❖ Tepotzotlán Historic Center
The center of this Magical Town is where you’ll find the town hall, the Museo Nacional del Virreinato, Plaza Cívica, Plaza de las Artesanías, the municipal market, and more. In the surrounding areas there are also restaurants, hotels, inns, and eateries. A good way to see the area is on the Historias y Leyendas Tour, organized by the Office of Tourism. Costumed guides will lead you through the streets as they share tales and myths about the town.
❖ Ex Colegio de San Francisco Javier and Museo Nacional del Virreinato
Built between the 17th and 18th centuries, the Ex Colegio de San Francisco Javier was one of the largest schools in New Spain. The stone facade is considered the essence of Mexican churrigueresque.
It has housed the National Viceroyalty Museum since 1964. This architectural gem has several areas well worth checking out, such as the St. Francis Xavier altarpieces, carved from white cedar and coated in gold, the Virgin of Loreto Shrine, with its vaulted ceiling with polychromatic plasterwork, and the St. Joseph Sanctuary, with floor-to-ceiling baroque decoration, 18th-century paintings, wood-carved floral motifs, stucco reliefs, and polychromatic and estofado figures.
❖ Plaza de las Artesanías
Located next door to town hall, this square is a great pace for finding handicrafts from the region and all of Mexico. Choose among openwork wooden boxes, stretched glass figures, bronze items, textiles, artistic ironwork, and leather accessories.
You can shop for these products on the weekend. Be sure to look for the “Hecho en Tepotzotlán” (Made in Tepotzotlán) seal where you shop. See a catalog of artisans at Tepotzotlán’s official website.