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Source:www.visitmexico.com/
Location:
The town of Jerez is located 55 kilometers from the city of Zacatecas, and an hour from the airport; along federal highway #54, on a stretch of 29 km, until joining federal highway #23 at the community of Malpaso, and still missing 26 km to the city of Jerez.
Attractions:
Sanctuary of Solitude
The construction began in 1805 and its neoclassical architectural style predominates (with mixtures of Doric, Ionic and Corinthian) and consists of three access gates.
The patron saint of Jerez is venerated in this place, which according to tradition, has been greatly worshiped and appreciated by important military men, thanks to her intercession in acts of war, so the Virgen de la Soledad (Virgin of Solitude)of Jerez holds the office of General three times, by the elements she holds (baton and bands).
The access gates are the work of Don José María Ortega, which were completed in 1880, and that express their religious allegories in the skill and creativity of the beds of the region. The main altar is presided by the beautiful image of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad (Our Lady of Solitude) from the eighteenth century. Its magnificent interior is one of the finest examples of nineteenth-century neoclassicism, ribbed vaults are typical of this style. It has three balustrades, one on the inside of the dome, another on the outside, and one around the temple, two slender towers which, according to some comments of Spanish visitors, present evocative scaling reminiscences of the shrine of Santiago de Compostela, and it is not unreasonable or remote, since in these factories it was always wanted to recreate some nostalgic images of the Motherland.
Building “Tower”
This property is of unique features built into the ground where once stood the first public school in Jerez. The master mason Flannelette Damaso took over the design and construction of this building. This work began in June 1894 and was completed two years later, being inaugurated on August 9, 1896. All the construction is of masonry, and ashlar stone masonry on the outside. The building is a mixture of Romanesque, Gothic belonging to the Mozarabic and Mudejar. It has two floors and a multitude of windows surrounding it, giving it a beautiful appearance. The quarry relief is exquisite, and its interior decoration and painting are magnificent. It has ample rooms to hold 300 people each.
Parrish of the Immaculate Conception
Sober but elegant religious building built in the mid eighteenth century (ca.1747), which excels its baroque façade of white stone quarry, framing in its two bodies the four evangelists. The interior has three naves with neoclassical elements including its main altarpiece, which is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. Its unique tower of foundry style, and in its two belfries have since ancient times the bells that call the parishioners to self-communion and the prayer of this religious and devout people.
Hinojosa Theater
It was built between 1872 and 1878 by Don José María Ortega, under the rule of political chief Don José María Hinojosa. On the façade appear the classical combinations of five and three eloquent symbolism. For decades it was lighted by carbide lamps that gave effect to a large mirror on the ceiling.
It has a Mozarabic structure; euphony, acoustics and resonance, with a capacity of 500 spectators in the lunette places, stalls, stages, and galleries; copper bar arches hold the roof among which we notice the projection in front of the stage and retention in the background.
At the beginning of cinema, theaters were the spaces where they began to exhibit the first projections, since they were best suited for their capacity and light management for the tapes.
It was recently remodeled.
In its operation, the theater serves as a backdrop for a range of cultural, social and political activities. In this beautiful place you might enjoy plays, bohemian nights, coronation of the queen, concerts, festivals, competitions, exhibitions, etc. It receives and displays the best of art and social events of Jerez.
Dolores Cemetery
This place loses its lugubriousness to show art that its mausoleums offer, whose names and surnames of the those buried indicate the economic situation they had once in their lifetime. This site draws attention of locals and visitors, who admire with interest the architectural work. This is one of the most ancient and remarkable cemeteries in the state of Zacatecas.
Rafael Páez Garden
Built on the grounds of what was the oldest market in Jerez, this garden was designed by Rafael Páez, a man of great culture. That’s why this garden takes its name from. At the center there is a beautiful Moorish kiosk and at its corners there are four lively fountains.
City Hall
One of the most historic buildings in Jerez is the City Hall, located on the west side of the Rafael Páez Garden, well known as Garden Grande. It is a two-storey building, and only the front part is preserved as it was originally built. Formerly it was the consistorial house built in the sixteenth century.
Portal de las Palomas (The Portal of the Doves)
The historic center of Jerez has its own magic and charm, it is something that distinguishes and takes possession. The portals emphasize their natural freshness and beauty. One such example is shown through a portal called the Doves, located between the two main temples in Jerez and in front of the evocative esplanade of Plaza Tacuba where the market used to be for many years. The name of this arcade was conferred by the people because at the top part, right in the middle of the property, was a couple of doves in romance.
Humboldt Portal
It is located at the southeastern side of the Main Plaza. It is a royal estate that belonged to the Escobedo family. They were rich and powerful merchants in the late nineteenth century who built a strong commercial emporium of international features as their commercial exchanges extended to the United States and Europe where the negotiation influenced and supplied the whole region. From its name only the memory remains at the top of the building “La Nacional”. As for the name of the portal, it is assured that there once lodged the German Baron Alexander Von Humboldt, at some stage of his journey in our country.
