Malinalco (place)
| Malinalco | ||
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Coordinates: 18 ° 57 ′ N , 99 ° 30 ′ W Malinalco on the map of Mexico
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| Basic data | ||
| Country | Mexico | |
| State | México (state) | |
| Municipio | Malinalco | |
| Residents | 8045 (2010) | |
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| Detailed data | ||
| surface | 4.17 km 2 | |
| Population density | 1.929 inhabitants / km 2 | |
| height | 1740 m | |
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Malinalco is a small town with just under 10,000 inhabitants and the capital of the municipality of the same name (municipio), which has around 30,000 inhabitants, in the southeast of the Mexican state of México . Because of its colonial character, the place is one of the Pueblos Mágicos .
Location and climate
The small town of Malinalco is located in the wooded mountains in the high valley of Mexico about 95 km (driving distance) southwest of Mexico City at an altitude of about 1740 m ; the pilgrimage site of Chalma is only about 10 km to the east. The climate is temperate to mild; the rain, which is abundant by Mexican standards (approx. 895 mm / year), falls mainly during the summer months.
population
| year | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| Residents | 6,487 | 6,523 | 8,045 |
Only part of the population is of Spanish descent; Colloquial languages are Spanish and a regional Nahuatl dialect.
economy
Today's inhabitants live from agriculture, which also includes fruit growing and small livestock; in addition, forestry plays a not insignificant role. Small traders, craftsmen and service providers of all kinds have set up shop in the village, providing the growing number of day tourists with everything they need.
history
The first known inhabitants of the area were various Indian tribes such as the Ocuiltecos, the Otomí and the Matlazincas, who were subjugated by the Aztecs in the late 15th century ; however, their empire went under about 50 years later with the conquest of Tenochtitlán (1519–1521) by Hernán Cortés . Spanish missionaries came in the wake of the conquistadors ; Malinalco was assigned to the Augustinian order in 1533 , which was replaced by the Jesuits in the 17th century .
Attractions
- The townscape is characterized by its right-angled street network and a large number of colonial churches and chapels, the most important of which is the Iglesia de San Salvador, which belongs to a former Augustinian convent founded in 1540 .
- Surroundings
- In the vicinity of the city there are several rock carvings and paintings that are otherwise rare in Mexico.
- The most important attraction in the area is the Aztec rock sanctuary of Malinalco .
- The Christian pilgrimage site of Chalma is about 10 km away.
