Sights in Central Veracruz State
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Baluarte de Santiago
Until 1880 Veracruz was a walled city surrounded by mighty medieval defenses. Baluarte de Santiago, the only surviving fort of nine, was built in 1526 beside what was then the waterfront. A small exhibit of pre-Hispanic gold jewelry is inside. The price covers admission to the fort’s interior, but you can walk around the outside battlements for free.
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Veracruz Harbor
Veracruz' harbor is still busy. The Paseo del Malecón (also called Insurgentes) is a pleasant waterfront walk, starting with the Plaza de las Artesanías which has stalls selling a kaleidoscopic selection of tacky souvenirs. Stroll out along the malecón (waterfront boulevard) and view the ships, cranes and ancient fortress across the water, or take a sightseeing boat trip for a closer look.
At the corner of Blvd Camacho are monuments to those who defended the city against the Americans in 1914 and to all sailors who gave their lives to the sea. The high-rise Pemex building here is an early example of modern Mexican architecture; built in 1940, it now houses Pemex office…
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Parque Ecológico Paso Coyol
Parque Ecológico Paso Coyol is a jewel in the urban rough. The neighborhood joined with the government to turn what was once a 4-hectare abandoned lot overrun by ‘delinquents’ into a park. Now this eco-conscious park is patronized by cordobeses, who run and walk trails that snake around gardens corralled by old tires and plastic bottles. Your meager entrance fee pays for both campesinos and biologists alike to maintain the place. Follow Calle 3 south from the Plaza de Armas for 1.5km. The street changes names, weaves through a suburb and bottoms out at the park.
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Acuario de Veracruz
Veracruz’ well-done aquarium is a worthwhile visit, located about 2km south of the city center. There’s a large doughnut-shaped tank filled with sharks, rays and turtles that glide around visitors. Other tanks house freshwater and saltwater fish, reptiles and amphibians, river otters and even manatees. But for a really dramatic encounter climb into the Tiburonería – a transparent safety cage that is lowered into a pool of feeding sharks.
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Museo Ex-Hacienda El Lencero
About 12km southeast of Xalapa on the Veracruz highway, a signposted road branches off to the right for a few kilometers to the impressive Museo Ex-Hacienda El Lencero. Well worth a visit, this grand former estate was one of the first inns between Mexico City and Veracruz. The superbly restored house is furnished with antiques, and the gardens and lake are delightful. Check out the 500-year-old fig tree.
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Malecón
Veracruz' harbor is a busy oil port with rigs off the coast, but that somehow adds to the gritty romanticism of the waterfront walk on the Malecón, starting at the rows of vendor stalls of Plaza de las Artesanías that sell a kaleidoscopic of souvenirs. You'll pass the high-rise Pemex building, an early example of modern Mexican architecture with some interesting murals.
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Museo de Antropología
The Museo de Antropología has a modest but interesting collection of artifacts that aren’t especially well cared for. You’ll find a fine Aztec ball-court marker, some Olmec figurines and a replica of the magnificent statue of El Señor de Las Limas that resides in Xalapa’s Museo de Antropología. On the 2nd floor there’s a lovely overlook to the mountains.
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Museo Histórico Naval
Occupying a former naval academy, the Museo Histórico Naval covers Mexico’s maritime heritage. Get ready for your testosterone to spike: along with rooms full of weapons and model ships, the museum holds well-presented exhibits on the US attacks on Veracruz in 1847 and 1914, and on revolutionary hero Venustiano Carranza.
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Faro Carranza
Facing the waterfront on the malecón, Faro Carranza holds a lighthouse and navy offices guarded by a large statue of Venustiano Carranza. It was here that the 1917 Mexican Constitution was drafted. Every Monday morning the Mexican navy goes through an elaborate parade in front of the building.
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Museo de la Ciudad de Veracruz
The displays at the Museo de la Ciudad de Veracruz do a good job of informing visitors of the city’s history from the pre-Hispanic era, but they also give a feel for the essence of this proud and lively city through explanations of its music, its diverse ethnic roots and its politics.
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Museo de Arte del Estado
Orizaba’s wonderful Museo de Arte del Estado is housed in a gorgeously restored colonial building dating from 1776. The museum is divided into rooms that include one of Mexico’s most important permanent Diego Rivera collections; there are also contemporary works by regional artists.
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Museo Agustín Lara
A monument to one of Veracruz’s most famous musical icons, the Museo Agustín Lara displays a range of Agustín Lara’s personal belongings, furniture and memorabilia. Furthermore, the museum is actually in the musician’s old residence in the city.
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San Juan de Ulúa
This fortress protecting Veracruz harbor was originally an island, but it’s now connected to the mainland by a causeway. Cortés arrived here in 1519, and the island subsequently became the main entry point for Spanish newcomers to Mexico.
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Contemporary art gallery
The town’s contemporary art gallery is in a renovated colonial building 1km east of the city center showing worthwhile, sometimes edgy, temporary exhibitions. There’s a small movie theater here that shows artsy films, mostly for free.
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Galería de Arte Contemporáneo
The Galería de Arte Contemporáneo is in a renovated colonial building 1km east of the city center showing worthwhile, sometimes edgy, temporary exhibitions. There's a small movie theatre here that shows artsy films, mostly for free.
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Museo de Antropología
Veracruz University’s remarkable anthropology museum is devoted to the archaeology of the state and is one of Mexico’s best museums. Its large collection includes seven huge Olmec heads and 29,000 other superb artifacts.
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Museo del Bombero
Devoted to firefighting, the Museo del Bombero exhibits an 1885 English horse-drawn fireman's carriage and plenty of information on the history of firefighting from its origins in ancient Egypt. It's 3km from Parque Juárez.
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Parque Ecológico Macuiltépetl
On a hill north of the city, Parque Ecológico Macuiltépetl is the thickly wooded cap of an extinct volcano. Paths spiraling to the top are a treasure for joggers and provide expansive views of the Xalapa area.
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Fototeca
This superb arts center has rotating photographic and video exhibitions, from cutting-edge urban images to beautifully composed portraits. It’s spread over three floors of a restored colonial building.
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Palacio de Gobierno
On the east side of the plaza is the Palacio de Gobierno, the seat of Veracruz' state government. It has a fine mural depicting the history of justice above the stairway near the eastern entrance on Enríquez.
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Centro Cultural Los Lagos
The Centro Cultural Los Lagos is a lovely cultural center where you check out the bulletin board to find out about drop-in dance or yoga classes among other cultural-event announcements.
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Altar a la Patria
Two blocks inland from the malecón is the 1998 Altar a la Patria, an obelisk marking the buried the remains of those who defended Veracruz during its numerous conflicts.
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Parque de los Tecajetes
Parque de los Tecajetes is an awesome nature park where you’ll forget you’re in the city. It’s a kilometer from the center on Camacho.
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Parque Paseo de los Lagos
Just south of Parque Juárez is Parque Paseo de los Lagos with 3km of delightful lakeside paths (most commonly used for jogging and making out).
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Parque Juárez
The central Parque Juárez is terrace-like, with its south side overlooking the valley below and snowcapped mountains in the distance.
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