Think of a village where the river bends. That place is Aculco. Today we stand before San Jerónimo Aculco-Lídice. Most locals just call it San Jerónimo. But the story behind this place is more complex than just a name.
This settlement has been here since Toltec times around 900-1168 CE. In 1934 a dam revealed a piece of a Toltec pyramid. San Jerónimo Aculco is rich in history. It began as Aculco meaning the place where the river bends.
The Franciscans started building a chapel here in the 16th century. We know it was here by 1543. Today the chapel is used for outdoor services. You can still see the baptismal font and atrial cross. The larger church was finished in 1713. Look at the baroque facade. Carved quarry stone and stone relief arabesques make it one of the best.
Inside the church has twin naves. The main altar is in the Churrigueresque style. The atrium is newer. But it has graves of soldiers from the Battle of Contreras in 1847. The Mexican army camped south of here. That area is now called Lomas de Padierna. It later became a community land grant.
During colonial times the church was central to farms and ranches. Later the town became popular thanks to the railways in the 19th century. San Jerónimo Aculco specialized in growing fruits and vegetables. Much of the town you see today dates from this time.
Donkeys carried the fruits and vegetables. They also carried oil lamps that swung as they walked. People saw the lamps from far away. They told stories of witches in the hills. That reputation is still part of local stories.
In 1943 something terrible happened. Residents learned about the Lidice massacre in Czechoslovakia. Nazis killed men women and children. The town decided to honor the victims. The northern part of the village changed its name to San Jerónimo Lídice. The southern part is San Jerónimo Aculco. Every year the massacre is remembered in the square by the church.
In the 1960s San Jerónimo Aculco Lídice began to change. It became a posh neighborhood. It is not far from the city center. You will find art galleries and upscale shopping centers. But the town still uses local volcanic stone. You can see it in the buildings and streets. That is why San Jerónimo Aculco-Lídice is so charming. It is a place where history and beauty meet.