vacation, I think, because it is close and inexpensive. It’s like the Black Sea coast for our people, even the sea and atmosphere are somewhat similar.

It’s still possible to swim normally, but to do this you need to go to the suburbs, for example, Boca del Rio(Boca del Rio) to Mocambo beach (Playa Mocambo), as we did. Outwardly, the situation has not changed much, but the water is clearly cleaner and the coastline is more pleasant. Here our sun-baked bodies felt the cool waters of the Gulf of Mexico for the first and last time.

Sights of Veracruz

On Veracruz attractions It’s also not rich in postcard views: one large temple, the central Zocalo square, a couple of forts and museums (which we didn’t even go to for fear of dying of boredom) and that’s all.

In the very center of the city, opposite the Cathedral, we found an outlet for ourselves: a cafe with a sonorous name GranCafé delPortal. What we liked most was the coffee, namely Café Lechero. The taste is the most ordinary coffee with milk, even closer to cappuccino, but the whole point is not in this, but in the way it is served. The waiter brings a glass one-third full of black coffee. Then you knock on the glass with a spoon, and louder, because there are usually a lot of people in this place, it’s hard to hear. When someone knocks, a swashbuckler comes running with teapots and adds milk to the coffee, or both the first and the second if the drink has run out. The teapot is raised high above the glass so that everything mixes by itself and an airy foam is obtained. You can tap the glass with a spoon as many times as you like, and coffee is refilled for free. This is the signature drink from the Portal cafe.

People come to this establishment, which, by the way, is over a hundred years old, not only to eat and drink, but also to simply read a newspaper or spend time having a pleasant conversation, of course with a glass of coffee.

Basics entertainment Veracruz, as in any seaside city, there is an embankment. It runs along a major road, on the other side of which there are hotels, cafes, restaurants, shops and other buildings. The main decoration is palm trees and several sculpture monuments. What I liked most about the embankment was that “the wind was blowing from the sea”; although it didn’t last for long, it still brought the desired coolness.

In my opinion, one of the most worthy attractions of the city is Aquarium(Acuario), where Andryusiks and I enjoyed looking at the huge fish, stingrays and the performance of dolphins.

Those who become unbearably bored in the city have the opportunity to unwind by taking a ride to the nearest Sakrifisios island(Isla de Sacrificios) and snorkel, spying on the life of marine inhabitants. We had just planned such a voyage when they announced to us that the weather was deteriorating and the island was closed to visitors for the next two days.

It turned out that there was really nothing to film in the city itself. In the center, everything looks quite gray and dull: shabby, dull facades (the townspeople have clearly skimped on bright colors), and repairs are being made everywhere. Even Puebla looked colorful compared to Veracruz.

The traditional Mexican vibrancy is absent in Veracruz. If you manage to encounter a bright spot, it will most likely be an exception. This is not San Miguel or Guanajuato.

People of Veracruz

Instead of landmarks and beautiful cityscapes, local residents were subjected to photo attack; they are colorful and photogenic in any Mexican city.

I was amazed by the huge number of police officers in Veracruz, and not ordinary ones, but in full uniform and with machine guns at the ready. They constantly drive around the city in cars and look for something. I wonder what? The city looks calmer and sleepier than Veracruz. Maybe there are spies?

Hunting for police officers became Andrusiksma's favorite pastime in Veracruz.

Outside the very compact center, Veracruz resembles a village in which life flows smoothly and unnoticed by prying eyes. There is a certain desolation all around, closed shops and cafes everywhere. Perhaps the resort once experienced its heyday, but now, due to the lack of a flow of tourists, much has turned out to be unnecessary. There are a lot of commercial spaces and housing for rent. Judging by the advertisements and appearance, it has been a very long time and not very successful.

The weather in Veracruz was typical for a seaside city: hot, muggy, high humidity. It was a little hard to bear all this. But for tropical vegetation it is a blessing. It was here that for the first time in Mexico we saw the trees, so beloved since our trip to Thailand, strewn with flowers with the beautiful name “frangipani” (that was the name of the first perfume using the wonderful smell of these flowers). It turned out that they come not only in white, but also in pink and even, according to Google images, scarlet.

