Tlaxco, city in the Tlaxcala State, Mexico
Tlaxco is a town in the mountain region of Tlaxcala, Mexico, situated at about 8,200 feet (2,500 meters) elevation and surrounded by forests and ravines. The center revolves around historic buildings including the Parish of San Agustin with its pink stone facade, and contains several old haciendas, churches from different periods, artisan workshops, and Lake Atlangatepec nearby.
The area has been inhabited since around 12,000 BC, with cave paintings left by early peoples and later the Otomi people who established their own traditions. During the colonial period from the 16th to 17th centuries, large haciendas were built that became the economic and cultural heart of the region and still stand today.
The town's identity is deeply tied to pulque production, a traditional fermented agave drink made in the surrounding haciendas that shaped local life for centuries. Visitors today see this heritage alive in workshops and shops where artisans continue making silver jewelry, wood carvings, and other crafts that reflect the community's connection to traditional practices.
The journey from Mexico City takes about two and a half hours by bus or about one hour from Tlaxcala's capital. The climate is cool to mild due to the high elevation, so bringing a light jacket and comfortable walking shoes is useful for exploring the town and surrounding nature.
The area around Tlaxco contains the ancient site of Cacaxtla with remarkable murals, located about an hour away and offering insights into the region's early civilization. Additionally, several locations like La Gloria Cave hold prehistoric rock art dating back 10,000 years, showing the continuity of human settlement in the area.
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