Whispers of history surround Parroquia San Martin. This isn’t just any church. It’s the heart of San Martin de Hidalgo. A town rich in tradition and faith.
Parroquia San Martin de Tours wasn’t always here. It stands proudly now. Built alongside the town’s charming portales and Plaza de Armas. This happened in 1883. The town was then a free municipality. Before this the area was known as Huitzquilic. It meant “place of thistles” in Nahuatl.
Long before the Spanish arrived the Coca Purepecha and Tepenahuales people lived here. They settled in Huitzquilic around 1480. Huitzingarit was their leader. The Spanish conquistadors met him in 1540. They baptized him Martin Santiago Huitzingarit. His humility impressed them. They gave him land and the title of captain. His new name became the foundation for the town’s name San Martin.
The town later became known as San Martin de la Cal. This is because of the abundance of lime in the area. In 1883 it officially became San Martin de Hidalgo. This was to honor Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. He is known as the father of the nation.
Even President Venustiano Carranza visited San Martin de Hidalgo during the Mexican Revolution. This was in 1916. The Parroquia San Martin stands as a witness to all this. It’s more than just stones and mortar. It’s a living testament to a rich history. A history woven with indigenous heritage and Spanish colonization.
Today you can still feel the weight of that history. The church’s architecture speaks volumes. It stands as a beacon of faith and a symbol of resilience. The Parroquia San Martin de Tours is not just a church. It is a living story. A story of a people. Their faith and their endurance through time. A story you are now a part of.