On the last day of our stay in the glorious seaside city, a stormy wind arose, literally knocking us off our feet, and the sea turned into a raging abyss. It’s a pity that I didn’t have a camera with me, since the walk to the water riot turned out to be spontaneous. By the way, this turned out to be one of the most vivid impressions. It seems that if it weren’t for the storm, there would be nothing to remember about Veracruz.

The state of Veracruz is located on a 700-kilometer-long coastal lowland and the adjacent eastern slopes of the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains. The coastline in this section of the Gulf of Mexico is poorly dissected.

In the center of Veracruz, stretching from the western to the eastern coast of the country between the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, the Trans-Mexican volcanic belt (Sierra Volcanica Transversal - Transverse Volcanic Sierra) connects with the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains. There are two large volcanoes here: the highest point of the country - the active stratovolcano Orizaba, which Veracruz shares with the neighboring state of Puebla, and the extinct volcano Cofre de Perote (4282 m).

The state is crossed by many short rivers flowing from the Eastern Sierra Ma-Dre to. Significant areas are swamped.

Because the topography ranges over a relatively short distance from tropical coastal plains to the snow-capped highlands of the Sierra Madre Oriental, the state's climate is varied.

Story

Before the arrival of the Spanish conquerors on the lands of the current state, it was inhabited by representatives of mainly four Indian cultures. The Huastecs and Otomi lived in the north, the Totonacs lived in the center, and the Olmecs predominated in the south.

Back in the 2nd millennium BC. e. On the coastal plains, a mysterious culture formed that flourished during the Preclassic period of Mesoamerican history - from approximately 1500 to 400 BC. e. It is conventionally called Olmec, but this is just the name of one of the small tribes that later lived in this territory, whom the Aztecs mistakenly considered to be the authors of ancient structures. This civilization left behind mysterious sculptures, among which two dozen basalt heads stand out. Some of them are 3 m high and weigh up to 40 tons. The period of existence of the Olmec culture is from 1000 to 300 BC. e., she disappeared as mysteriously as she appeared.

From the 1st to the 11th centuries. n. e. there was a Veracruz culture of the classical period of pre-Columbian America, its centers were Remohadas. She left behind many reliefs depicting a ritual ball game and subsequent human sacrifice.

By the time the Spaniards arrived in 1519, most of what is now Veracruz was occupied by the Totonac people, who lived in 50 cities (the ruins of their capital Cempoalu have been preserved), and were dependent and within the borders of the Aztec Empire, which in the 15th - early 16th centuries. captured the rich coastal territories of the Totonacs, where cotton, cocoa, maize and chile were grown. The Totonacs paid tribute to the Aztecs in the form of textiles, clothing, maize and honey.

The first Spaniard to arrive here was Juan de Grijalva (circa 1489-1527), one of the first conquistadors. In 1518, the expedition he led reached the Papaloapan River and met Totonac fishermen.

In 1519, the Totonacs helped Hernán Cortés, the conqueror of Mexico, and his men found La William Rica de la Vera Cruz (Rich City of the True Cross), the first city founded by the Spaniards in Mexico. It became the main Atlantic port of New Spain and today remains one of the most important commercial and industrial centers of the country.

The Totonacs, who hated the Aztecs, together with the Spaniards defeated the Aztec garrisons. And when the Franciscan monks began missionary activity in 1523, they willingly accepted the Catholic faith.

Unlike them, the Huastecs did not become allies of the Spaniards and began to destroy the conquerors. The Huastec uprisings were brutally suppressed.

The state of Veracruz is made up of three geographical stripes, each of which contributes to its prosperity. The first is the sea coast with oil platforms and terminals. The second is a fertile plain with an excellent climate, where there are numerous plantations. The third is the mountains, where ancient cities are hidden on forested slopes, attracting tourists.

The state is home to indigenous peoples who have carried through the centuries the memory of their ancestors, who left pagan customs and the language they still speak to today’s Indians.

