Tihuatlán: Sculptures, Dance, and Cultural Traces

Tihuatlán reveals itself through works of art in a wide variety of forms and with different motifs: a cross at the old cemetery, a dance monument, an obelisk, and a mosaic-covered clock tower make striking statements. There is also a museum and the Danza de la Vaca. Families interested in art and culture will find plenty to compare, from materials and dimensions to the stories reflected in the motifs.

Art in the Townscape

La Cruz del Panteón is a reinforced-concrete cross at the entrance to the old cemetery. Roses, tears, doves, angels, and geometric ornaments adorn the cross; at its center is a replica of Michelangelo’s “Pietà.” Los Ángeles Guardianes del Panteón also draw on angel motifs: two standing white angels stand on mosaic-covered plinths in front of the cemetery entrance. They were completed in December 2007. The two works make different impressions: one is a detailed religious depiction, while the other features figures whose white forms stand out against the colorful mosaic plinths.

You’ll encounter another motif at the end of Avenida Cuauhtémoc, on Cerro del Toro: the Monumento Danza de la Vaca stands there in a small square. It was made of fiberglass in 1980. Behind and below the monument is the Danza de la Vaca mural, featuring seven representative paintings. The monument and the mural can be viewed as two different art forms: a single figure and a series of images.

The Monumento a la Divina Mujer is an obelisk at the entrance to Tihuatlán, on a triangular plot landscaped with greenery. It refers to the Nahuatl-language interpretation “place of women” or “place of the divine woman.” La Divina Mujer Tihuateca is a separate work: it is located below the foundational structure of Cerro del Cristo Redentor. Those interested in the names and meanings behind the artworks will find a variety of references within the town’s art.

El Ángel is a cement sculpture of a kneeling angel in a fountain at the intersection of Calle Cuauhtémoc and Calle Reforma. The fountain has a circumference of 2.50 meters. Another kind of landmark is the 27-meter-tall Reloj Musical: the mosaic-covered tower has a musical clock and is considered a landmark characteristic of Tihuatlán. Its height, material, and form set it in clear contrast to the smaller figurative sculptures.

Danza de la Vaca, Festival, and Museum

The Danza de la Vaca is also part of the festival calendar: it is performed at dawn on October 4, the feast day of patron saint San Francisco de Asís, to the accompaniment of drums and flute. At the municipal level, Tihuatlán’s religious patron saint festival in honor of the saint runs from October 4 to 8 and includes the dances of the Malinche and the Vaca. The single performance day and the longer festival period provide different points of reference for planning a trip. The specific program may vary from year to year. If you plan to travel for the festival, check the dates for your travel year.

Tihuatlán’s only museum is located in the public library. It displays pre-Columbian culture as well as copies of codices from the 14th century. A visit therefore offers a look at early cultural artifacts, in a setting quite different from the townscape’s sculptures and monuments. For a culture-focused trip, you can explore these subjects together without reducing them to a single attraction.

Parque Infantil Cri-Cri is also part of the town’s history. The park was equipped with mechanical rides funded through fundraising campaigns and was later renovated. This development tells a story of changes supported by the community; it is distinct from the question of what you can do there today.

Beyond the town, archaeological ruins are located in the municipalities of Acontitla and San Nicolás, which are tourist destinations within the municipality of Tihuatlán. This means that when planning your visit, you can choose between art and the museum in Tihuatlán and archaeological sites at the municipal level. If you’d like to focus on Tihuatlán’s sculptures, museum, or Danza de la Vaca, you can search specifically for a vacation rental in Tihuatlán.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Jalcomulco, Puente Jula, Coscomatepec De Bravo, Coatzacoalcos, Coatepec, Gutiérrez Zamora, Córdoba, Santiago Tuxtla.

For the broader travel guide: Veracruz.