Tonalá: Village History and Camino Real Heritage

Tonalá can be explored through several historical layers: the founding of an Indigenous village, Franciscan administration, and its connection to the Real de Minas de San Pedro de los Chalchihuites. These threads link the history of the place to the broader context of mining, religion, and culture.

Historical Layers of Tonalá

San Francisco de Tonalá was founded alongside the Real de Minas de San Pedro de los Chalchihuites. Alongside it was the founding of the Indigenous village of Tonalá by Tonaltecan settlers. Franciscans from the convent in Chalchihuites administered San Francisco de Tonalá. Later, Franciscans ministered to the Indigenous village and evangelized its inhabitants through Christian instruction and baptisms. This applied to people who converted or submitted to the Spanish Crown.

The historical division also provides context: Tonalá was one of three divisions of the former San Pedro de Chalchihuites, alongside Chalchihuites and Nueva Tlaxcala. In 1777, the Real de San Pedro de los Chalchihuites and the pueblos of Tonalá and Tlaxcala were described as parts of the same jurisdiction. These accounts offer different perspectives: the former division into three parts, on the one hand, and the administrative assignment explicitly referring to 1777, on the other.

The Temple of San Francisco and the Camino Real

The Temple of San Francisco associated with Tonalá was one of the most significant buildings at this point along the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro. In the broader context, from the 16th to the 19th century the Camino Real was used to transport silver from the mines of Zacatecas, Guanajuato, and San Luis Potosí, as well as mercury imported from Europe. It also fostered social, cultural, and religious connections between Hispanic and Indigenous cultures in the Americas. The temple’s significance can thus be considered in the context of its location along the route, without equating Tonalá’s history with the history of the entire route.

In the municipality of Chalchihuites, the Temple of San Francisco houses a 17th-century polychrome sculpture of Nuestra Señora de las Aguas; devotion to her originated in Tlaxcala. It also houses a figure of Señor del Santo Entierro, attributed to a gift from Philip II. The sculpture is tied to a specific historical period as well as the origin of the devotion, while the second figure is identified through a traditional royal attribution.

Archaeology in the Municipality of Chalchihuites

Alta Vista adds archaeological perspectives to the history of the area. The Museo de Sitio de Alta Vista displays remains of the pre-Hispanic Chalchihuites culture, including around 350 archaeological finds from excavations. The specific objects on display may change. Alta Vista is considered one of the most significant ceremonial centers in northern Mesoamerica. Its alignment makes it possible to observe the sun’s annual movement; the site attracts visitors during the spring equinox. Those interested in the site can explore it in two different ways: through archaeological finds at the museum and through the site’s astronomical alignment.

Plan Your Visit and Vacation Rental

The Alta Vista archaeological zone is open Monday through Sunday from 09:00 to 17:00; last entry is at 16:00. Check the hours before your trip, as they may change. Directions to the site are given from the city of Zacatecas: take Federal Highway 45 toward Sombrerete, then the state highway toward Jiménez del Teúl. After Chalchihuites and El Refugio, cross the Río Colorado and continue for another 1 km to the site.

When looking for a vacation rental in Tonalá, you can consider which historical focus you’d like: the history of the place and the Temple of San Francisco, or also the archaeology of Alta Vista in the municipality of Chalchihuites. If Alta Vista is part of your trip, factor its opening hours and the road route described above into your plans.

Discover more destinations: Villanueva, Villa De Cos, Jerez De García Salinas, Zacatecas, Río Frío, Loreto, Fresnillo, Sombrerete.

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