The indigenous peoples of the state are numerous, they have largely preserved their traditions and folklore. The Totonac language, for example, was preserved mainly in places that were of no interest to the Spaniards: in difficult areas and where there was no gold and silver. The Indians of Veracruz themselves remained loyal to the Spaniards and did not rebel. Therefore, most of Totonacapan remained in relative isolation, which contributed to the preservation of many forms of local Totonac culture, in particular dances and songs. Some current Totonac holidays retain outward elements of ancient sacrificial rituals, with most Totonacs being Catholic.

Despite the bloody battles with the Spaniards, the Huastecs survived, largely preserving their traditional culture and language - one of the Mayan dialects. Huastec music and dance have had a significant influence on Mexican folklore.

Favorable climatic conditions allow Veracruz plantations to harvest at least two crops per year. And some crops, for example maize, have four. Which in turn pushed the development of the first agricultural Paleo-Indian cultures and led to the emergence of the Olmec culture in the 3rd millennium BC. e. The state occupies a leading position in the country in the cultivation of coffee (in mountain basins with special climatic conditions), sugar cane, corn and rice. Dye and rubber trees grow in tropical forests. But the greatest income is provided by the extraction and processing of oil and natural gas in the south of the state, including offshore. Of utmost importance is the export of oil and petroleum products through the port of Coatzacoalcos, around which four petrochemical plants are built: this is the largest concentration of such production in the world. The city is home to the head office of the largest Mexican state-owned company, Pemex, which concentrates 85% of all oil refining there. There are also four ocean ports in the state.

The city of Veracruz is the main industrial center and the main seaport of the state and country for export goods to the United States, Latin American countries and Europe. Veracruz accounts for 75% of the turnover of all Mexican ports. It was through him that black slaves were brought into colonial Mexico. In the XVII-XVIII centuries. The rich city more than once became the prey of pirates. To protect against corsairs, a powerful fort of San Juan de Ulua was built in the harbor, which, however, did not save the city from being captured and plundered by the pirates of the Dutchman Laurens de Graff and the Frenchman Michel de Grammont in 1683. The ruins of the fortress can still be seen today, it repeatedly destroyed and restored. The first Spanish city in Mexico, it also became their last frontier when the royalists fled from here to Spain in 1821. In addition to achievements in the field of commerce, the port was also the place where the Mexican danzón dance originated and the portales style of architecture with its characteristic open terraces appeared.

The capital of the state of Xalapa is located at an altitude of 1430 m on the forested slopes of the Sierra Madre Oriental. A distinctive feature of the local climate is a fine drizzle called chipi-chipi, which should mean “drip-drip.” The drizzle makes Xalapa cool and foggy, and in the summer it attracts sweltering people from the coast.

Two sites in Veracruz are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List: the ancient city of El Tajin and the area of ​​historical monuments of colonial architecture in the city of Tlacotalpan.

general information

Location : eastern Mexico.
Administrative division: 212 municipalities.
Administrative center : Jalapa-Enriquez - 424,755 people. (2010).
Big cities: Veracruz - 428,323 people, Coatzacoalcos - 305,260 people. (2010), Poza Rica de Hidalgo - 200,119 people. (2015), Minatitlan - 157,840 people, Cordoba - 140,896 people, Orizaba - 120,995 people. (2010).
State formation : 1823
Languages: Spanish (official), indigenous.
Ethnic composition : mestizos, whites, Afro-Mexicans, Totonac Indians, Huastecas, Nahuas, Otomi, Zapotecs.
Religion: Catholicism - 82.3%, other religions - 10%, Judaism - 0.7%, other religions - 0.1%, outside religion - 1.9%, undecided - 5% (2010).
Currency unit : Mexican Peso.
Rivers: San Juan, Papaloapan.
Lake: Catemaco.
Major airports : International General Heriberto Jara (Veracruz).
Neighboring states and waters : in the north - Tamaulipas, in the east - the Gulf of Mexico, in the southeast - Tabasco, in the south - Chiapas and Oaxaca, in the southwest - Puebla, in the west - Hidalgo and San Luis Potosi.

