JALPAN de SERRA

After San Luis Potosí we headed into the mountaineous La Huasteca region-

a geographical and cultural region located partially along the Gulf of Mexico and including parts of the states of Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Puebla, Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí, Querétaro and Guanajuato. It is roughly defined as the area in which the Huastec people had influence when their civilization was at its height during the Mesoamerican period.

First the Pueblo Magico of Jalpan and the Misión De Santiago.

This was the first of five churches constructed between 1750-60, under the direction of Junipero Serra. He was a Franciscan friar who arrived in Jalpan in 1750. The five churches are each attached to a former Franciscan mission in various valleys scattered throughout the Sierra Gorda. He eventually carried out this mission building all the way into California. (see image end of article) This was the first.