Tlaltizapán de Zapata is a city in the Mexican state of Morelos.
The city serves as the municipal seat for the surrounding municipality, with which it shares a name. The toponym Tlaltizapán comes from a Nahuatl name and means tlal-tli (land), tiza-tl (white powder), pan ("on" or "over"); "on white land" or "feet on white land". The city is situated on a white hill. De Zapata pays homage to the hero of the Liberation Army of the South during the Mexican Revolution.
The Municipality of Tlaltizapán de Zapata borders the Municipalities of Emiliano Zapata, Morelos; Yautepec de Zaragoza; and Ciudad Ayala to the north; the Municipalities of Ayala and Tlaquiltenango to the south; Ayala to the east; and Tlaquiltenango, Jojutla, Zacatepec de Hidalgo, Puente de Ixtla, Xochitepec. and Emiliano Zapata to the west. The municipal seat is located at an altitude of 950 meters above sea level.
In 2023, Tlaltizapán de Zapata was designated a Pueblo Mágico by the Mexican government, recognizing its cultural and historical importance.
History
Prehispanic history
Early settlers in Tlaltizapán were Xochimilcas; they founded the towns of Tetela, Hueyapan, Ocuituco, Tepoztlán, and Totolapan where they mixed with even older settlers of Jumiltepec and Nepopolco. During the Prehispanic era, these people were subjects of and paid tribute to the Aztecs of the Valley of Mexico. The fighting hit Tlaltizapán hard; 60% of the population were killed or fled—the population dropped from 8,000 residents in 1910 to 3,200 in 1921. Carrancista soldiers slaughtered 280 men, women, and children on June 2, 1916, and another 250 on August 13 of the same year. Similar massacres may have occurred in June and September 1916. When the Spanish flu epidemic broke out in 1918, Carrancista soldiers circled the town and would not allow the Mexican Red Cross enter.
On May 9, 1983, the State Congress changed the name of the municipality to Tlaltizapán de Pacheco in honor of former Governor Carlos Pacheco (1876-1880).
21st century
Alfredo Dominguez Mandujano of Juntos por Morelos (Together for Morelos coalition: PRD-PSD) was elected Presidente Municipal (mayor) on July 1, 2018.
The state of Morelos reported 209 cases and 28 deaths due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico as of April 27, 2020; four cases were reported in Amacuzac. Schools and many businesses were closed from mid March until June 1. On July 2, Tlatltizapán reported 18 infections and three deaths from the virus; the reopening of the state was pushed back until at least June 13. Tlaltizapán reported 122 cases, 88 recuperations, and 31 deaths from the virus as of August 31. Two hundred eighteen cases were reported on December 27, 2020.
Tourism and attractions
- Carnaval De Bahidorá 2019, Las Estacas. 15-17 Feb 2019.
- Los Sauces. Ecotourism in a waterpark with a river that is one kilometer of fresh water, ideal for families. Pets and fishing allowed. Parking, green areas, wading pool, restaurant, grills, campground. Rental of kayaks.
- Santa Isabel waterpark. Spring water (22°-24 °C), swimming pool, wading pool, waterslide, cabins, hotel, campground, "Gotcha", lake for small boats.
There are several haciendas in Tlaltizapán. San Miguel Treinta was built in 1732 por José Francisco de Verástegui. De Verastegui also owned Santa Rosa Treinta; only 23 hectares are left of these once-powerful haciendas. The church of San Miguel still functions and is open to the public, and there are large festivals held in the saint's honor. San José de Acamilpa was founded 1604 by the Colegio de Cristo and was once a major producer of sugarcane. In 1855 produced 2,400 barrels of schnapps. Today it is a resort hotel. Other haciendas are Ticumán, San Francisco, and Xochimancas.
San Miguel Arcangel monastery
The monastery of San Miguel Arcangel in Tlaltizapan was built by members of the Dominican Order about 1535. The church is rectangular with a side chapel located at the cross of the church. The ceiling is simple; supported by arches and tall columns. The side chapel is notable for its octagonal cupola. The main entrance to the west is very simple. The door is tall and narrow with a half-arc; there are discrete pilasters on the sides and a simple cornice above. Above that, there is a small, pink stone window. The front does not have any decoration except for the massive buttress on the southwest and the foundations of the tower on the northwest corner. The tower is simple and austere; above it, there is a square belfry with four open windows. The second level is smaller and eight-sided, while the third level is little more than a light tower, and the fourth level is smaller still. The access door to the monastery has two beautiful arches, making it a luxurious entrance to an austere building. Located on the north side of the church, the monastery has two floors with a central patio. The rectangular atrium is surrounded by several monuments to the Mexican Revolution.
Other historical churches are San José, la Virgen de Guadalupe, San Pedro, Santo Domingo de Guzmán and Santa Rosa de Lima. but the closest seems to be the 1948 production of Tarzan and the Mermaids starring Johnny Weissmuller in 1948, which was filmed in Acapulco and other locations in Mexico.
Communities
In accordance with the statistical data of the INEGI, the municipality has 66 localities (human settlements, which are considered up to one house), of which 39 are composed of settlements of 1 to 49 inhabitants; 11 localities have 50 to 99 inhabitants; three settlements of 100 to 499 inhabitants; five localities of 500 to 999 inhabitants; four locations from 1,000 to 1,999 inhabitants; two locations of 3,000 to 4,000 inhabitants; one of 9,893 inhabitants (the municipal seat). and the largest town in the municipality is Santa Rosa Treinta with 16,474 inhabitants.
The Municipality of Tlaltizapán has one city (the municipal seat of Tlaltizapán), four urban localities (Santa Rosa Treinta, Ticumán, Huatecalco, and Tlaltizapán), with more than 2,500 inhabitants each; four semi-urban locations (Acamilpa, Bonifacio García, Temimilcingo, and Pueblo Nuevo), which have a population range of 1,000 to 2,500 inhabitants, and 58 rural localities with fewer than 1,000 inhabitants.
Festivals and dances
- February 14, carnaval de Bahidorá in Las Estecas
- Five days before Ash Wednesday, Carnaval in Tlaltizapán. It includes Chinelos dancers, jaripeos (bulls), and brass bands. There are also activities during Holy Week and on the Good Friday.
There are eight brass bands in Tlaltizapán.
Handicrafts
Ceramics and felt and porcelain dolls are made in Huatecalco. Acampilpa is known for its pottery and for leather goods in the El Mirador colony. In Palo Prieto families make baskets, ladles, and birdcages.