Numbers

Square: 71,820 km 2 .
Width: from 212 to 36 km, average - 100 km.
Population: 7,643,194 people (2010).
Population density : 106.4 people/km 2 .
Length of coastline : 690 km.
Highest point : 5610 m, Orizaba Volcano (Citlaltepetl).

Climate and weather

Tropical, mountainous.
Rain season: June-October.
Average January temperature : coastal lowland +21°C, mountain slopes +15.5°C.
Average annual temperature in July : coastal lowland +27.5°C, mountain slopes +20°C.
Average annual precipitation : coastal lowland - 2250 mm, mountain slopes - 1800 mm.
Average annual relative humidity : 75-80%.

Economy

GRP: US$29.825 billion, per capita - US$3903 (2008).
Minerals : oil, natural gas, gold, silver, iron, coal.
Industry: oil and gas production, oil refining (Coatzacoalcos, Poza Rica and Minatitlan), ferrous metallurgy, light (cotton), food.
Agriculture : crop farming (sugar cane, coffee, oranges, bananas, pineapples, cocoa, vanilla, rice), livestock farming (cattle breeding, pig breeding).
Forestry.
Marine fishing (port of Tuspan).
Services sector: tourism, transport, trade, logistics (Veracruz seaport, 16.1 million tons (2004)).

Attractions

Natural

National Parks of Pico de Orizabo (1937)

Cofre de Pirote (1937)

Canyon del Rio Blanco (1938) and Sistema-Arrecifal-Veracruzano (1992)

Nansiyaga-Katemakoi Nature Reserve

Ecoregion Veracruz Dry Forests

Poza Reina Lagoon

Texolo and Salto de Heyipantla waterfalls

Beaches of Tuxpan, Costa Esmeralda, San Antolin and Boca del Rio

Historical

Ruins of Olmec cities (San Lorenzo and Tres Zapotes, around 1000 BC)

City of culture Veracruz El Tajin (1st century)

Totonac cities of Cempoala, Papantla and Xalapa (1200-1300)

Colonial architecture of the city of Tlacotalpan (XVI century)

Naval Museum of Latin America "Canonero Guanajuato" (Boca del Rio, ship 1932, museum since 2011)

City of Veracruz

Fort San Juan de Ulua (1528-1565)

Municipal Palace (1608)

Town Hall (1627)

Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady (XVII century, reconstruction of the XIX century)

The faces of the giant stone heads created by Olmec craftsmen differ from each other and have many details. They have round and flat faces and wide noses, which raise a lot of questions among anthropologists, since they have pronounced features of the Negroid race. The masters gave their faces a generally extremely arrogant expression. This is why it is believed that they depict leaders. These heads, as well as some inscriptions on basalt stelae, gave rise to theories of the extraterrestrial origin of either the Olmecs themselves or those they carved into stone.

Veracruz provides approximately 35% of the capital Mexico City with fresh water.

During civil wars and revolutions, Veracruz passed either to Mexican generals or to foreign occupiers. In 1815, it was besieged by Spanish colonial troops. In 1838, the port was blocked by a French squadron. In 1847, during the Mexican-American War, the US Navy landed troops in the port. In 1861, Spain, England and France occupied the port in response to Mexico's refusal to pay international debts. A banal port fight between Mexican and American sailors in 1914 served as a reason for US President Woodrow Wilson to land American troops in Veracruz, where they stayed for six months as a “show of force.”

The city of Papantla, founded in the 13th century. Totonakami, is the birthplace of the ritual dance of this people. In Spanish it is called "voladores de papantla", or "flyers of Papantla". Four dancers climb a 30-meter pole. At its top there is a platform rotating around its axis. Voladores flyers tie themselves to the platform upside down, descend to the sound of a pipe, describing circles around the pillar. The dance is regularly demonstrated in the central square of Papantli.

