Otatitlán is a town and municipality in the Mexican state of Veracruz, in the south of the state along the border with the state of Oaxaca. The town is best known for its large black image of a crucified Christ, one of three notable images of this type. Most of the population in Otatitlán is poor and the area is dedicated to agriculture, especially sugar cane and bananas.
The town
The town of Otatitlán is about 180 km south of the state capital, near the state's border with Oaxaca. All but a couple hundred of the municipality's population lives here. It is centered on a large plaza surrounded by wide streets. The main church is San Andrés, which contains the image of the Cristo Negro, or Black Christ that the town is noted for.
Traditional music and dance of Otatitlán include Son Jarocho and Danzón. Traditional dishes include machuco (plantains fried with green chile and garlic) and tapistes, a dish with plantains, chicken, acuyo (Piper auritum), tomato and chili pepper.
There are two stories of the origin of this particular image. One states the Spanish king Philip II had the three Black Christ images commissioned, which then went on to their current locations.
The town itself was founded by the Marquis of Guadalcazar, Diego Fernández de Córdoba, dedicated to the Apostle Andrew.