What is Tepic in Nayarit known for?
Tepic is in western Mexico's Nayarit state. The neo-Gothic Tepic Cathedral overlooks Plaza Principal. Nayarit Regional Museum displays pre-Hispanic items in an 18th-century adobe. Trails climb westward Cerro de San Juan.
Nuño de Beltrán founded the city in 1531 as Santiago de Galicia de Compostela. It was the capital of the kingdom of Nueva Galicia, which included the states of Jalisco, Colima, Nayarit, Aguascalientes, Durango, Sinaloa, and San Luis Potosi. Tepic has modern buildings and services, but it also has a lot of history that can be seen in its streets and traditions.
There are a lot of colonial buildings and a beautiful Plaza de Armas in the city's historic center. The Temple of the Cross of Zacate and the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption are two that stand out. The Cathedral was built between 1804 and 1896 in a Gothic style, and its towers are 40 meters high.
Fray Junipero Serra lived in the Ex-Franciscan Convent before he went to California to spread Christianity. The Government Palace is from the 19th century, and inside you can see murals by Jose Luis Soto. You can also go to the city's interesting museums, like the Regional Museum, which has artifacts from the area's archaeological digs and works by the best Nayarit artists.
Tepic, the capital of Nayarit, colonial city with modern services and starting point for the other tourist regions of Nayarit.
The Juan Escutia Museum is on the farm where the historical hero was born in the 18th century. The museum has weapons, paintings, uniforms, flags, and other items from different Mexican battalions. The Amado Nervo Museum is in the 19th-century house where the famous author known as the "First Poet of America" was born. There, photos and furniture from that time are on display.
The Museum of the Five Towns shows the life, customs, crafts, and traditions of the four ethnic groups of Nayarit (Cora, Huichol, Tepehuana, and Mexicanera), as well as mestizos. It also has displays of arrows, bullets, hats, and typical clothing. There are paintings, photographs, and sculptures on display at the Emilia Ortiz Museum.
The Interactive Museum of Science and Innovation of Nayarit is a place where people of all ages can learn about science through interactive games, workshops, and shows. Most of the beaches in Nayarit are no more than 90 minutes away from Tepic.
Nayarit's haciendas are historic manors that play key roles in the state's history.
You can also visit the Ex Haciendas, such as the Ex-Hacienda de San Cayetano, which was built at the beginning of the 18th century and was one of the most important cattle ranches in the area. The Ex Textile Factory of Bellavista is seven kilometers from Tepic. It was built in the 1800s and used to be a spinning and weaving factory.
One of the most advanced sugar mills of the 19th century was started at the Ex-Hacienda de Puga. The Ex-Hacienda de Mora is a building from the XVII century. It has a stone facade with semicircular arches and is surrounded by patios and gardens. The Ecological Park is also worth seeing. It has games for kids and a small zoo.