The Salt de Heyipantla waterfall is the largest in Veracruz: width - 40 m, height - 50 m. It became the location for filming one of the most impressive scenes of the film "Apocalypse" (2006) about the decline of the Mayan era.

The name of the city, Coatzacoalcos, translated from the Nahuatl Indian language literally means “the place where the snake hides.”
According to legend, the main Aztec god Quetzalcoatl sailed in these places on a raft made of snake skin.

The city of Cordoba played a key role in the history of the country: in 1821, the Treaty of Cordoba was concluded here, officially ending the anti-colonial war for Mexican independence. The agreement was signed by the Spanish governor Juan O'Donojo and the hero of the war of independence and the future first ruler of independent Mexico, Agustin Cosme Damian de Iturbide y Aramburu.

The pyramid of niches at El Tajin consists of seven tiers and 365 square niches carved into blocks of stone. Scientists believe that this coincidence is not accidental: probably the famous structure was something like a giant calendar.

Description

Veracruz(Spanish) Veracruz, full name Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave). Officially - Free and Sovereign State of Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave (Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave listen)) is one of the 31 states of Mexico. The state of Veracruz covers an area of ​​72,815 km². The administrative center is the city of Jalapa Henriques.

origin of name

In April 22, 1519, the Spaniards under the leadership of E. Cortes founded a city, which was named Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz, which in Spanish means “Rich Village of the True Cross.” The villa was similar to the Spanish villas, rich in the amount of Indian gold, the True Cross - because the Spaniards landed on Friday in the Catholic calendar - the day of the True Cross. According to the constitution of 1824, the official name was adopted as the Free and Sovereign State of Veracruz. On July 10, 1863, in honor of the general and governor Ignacio de la Llave, the full name of the state became the Free and Sovereign State of Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave.

Geography

Veracruz is a long territory stretching from north to south for almost 650 km between the Sierra Madre Oriental and the Gulf of Mexico. The state's width ranges from 212 to 36 km, with an average width of 100 km. The altitude of the Veracruz territory varies from sea level to the highest point of the country - Orizaba Peak (5610 m). The Gulf Coast is a narrow sandy plain with unstable dunes and many lagoons. There are a number of islands along the coast. The state's mountains are represented by the following ranges: Sierra de Topila, Sierra de Otontepec, Sierra de Huayacocotla, Sierra de Coschiui, Sierra de Chiconquiaco, Sierra de Jalakingo, Sierra de Achocapan, Sierra de -Huatusco, Sierra de Songolica and Sierra de los Tuxtla. The main valleys include: Aculzingo, Cardova, Maltrata, Orizaba and San Andres.

Coast of Lake Catemaco

All of the state's rivers begin in the Sierra Madre Oriental or Central Plateau, flow east, and empty into the Gulf of Mexico. The largest of them are: Actopan, Acatempan, Rio Blanco, Casones, Coatzacoalcos, Rio de la Antigua, Hueyapan, Hamapa, Nautla, Panuco, Papaloapan, Tecolutla, Tonala. Also, Lake Catemaco is located in the state.

The climate of Veracruz varies greatly depending on altitude, ranging from a warm, humid tropical climate on the coast to a cold, mountainous climate in the west of the state. The vegetation is dominated by evergreen tropical rainforests.

Story

Pre-Columbian period

The history of the indigenous peoples of Veracruz is complex. In the pre-Columbian period, the territory of the modern state of Veracruz was inhabited mainly by representatives of four indigenous cultures. The Huastecos and Otomis occupied the north, while the Totonacos lived in the north center. The Olmecs, one of the oldest cultures in the Americas, became dominant in southern Veracruz. Remains of these ancient civilizations can be found in archaeological sites such as Pánuco, Castillo de Teayo, El Zapotal, Las Higueras, Quiahuiztlán, El Tajin (El Tajín), Cempoala, Tres Zapotes and San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán.

