Santa Cruz Tultenco

Journey back to the shores of ancient Lake Texcoco. Imagine a tiny island, Tultenco, just south of the bustling heart of Tenochtitlan. Here stands the Santa Cruz Tultenco Chapel, a survivor of centuries past. Santa Cruz Tultenco isn’t just a chapel. It’s a testament to the enduring spirit of a community. Its story begins in the late 16th century. The Franciscans, eager to spread their faith, constructed this humble chapel. An inscription marks its completion in 1681. “Abril 25 enpeso esta obra se acabo 9 julio 1681 años.” But the chapel’s story began even earlier, whispered among the indigenous people of Tultenco. This small town thrived on the traffic flowing between the Calzada de Tlalpan and La Viga Canal. The chapel witnessed the ebb and flow of life in this vibrant community. In the 19th century, Santa Cruz Tultenco underwent renovations. A small cemetery was consecrated in 1834. It became the final resting place for victims of the devastating 1850 cholera epidemic. The cemetery may be lost to time. But the memory of those buried here lingers. The chapel stands as a silent guardian of their stories. In 1953, the chapel’s nave expanded. Today, Santa Cruz Tultenco is part of Colonia Transito. This neighborhood, named after the Cooperative Society of Construction and Consumption company, dates back to the 1930s. The modern name may obscure the past. But many residents still remember the indigenous people who called this place home, whose spirits reside within the very stones of Santa Cruz Tultenco.