Nochistlán
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◈ This Magical Town begins each day among pine, live oak and chamomile, watching as peach and lime trees grow. The town’s polished appearance has only existed since the 1950s.
Its inhabitants walk through the large garden where music is never in short supply on Sundays. And when the year begins and the Fiestas del Güerito San Sebastián are approaching, they know that soon they will be hearing the delightful sounds of Los Papaquis (traditional bands) and seeing faces smeared with pinole (finely ground flour made with parched corn).
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◆ Peek inside the hundred-year-old grocery store La Palestina, under the Parián arches.
◆ Try the famous Nieves Barrón (sorbets), in the Municipal Market.
◆ Explore the San Sebastián neighborhood, and visit its church with the yellow facade.
Wander through Jardín Morelos and ask the bass drum musicians to play something for you.
❖ The Aqueduct
This construction, which dates back to 1790, carried water from the foothills of the Cerro Mesa de Agua all the way to the town’s houses. Today, there are benches where you can sit on as you enjoy the view.
We recommend you visit towards the end of the day, when the arches are lit up by the setting sun.
❖ El Parián and the La Palestina Store
In front of the church you will see the arches of El Parián, constructed in 1886 with the intention of turning it into a commercial space. Here you will find many different shops that sell all kinds of things, from shawls, medicines, and wines, to hats and cleaning products.
Don’t miss out on the grocery store La Palestina, its counter is an enormous piece of wooden furniture painted turquoise. It appears hundreds of years old, but not even the owner himself can remember how many years it’s been around for.
❖ Barrio de San Sebastián
The neighborhood of San Sebastián begins at the Pila de Afuera, and several blocks ahead you will find the Templo de San Sebastián with its little square. Only a quarry stone doorframe and a clock tower stands out from the yellow facade of this simple but beautiful church, home to the “Güerito” (St Sebastian) and a symbol of Nochistlán.
❖ Visit the Oratorio Cabañas
The Santuario de la Virgen del Rosario is located 6 miles away and you could also visit the Toyahua community–“the place where water pours”, because there is a waterfall very close by.
In 1824, the Bishop Juan Cruz Ruiz de Cabañas embarked on a journey towards the northwest part of his diocese. He was unwell, and upon arriving at La Estancia de los Delgadillo, he died. His entrails were removed to prepare his body and return it to Guadalajara, but the community kept his entrails, and they are now kept in a small oratory that was built in his honor.
The landscapes of La Estancia–8 miles from Nochistlán–are astonishing, this is a place worth visiting.
❖ Explore the Cerro del Tuiche on Bicycle
Experience a bike ride around the foothills of the Cerro del Tuiche, and witness the sunrise over a panoramic view of Nochistlán. Enjoy breakfast as the sun comes up, and make a connection with the natural world.
❖ Enjoy its Gastronomy
Try the chicken a la valentina, in the Doña Chuy restaurant. Its menu includes gorditas (deep-fried pockets of cornmeal dough with a savory filling), seafood soup and shrimp empanadas (stuffed fried pastries).
For delicious cuts of meat, go to La Faena, enjoy Casa Grande’s cool patio, or search out the sopes (fried corn base with toppings) and tostadas (large crispy corn tortilla with toppings) at the Cenaduría Las Coloradas.
❖ Fiestas de Octubre
These festivals begin in Toyahua with the ceremony of the Virgin of this town, which receives thousands of pilgrims every year. They put on a parade, featuring the queens representing the neighboring municipalities.
For the fifteen days that the festival lasts, you will hear serenades played by orchestras and street musicians. There are also painting exhibitions, cultural events, and the Teatro del Pueblo (Town Theatre).
Magical Towns in
Zacatecas