The first major civilization in what is now Veracruz is the Olmec civilization, whose origins are unknown. Theories vary, and even include a Negroid origin for the Olmec ancestors, who arrived in Campeche and then north to Veracruz more than 3,500 years ago. The Olmecs settled in the region of the Coatzacoalcos River, which became the center of their culture. The main ceremonial center here was San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan. Other major centers in Veracruz included Tres Zapotes in the city of Veracruz and La Venta in Tabasco. The culture reached its peak around 2,600 years ago, and its most famous artistic features are colossal stone heads with Negroid features. In 300 BC, this culture was eclipsed by other developing civilizations in Central America.

Another important group is the Totonac, which has survived to this day. Their region, called Totonacapan, is centered between the Cazones and Papaloapan rivers in the north of the state. The pre-Columbian Totonacs lived by fishing, hunting, and agriculture based on the cultivation of corn, beans, chili peppers, and squash. The main site of the culture is El Tajin, located near Papantla, but the culture reached its apogee in Cempoala (about 8 km inland from the modern port of Veracruz), when it was conquered by the Aztecs. When the Spanish arrived in 1519, the territory was home to a population of approximately 250,000 people living in fifty localities and speaking four dialects of the Totonac language.

The Huastecs are located far north of Veracruz and live in parts of the states of Tamaulipas, Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí, Queretaro and Puebla. The language and agricultural techniques of these people and the Mayans are similar, however only a few buildings and pottery remain from the beginning of the culture. This culture also reached its peak between 1200 and 1519, when it was conquered by the Spanish.

In the 15th and early 16th centuries, the Aztecs came to dominate much of the state, dividing the territory into vassal provinces - Tochtepec, Cuetlaxtlan, Cempoallan, Quauhtochco, Jalapa, Misantla and Tlatlauhquitepec. The Aztecs were interested in growing crops here such as cedar, fruits, cotton, cocoa, corn, beans and vanilla. However, the Totonacs chafed under Aztec rule, especially the reigns of rulers from Axayacatl to Moctezuma II, who sent soldiers to put down the rebellion. The Huastecs were more successfully conquered by the Aztecs and pushed into the provinces of Atlan and Tochpan.

Colonial period

Veracruz is considered the place where mestizaje began, that is, the mixing of indigenous peoples with the Spaniards. During Mexico's colonial times, Veracruz was one of the main ports of entry for African slaves, who replaced indigenous slaves. One of the reasons for the replacement of native Mexicans was that millions of Indians were dying from smallpox brought by the Spanish. The Spanish imported between 500,000 and 1 million West African slaves from Mexico between 1535 and 1767 (intermarriage between natives and Africans began almost immediately) into New Spain. There were no laws prohibiting interracial marriage, therefore the correct term is Afro-mestizo, which includes all 3 races: indigenous, African and Spanish.

The Totonacs were the first natives contacted by the Spaniards on the American mainland. The very first contact with Captain Juan de Grijalva took place on the coast north of the modern city of Veracruz. While suffering oppression from the Aztecs, the Totonac ruler Tlacochcalcatl welcomed Hernán Cortés and promised 50,000 warriors to help defeat Tenochtitlan. The Spanish helped the Totonacs drive out Aztec tribute collectors and capture some Aztec outposts.

The Spanish founded the port city of Veracruz on the coast as the first municipality under the direct control of the King of Spain. Cortez began his campaign in the interior of Tenochtitlan. During the conquest, the remaining Totonac peoples allied with the Spaniards, but the Huastecs, despite also being under Aztec rule, fought against them. After the fall of Tenochtitlan, Cortes sent a regiment to conquer the Huastecs.

Much of the Totonac and Huastec culture survived the colonial period and continues to this day. One reason for this was that the lands north of Veracruz were covered with dense vegetation and had relatively few of the resources that the Spaniards were looking for.

Much of the state's history revolves around the port city, which Cortés founded in 1519. Veracruz became the principal and often the only port for the movement of goods between the colony of New Spain and Spain itself. This port had a monopoly on trade over almost the entire coast of New Spain. Gold, silver, chocolate, vanilla, chili peppers and more were exported, while European goods such as sheep, cows, wheat and more were imported. Slaves, pineapples and sugar cane were imported from the Caribbean. This made the port a desirable target for pirates during the colonial period. This led to the creation of a fortress in San Juan de Ulúa and the strengthening of the city as a whole.

