San Francisco Tetecala

Deep in the ancient Nahuatl language, the name “Tetecalla” whispers of stone houses, a fitting moniker for San Francisco Tetecala. San Francisco Tetecala stands as one of the 25 original settlements of Azcapotzalco. It whispers stories of a time long before the Spanish conquistadors arrived. Imagine this area teeming with life, a vibrant hub where the indigenous Tepanec people thrived. San Francisco Tetecala wasn’t always known by this name. Another name, “Tzapotlan,” echoes through the ages, possibly meaning “place of abundant sapote trees” or perhaps “The place of Tzapotlatenan”. This refers to the mother of Tzapotlan, a deity associated with a medicinal oil called uxitl or oxitl. Her followers, the tzapotlanteohuahtzin, honored her with offerings of copal, rubber, aromatic herbs, and paper, their rituals swirling with the smoke of incense and the scent of sacred plants. Now, fast forward to the late 19th century. The small church you see in San Francisco Tetecala, with its charming atrium largely intact, dates from this period. It became a focal point of the community. It was enlarged in 1959 and again in 1976, standing as a testament to the enduring spirit of this ancient settlement. Today, many pass through the nearby Metro Camarones station, unaware that they are walking through history, treading ground first inhabited centuries ago. Venture north of the Calzada San Isidro to discover the heart of old San Francisco Tetecala. While not quite ancient, this area retains the whispers of the past. Like much of Azcapotzalco, San Francisco Tetecala embraced industrialization in the 20th century, and the echoes of that transformation still resonate today, a blend of ancient heritage and modern progress.