Tianguistenco

Nestled in the Valley of Toluca, Santiago Tianguistenco beckons with a history as rich as the textiles woven in its nearby communities. Santiago Tianguistenco, whose name means “at the edge of the tianguis,” speaks to its vibrant market tradition. Imagine the bustling energy of a traditional Aztec market, a tianguis, thriving for centuries. This legacy continues today with a large permanent municipal market and a weekly tianguis that transforms the historic center. On Tuesdays, the streets come alive with 3,500 merchants offering their goods, a tradition considered the best-preserved in the state. But Santiago Tianguistenco is more than just a marketplace. It is a town of narrow streets and traditional adobe houses, a place where the echoes of the past mingle with the hum of modern industry. The magnificent Santa María del Buen Suceso parish church dominates the main plaza. Its Ultra-Baroque facade, financed by a wealthy French miner, is a testament to the town’s diverse heritage. Just a short distance from the town center lies Gualupita, renowned for its exquisite wool items. Here, families continue a centuries-old tradition, crafting sweaters, vests, and other woolen goods on colonial-style wood looms. The rhythmic clicking of these looms provides a constant soundtrack to the community’s life. Santiago Tianguistenco’s economy isn’t solely rooted in tradition. The Daimler Vehículos Comerciales Mexico plant, known locally as “La Mercedes,” stands as a symbol of the town’s modern industrial prowess. The Coronado tractor-trailer, a vital export for Mexico, is produced exclusively in this plant. From the vibrant marketplace to the rhythmic looms of Gualupita and the bustling factory floor of “La Mercedes,” Santiago Tianguistenco offers a glimpse into a town where history, tradition, and industry intertwine.