Backbreaking labor and European diseases decimated the indigenous population of the province of Veracruz, prompting authorities to import African slaves starting in the 16th century. However, these slaves became a major headache as they often ran away from the plantations and formed groups that attacked travelers. Efforts against these groups began in the late 16th century, but the main rebellion broke out in 1606 in the areas of Villa Rica, Nueva Veracruz, Antón Lizardo and the Rio Blanco River area. ). However, the most serious of these occurred in the Orizaba area, where there were about 500 runaway slaves. In 1609, their leader named Gaspar Yanga led a rebellion against the Spanish, but was defeated in battle. Guerrilla attacks continued, eventually forcing the government to sign an amnesty treaty and give Africans the right to form their own communities. This was the first time slavery was abolished in America.

Statue of the leader of the rebellion Yanga

In the first half of the 17th century, cities such as Córdoba, Orizaba and Xalapa were founded or expanded to protect trade routes between Mexico City and the port of Veracruz. During this time, the Spanish and mixed populations increased while the indigenous population continued to decline. Almost all of New Spain's trade was to be with Spain only, with the exception of some limited trade commissioners from England and other Spanish colonies. This remained in effect until 1778, when the Decreto de Libre Comerico abolished many of these restrictions on trade with Europe. This made the port more important than it was. Outside the port, and in other areas of the province, the economy was based on agriculture, livestock raising and trade. In 1720, the first fair was opened in Xalapa, making it a center of trade. This led to it becoming the main city of the province of Veracruz.

Independence period

During the Mexican War of Independence, the population of the province did not support the rebels, although some clashes occurred in various areas in early 1811. The main conspiracy against the colonial authorities was uncovered in the port in 1812. The rebels then took Ayahualulco and Ixhuacán. This forced the royalist troops to withdraw to Xalapa. In the end, this city and its port were cut off from Mexico City. Much of the province remained in rebel hands for the rest of the war, although the port's merchant class did not support the effort. In 1821, Juan de O'Donojú, the last viceroy of New Spain, arrived in port to leave for Spain. However, until 1823, Spanish troops continued to occupy Fort San Juan de Ulua.

While the Spanish still held San Juan de Ulua, Agustín de Iturbide was declared Emperor of Mexico in 1822. However, his rule quickly encountered resistance from those who favored a republican form of government, including A. López de Santa Anna, whose stronghold was Veracruz. A few months later, Iturbide was forced into exile and Santa Anna eventually served nine terms as president.

In 1824, the country adopted a new constitution, which proclaimed Mexico a federation consisting of autonomous states that had very broad powers. On January 31, 1824, Veracruz was declared a state. The first governor of the state was the future president G. Victoria (Guadalupe Victoria). During these years, clashes took place in the country, often armed, between conservatives - supporters of a centralized state with strong presidential power and liberals - supporters of a federal structure of the country. In the wake of these events, which most often took the form of a civil war, events took place in Veracruz.

The French invaded Mexico through Veracruz for the first time in 1838, during the so-called “War of the Cake.” The port was blocked. Attempts to defend the country were coordinated from Xalapa. The port was bombed, but an agreement was eventually reached.

During the Mexican-American War, the port was blockaded, this time by the Americans. Initial American attempts to land in 1847 at Alvarado were repulsed, but the Americans eventually managed to land a few kilometers south of Veracruz, which surrendered after a 20-day siege. General Santa Anna's troops were defeated at the Battle of Cerro Gordo. Gordo), and the Americans, led by General W. Scott (Winfield Scott), passed through Xalapa to Mexico City.

The municipalities of Tuxpan and Chicontepec belonged to Puebla until 1853, when they were transferred to Veracruz. In 1855, the state government palace was built. During the War of Reform, the main protagonist was Ignacio de la Llave, after whom the second part of the state's name is given. In 1858, the port became the seat of the liberal government led by Benito Juárez after he was forced to withdraw from Mexico City during the War of Reform. Their control of the port and customs duties allowed the Liberal troops to gather resources. Conservative troops attacked the state, but were driven back from the port and Xalapa.

