Discover Metepec: Mexico’s Enchanting Maguey Hilltop Town

Magical town of the magueyesOne of the great jewels that the Estado de México treasures, is without a doubt Metepec. A Magical Town that gets its name from Nahuatl and means “On the Hill of the Magueyes”. These figures are everywhere in the municipality and you can find them both on its coat of arms, as well as on various decorative objects and illustrations in its stores.

 

Besides the magueyes, the clay is the soul of the town. You can confirm this every time you step into their handcraft stores. Clay takes a strong role in everything you see. If you are looking for household items or want to give a mole casserole to your favorite aunt, this is the right place.

 

Another of the clay creations in Metepec it is the tree of life. This precious object of art is, for the people of Metepeque together with the maguey, one of the most vivid representations of its essence. You can find them in emblematic buildings, relevant historical figures, ancestral animals and even figures from Mexican pop culture.

 

What to visit in Metepec?In Metepec 's downtown you can find Parque Juárez, the city hall and the Benito Juarez monument, along with its kiosk and fountain. Also, you will find a mermaid that in reality is “La Tlanchana”. This mythological figure arises in ancient times, when the Nine Waters lagoon still existed, a place visited by fishermen to fish what they later sold or eat.

 

Those fishermen popularized the myth of the aquatic woman who bewitched men and could transform according to her mood. When she was in a good mood she was seen with a fish tail and the catch was abundant, but if she was upset or heartbroken, then she would show up with her snake tail and drag man into the water. Legend says she also wore human legs.