A forgotten battle echoes here. San Simón Ticumac. This unassuming neighborhood holds a story far older than its 1929 incorporation into Mexico City.
San Simón Ticumac is one of ten original settlements in Benito Juárez. Its name Ticomecatl translates roughly from Nahuatl as “place of he with the dignity of a foreign noble”. Today many mistake it for part of the Portales market area. The markets are actually in the south of the neighborhood. The heart of San Simón Ticumac centers around its San Simón church complex.
This Franciscan church a blend of 17th and 18th-century construction stands on the site of a much earlier hermitage. Parts of that older chapel are thought to be within the present church structure. The facade was plastered until the 1950s. Modern preferences favor the stark appearance of the stone.
During the 1847 Battle of Churubusco residents sought refuge within its walls. United States troops passed nearby after the battle. The majority of San Simón Ticumac’s residents arrived in the 1940s.
San Simón Ticumac offers a glimpse into a neighborhood’s resilience. It’s a testament to history woven into its oddly curved streets. It is a fascinating corner of Mexico City’s Center City. It is a place where the past and present intertwine. The echoes of ancient Teotihuacan-era remains linger beneath its modern streets. This is San Simón Ticumac a hidden jewel. A neighborhood in recovery. A reminder of Mexico City’s layered history. A place where the past whispers in the wind. Remember this story when you walk these streets. They tell of battles fought. Of humble beginnings. Of a community’s enduring spirit. This is San Simón Ticumac.