Benito Juarez

This war destroyed Mexico's economy, and it was unable to pay its foreign debt to the European powers. As a result, the government of B. Juarez declared a default, that is, the inability to pay the debt. Spain, England and France were outraged by this act, and decided in October 1861, in order to force payment of loans, to occupy the Mexican Gulf Coast. In December, Spanish troops under the command of General M. Gasset occupied the port of Veracruz without much resistance, and then, a month later, French and British troops also entered Mexico. The Spanish and British left after making deals with Juarez, and the French moved towards the accession of Emperor Maximilian I in Mexico. However, this was short-lived and the French were driven out through Veracruz in 1866/67. In 1863, the state was officially named Veracruz Llave. After the French were expelled, the state government was located in the port of Veracruz. In 1878 the capital was moved to Orizaba, and later moved to Xalapa in 1885.

During the presidency of P. Diaz (Porfirio Díaz), during the so-called period of the Porfiriat, towards the end of the 19th century. The state was undergoing economic modernization efforts. Roads and railroads were built, telegraph and telephone lines were installed, cities were improved, where electric lighting, running water were introduced, sidewalks were paved, etc. The discovery of oil in the northern part of the state attracted foreign firms that brought innovations in the equipment and technology necessary for its extraction. However, most of the wealth this modernization brought was to multinational companies and local wealthy families. The workers and peasants gained almost nothing from this, and continued to live in the most difficult conditions. During the same period of time, uprisings against the Díaz government in the state's agricultural south were brutally suppressed.

Unrest against the Díaz regime continued until the Mexican Revolution, which overthrew his rule. The main event leading to the war in Veracruz was the cigar makers' strike in 1905, when more than 5,000 workers at El Valle Nacional did not show up for work. Governor T. A. Dehesa tried unsuccessfully to negotiate a settlement to the dispute. The strike continued for a month until the strikers won. This victory called others to action, leading to factory strikes in Rio Blanco, Nogales, Santa Rosa, and Conton de Orizaba that led to violence in 1907. There were no major battles in the Mexican Revolution of 1910-17 in the state, although there were skirmishes and attacks on the port. In 1914, the rebel forces of Cándido Agular occupied a number of municipalities in the state, and in 1917, Venustiano Carranza moved the federal government there temporarily.

In April 21, 1914, an incident with American sailors in Tampico led to US President Woodrow Wilson ordering soldiers to land on Veracruz and hold it for six months. Mexico later responded by severing diplomatic relations.

After the revolution, agrarian reform took place here, including the redistribution of land and the creation of peasant communities. In 1928, the right-wing socialist Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) came to power in the state, and Adalberto Tejeda Olivares became its governor. This party subsequently did not lose its powers of power, always winning elections. Oil companies in the north of the state were nationalized in the 1930s during the presidency of Lázaro Cárdenas and merged into the state corporation PEMEX. In 1950, many roads were built. The University of Veracruz (Universidad Veracruzana) was also expanded. In 1960, the Museum of Anthropology was opened in Xalapa. In the 1970s, an international airport was opened in the city of Veracruz. Today, the state of Veracruz, rich in natural resources, is an important component of the Mexican economy. Approximately 35% of Mexico's water supply comes from Veracruz. In addition, the state has four ocean-going ports and two international airports. Veracruz is an important supplier of iron and copper, while also producing large quantities of non-metallic ores - sulfur, quartz, feldspar, calcium, kaolin and marble. The main area where oil is produced is the northern part of the state of Veracruz. The port of Veracruz, with its attractive climate, cuisine and archaeological areas, is a popular resort for Mexicans and foreigners. Veracruz has a very advantageous location on the Gulf Coast. It is one of the main ports for exporting goods to the USA, Latin America and Europe. Veracruz accounts for 75% of all port activity in Mexico. The state's main exports are coffee, fresh fruits, fertilizers, sugar, fish and crustaceans.