Portal Inguanzo
It is a beautiful stone building, located in the north-central side of the main square. The manor house was built in the late nineteenth century by Mr. Eulogio Inguanzo, owner of Hacienda Treasurer. At the beginning of the twentieth century, and due to the revolution of 1910, the owners abandoned the property to seek protection and security elsewhere, and the building was then used as military barracks. Once the revolution was over, the estate was auctioned by the government. In 1927 the property was acquired and years later was sold in two parts as it is known today.
House Museum “Ramón López Velarde”
It is a Jerez typical modest house, where the great poet, Ramón López Velarde was born in 1888, and author of Suave Patria (Sweet Country). The house is comfortably furnished and decorated as it was when inhabited by the bard, and there can also be seen manuscripts and personal belongings of this great poet.
Festivities and Traditions
The popular festivities constitute part of the magic and attraction of Jerez. Besides the religious festivities and those of its different communities, some others are worth knowing about:
The greatest festivity of Jerez is in March-April known as the “Spring Fair”. It has become deeply rooted and is therefore awaited with eagerness and joy. One of the most attractive and popular events occurs at “Sábado de Gloria” (Easter Saturday), with its multitudinous procession and the “burning of Judas”. With these celebrations the fair begins and continues with the coronation of the queen of the fair, dances, serenades, bullfights, rodeos, “palenque”, cultural and sporting events, parades, shows and mechanical games at the fair during all the week. You cannot miss the traditional Bohemian Night which takes place in the old theater Hinojosa, where lovers of the literary arts exhibit their inspirations reciting in an authentic bohemian environment.
Gastronomy
Jerez is located in the central plateau of our country, it has a landscape rich in farmland and livestock, a mountainous area where the vegetation is varied. Typical crops of the municipality are maize and beans as almost the entire country, it also grows wheat and barley on a smaller scale. The apricot, peach, apple, grapes and avocado orchards embellish the landscape along with the crops of chile and cactus. The cactus form a fence to safeguard the precious fruits that land gives and man keeps in the valley of Amaya. It also has plants that grow during the rainy season in the wild such as purslane and ‘quelites’ that enrich the cuisine of the inhabitants of this land.
Our municipality is also distinguished by its cattle, sheep and goats, thus allowing the production of milk consumption with its derivates such as cheese, cottage cheese and butter, or as main ingredient for some desserts. Therefore, with this variety of elements, the traditional cuisine of Jerez was born. Assuming that food is a transformation of natural elements so as to turn them magically into food for the enjoyment of the senses.
From here come out true works of art that have been passed on from generation to generation enriching them and adding wit and wisdom to the delight of those who already enjoy and at the same time share with our visitors. Most of the dishes, desserts or soups have an uncertain beginning, but have come to us by experience and by gastronomic taste, or the passion for good eating. From the conquerors we can appraise their contribution when introducing customs that altered the food habits of the natives for example, the use of bread and wine.
The cuisine reflects not only the gastronomic pleasure, but also a cultural aspect. Jerez is a place with a rich cultural and historical tradition of the state of Zacatecas. It has a variety of succulent meals that compete with the best of our country, for it is an amalgam of flavors and colors as well as the synthesis of traditions that had come from Europe with products that joined with ours originating then the cuisine of Jerez. Advantage is taken of the variety of products in the region and some brought from elsewhere in the country, in this case it will be mentioned the most traditional dishes.
In the traditional cuisine of Jerez, we find beef, lamb, pork, chicken and goat. Meat stews are varied and are combined with chile, spices and vegetables of the season. This tradition intermingles with the customs of the people from long ago, for example, breakfast was once a hot drink with some type of bread or “gordita” (a variety of tortilla). Now, here at Jerez, there are a variety of “gorditas” and rolls as a popular basic food, and are made from corn or wheat, salty or sweet, of oven or griddle, filled with beans, potatoes, and “chicharrón” (fried pork skin). It is also customary the “panochas” (cornmeal cheese cakes), “arepas” (cornmeal griddlecakes), and “semitas” (kind of buns) all these made with wheat flour, lard, sugar and cinnamon; the “condoches” (oven gorditas) are made of tender corn, the junket gorditas are a sample of the richness of the daily cuisine.
At mealtime, the steaming plates invite us to taste the culinary delights, being the soup a dish that allows an enormous amount of variations that cannot be missing on any table. They are of traditional pasta, vegetables, refined such as tortilla and avocado, made with chicken or beef broth, not forgetting the white rice with vegetables, or tomato rice or Jerez rice style. The stewed pork, beef or lamb, as well as enchiladas, potatoes and nopales (cactus leaves), allow the preparation of imaginative dishes using the same basic foodstuffs.
Crafts
In Jerez, exquisite and original gold earrings and made, a tradition preserved by the García family and passed on to the succeeding generations. These earrings are a great tradition among women, because since little girls they have been part of their accessories, changing size as they get older. They are manufactured in 18 carat gold and their designs have passed frontiers, for the many people of Jerez living in the United States have taken this tradition with them and the women show off these earrings.
Leather work is another activity that is very characteristic of the region, as the fine pieces of work are highly demanded by locals and visitors, due to the ranching tradition.
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