This summer, Wandering Gypsy will again travel to Mexico in search of Art and Artists. This trip will center on Zacatecas, known for rich deposits of silver and other minerals, its colonial architecture and its importance during the Mexican Revolution. Zacatecas was also the home of Francisco Goitia, who has been called the most Mexican of Mexican artists.
The city of Zacatecas is the largest city in the state of Zacatecas. Located in north-central Mexico, the city had its start as a Spanish mining camp in the mid-16th century. The indigenous people had already known of the area's rich deposits of silver and other minerals. The Spaniards developed and exploited the regions resources and native people to generate wealth and raw materials.
Due to the wealth that the mines provided, Zacatecas quickly became one of the most important cities in New Spain, with much of its silver enriching the Spanish crown.
The area saw battles during the turbulent 19th century, but the next major event was the Battle of Zacatecas during the Mexican Revolution when Francisco Villa captured the town, an event still celebrated every anniversary. Today, the colonial part of the city is a World Heritage Site, due to the Baroque and other structures built during its mining days. Mining still remains an important industry. The name Zacatecas is derived from the Zacateco people and has its roots in Nahuatl. The name means "people of the grasslands."
We will post more stories of adventure and art from Zacatecas.