Taxco is famed for its silver jewelry production and Spanish colonial architecture.
The first sight of Taxco (Tash-ko) as you approach it from the north is enough to take your breath away. Scattered down a precipitous hillside surrounded by dramatic mountains and cliffs. Like many towns in Mexico it was unchanged from the time of the Spanish until the late forties. After that every ten years the population doubled making the towns sprawl up the hills.
Compare this painting of Taxco by Oscar Berninghaus one of the Taos Art Colony from the early twenties to the photo below of today. This painting was done in 1949 just a few years before his death.
The Parroquia de Santa Prisca y San Sebastían, commonly known as the Church of Santa Prisca,
Above-The view of the tiny Plaza from the upper level of the Humboldt House.
The great Austrian explorer lived here briefly during his travels through the Americas..
Below-Every street in Taxco goes steeply up or it goes steeply down.
Below- Taxco still use the old VW bugs which I think are so durable and easy to fix that they are the only cars that will negotiate the hills.
Flagellant in Taxco Semana Santa procession
Below-We stayed at La Casa de Las Palmas in an old artists studio overlooking the town. Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, Jose Cisneros, Georgia O’Keefe, and other luminaries have visited this home.
Below-Sylvia Marta and Oscar took good care of us while there.
In typical Mexican friendly fashion these people invited us in on their New Years dinner with them.
These urchins sat by the front door one day.
Below– It was the day of New Years Eve and we just had to stop and talk to this well dressed fashionable lady.
Below-Ruined haciendas on the silver route up from Acapulco on the coast.
