Imagine crooked streets and alleys. These are often decorated for religious processions. Welcome to La Asunción Colhuacatzinco. This is one of the celebrated Barrios Originarios. Seventeen of these make up the Historic Center of Xochimilco.
La Asunción Colhuacatzinco might translate as “place of the Colhua people near the water”. The Colhua people were related to those of Culhuacan in Iztapalapa. Some of them settled here in 1525. Originally, La Asunción Colhuacatzinco was the 20th of the Xochimilca neighborhoods. A Cocoliztli epidemic devastated the Barrio Xaltocan in 1576. It reduced their numbers. It wiped out the populations of three neighborhoods. After this, it was entirely closed to outsiders until the 20th century.
The Chapel of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin is the religious center of La Asunción. It dates from at least 1680. At this time, it was officially dedicated. Carved stones came from the previous temple. The tower with its four bells dates from the same century. The entire church was heavily restored in 1827. Most of the Neo-classical elements date from later in the same century.
It was built with volcanic rock and limestone. It sits on top of an indigenous temple. Inside, is a sculpture of the Assumption of Mary. The organ dates from the 17th century. In 1935, the tower suffered a lightning strike. This caused extensive damage to the choir area and vault. The church remained damaged until 1993. Extensive restorations were finally made then.
The feast day of the Assumption of the Virgin is celebrated every August 15. It includes fireworks and processions. Remnants of these processions are almost always visible. They are along the various routes through the neighborhood.
El Barrio La Asunción is still very private to the north. It’s not really accessible by foot. There are some striking views from the canals. As smaller app-based lodgings catch on more have sprung up in these chinampas.
Let me tell you about another La Asunción. This one is an ancient neighborhood of Axomulco. It later became one of the barrios of colonial-era Iztapalapa de Cuitlahuac. Today we call those eight historic neighborhoods the Historic Center of Iztapalapa. La Asunción is one of the most densely populated areas in Mexico City.
Like all eight historic neighborhoods, La Asunción has a modern chapel. It was once a visiting chapel dependent on the Parish of Saint Lucas. The chapel here is unique among the eight. It has a dedication to a Marian invocation. It is also one of the oldest. The neighborhood bought the land in 1907. At that time, the altar of an outdoor chapel was already in use here. Then they built a chapel of adobe. It remained until 1936. Work on the present chapel began then. The neighborhood has traditionally played a prominent part in the Semana Santa festivities.
The Capilla Del Barrio La Asunción is a short walk from San Lucas Evangelista. It is also near the northern edge of the Macroplaza. The neighborhood extends with crooked streets and alleys for a few blocks north. The Eje 6 highway marks the transition to the Centro de Abastos. It’s a curious part of the center. It is rich with personal histories.
The San Matías Church is at the center of the old island city of Iztacalco. It was originally divided into seven neighborhoods. La Asunción Atenco was the most important. Today with some eight designated historical buildings, it’s a good introduction to the east side of the city. It is a dynamic under-visited neighborhood. Sometimes called the Plaza Miguel Hidalgo, it’s the center of the Barrio de la Asunción. Many will say it’s the most important in Iztacalco.