Showing posts with label Governor's Palace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Governor's Palace. Show all posts

Saturday, January 12, 2013

El Zócalo



El Zócalo de Oaxaca ha existido desde 1529. A la llegada de los españoles establecen Oaxaca como muchas ciudades creadas durante este período, con edificios de Iglesia y gobierno alrededor de una plaza y calles con coordenadas rectangulares que se extiende desde la Plaza.


The Zócalo, of Oaxaca has existed since 1529. On arrival, the Spanish laid out Oaxaca like many cities created during this period, with church and government buildings around a square and streets with rectangular coordinates extending from the Plaza. 


En el lado sur del Zócalo, está el Museo del Palacio Espacio de la diversidad, o el Palacio del Gobernador original, construido en 1832. En el lado norte se encuentra el Hotel Marqués Del Valle. En el oeste de el hotel el Zócalo se abre a la Alameda de León. Los lados este y oeste son en su mayoría llena de restaurantes. Durante el dominio colonial, el lugar no tenía pavimento o paseos, sólo una fuente de mármol construida en 1739 y posteriormente, se elimina para dar lugar al primer quiosco en 1857. En 1885 una estatua de Benito Juárez se reemplazó el quiosco. En 1901 la actual kiosco fue construido en un estilo art nouveau con una cubierta metálica y pasamanos de hierro forjado sustitución Benito Juárez. El Zócalo es una parte central de lo que hace que Oaxaca aparece como patrimonio cultural de la humanidad por la UNESCO.


On the south side of the Zócalo is the Museo del Palacio Espacio de la Diversidad, or the original Governor’s Palace, built in 1832.  On the north side is the Hotel Marques Del Valle.  To the west of the hotel the Zócalo opens out to the Alameda de León.  The east and west sides are mostly filled with restaurants. During colonial rule, the place had no pavement or side walks, only a marble fountain built in 1739 and later removed to make way for the first kiosk in 1857.  In 1885 a statue of Benito Juarez replaced the kiosk. In 1901 the current kiosk was built in an art nouveau style with a metal cover and wrought iron railings replacing Benito Juarez.  The Zócalo is a central part of what makes Oaxaca listed as a world cultural heritage site by UNESCO.


Alameda de León contiguo es otro plaza, con el correos al oeste y la Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción al este, al principio construido en 1535.

The adjoining Alameda de León is another plaza with the post office to the west and the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption to the east, originally built in 1535.


El Zócalo sirve como un lugar de reunión habitual tanto políticas como sociales. La Banda del Estado de Oaxaca tiene conciertos en el Zócalo Capitalino los domingos a las 12:30.

The Zócalo serves as a central gathering place both social and political.  La Banda del Estado de Oaxaca has concerts in the Zócalo on Sundays at 12:30. 


El miércoles por la noche que se puede participar en el Danzón con la banda de Marimba.

On Wednesday evenings you can participate in the Danzón with the Marimba Band. 


Otros conciertos se celebran aquí intermitentemente.

Other concerts are held here intermittently. 


El 23 de diciembre, La Noche de Rabanos llena el Zócalo.

On the 23rd of December, La Noche de Rabanos fills the Zócalo.


La noche siguiente los Posadas desfilan por el Zócalo.

The next night the Posadas parade through the Zócalo.


En el frente político, diversos grupos han acampado de protesta frente al Palacio del Gobernador. En el año 2002 los oaxaqueños protestaban contra McDonalds que intentó abrir un restaurante en el Zócalo Capitalino. Protestaban por tener un festival los tamales.

On the political front, various groups have camped in protest in front of the Governor’s Palace.  In 2002 the Oaxaqueños protested against McDonalds who attempted to open a restaurant on the Zócalo.  They protested by having a tamales festival. 


Además de las cafeterías y restaurantes que rodean Zócalo, mucho otro comercio ocurre aquí. Es posible comprar la ropa y la joyería, conseguirle los zapatos brillaron, para comprar juguetes para sus niños, comprar flores y cualquier número de otras cosas.


Other than the cafes and restaurants that surround the Zócalo, much other commerce takes place there.  It’s possible to buy clothes and jewelry, get you shoes shined, buy toys for your kids, buy flowers, and any number of other things.





Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Museo del Palacio



The central panel of a mural by Arturo García Bustos depicts events in the independent era.


The former State Capital Building was remodeled and opened on March 21, 2008 as the Museo del Palacio Espacio de la Diversidad. Still commonly called the Palacio de Gobierno or Governor’s Palace, in joint collaboration with UNAM (National Autonomous University of Mexico), it hosts cultural activities, science exhibits, art exhibitions and entertainment. Its main façade, Doric in style and built from the green stone of Oaxaca, faces north, towards the Plaza de la Constitucion or Zocalo.

The interior is divided into three courtyards that have been covered with a tent roof to make it possible to use the space for exhibitions.  At the top of the main staircase there is an impressive mural painted in 1980 by the Mexican muralist Arturo García Bustos. The mural has three panels that depict historical and mythical events of Oaxaca City. The left wall expresses pre-Hispanic times, reflecting the customs and lifestyle of the Mixtec, Zapotec, and Mexica.  The right wall depicts the Spanish Conquest.  The central wall depicts events in the independent era including a picture of José Maria Morelos y Pavon, printing the first Oaxacan journal, "El Correo del Sur" [Southern Courier]. Other important Mexican heroes also appear here, such as: Benito Juárez, Margarita Maza, José Maria Morelos and Ricardo Flores Magon.


Under the stairwell you can find the world's largest Tlayuda, 3 meters across and made from 120 kilos of masa.







Likewise in the side stairs there is a second mural also painted by Arturo García Bustos in 1987 called Cosmogony of the indigenous peoples of Oaxaca. It covers the dome and walls of the staircase for the east patio and represents the formation of the universe, from the mythical view of the Hispanic cultures of Oaxaca. The central mural portrays water, fertility of the soil and education. The mural on the right depicts the tree of life, a woman, naked from the waist up with her waist loom, a sorcerer or high priest, the huge Monte Albán Plaza, and a scribe painting some codex. The left mural shows daily life in the Isthmus, a day at a marketplace, as well as some Huave fishermen from San Mateo del Mar, with their nets and musical instruments. There is also a portrait of the Huautla de Jimenez area, represented by the goddess of the soil and two priestesses dressed in traditional Mazatec attire, known as a Huipil.


In another area you can find historical documents of the life and work of Benito Juarez. The space is also used for art exhibitions. Outside it continues to be a focal point for protests despite no longer being the seat of government.  For the past 18 months the people of San Juan Copala have been camped here in protest.  For an update of what the current protest is about go here:  Oaxaca's "Occupier" Refugees Face Roadblocks on the Way Home.  


For more pictures of the interior and art exhibits go to my Picasa web album.