Ocotlán

Ocotlán: “Place of pines”

Population: 90,000

Founded: 1530

Jalisco
The state of Jalisco is the country’s fourth largest industrial producer. The largest city, Guadalajara, is known as Mexico’s ”Silicon Valley” due to the presence of several international electronics companies.

History: In 1847, the Ocotlán area experienced a terrible earthquake. All the buildings except the chapel of the hospital (Capilla de la Purísima) and one hacienda were reduced to rubble. On the third day the people gathered to celebrate mass when an apparition of Jesus on the cross appeared in the sky. As a consequence, the former Patron Saint Santiago was replaced with Sr. de la Misericordia, Jesus on the Cross.

Famous Citizens
Poets – Honorato Barrera,
               Catarino García Luna,
               Emiliano García Ruiz Velazco,
               Bertha Bravo y Juárez
Journalists – Pascual Castellanos,
                         Tomás Jaramillo Castellanos,
                         Francisco Hernández Jaramillo
Composer and violinist – Manuel Enríquez
Composer and musician – Wilfrido Iniguez Jaramillo

Sites to Visit

Templo Parroquial del Sr. de la Misericordia. Donstructed in 1735, houses beautiful paintings depicting the miracle and the vision after the earthquake of 1847.
Capilla de la Purisima. An architectural jewel, the oldest chapel in Jalisco. Built by the Spanish and local Indians.
Obelisk – site of the mass and the miracle
House of Culture – Virtual Museum
Museum of Anthropology and History. Photographs of ancient petroglyphs, pre-Hispanic artifacts, a replica of the sail-canoes formerly used on Lake Chapala, and more.
La Eucalera Park – enjoy the giant eucalyptus trees
Old Train Station

The town offers a tour to the above sites and more.

Arts and crafts
Artistic textiles, embroidery, cutwork, furniture made of wood (the principal industry here)

Festivals
Patronales del Senor de la Misericordia - September 20 – October 3
Celebration of the Two Cultures - March 6

Street Market Day(s): Saturday and Sunday

Regional Foods
Fish dishes are the specialty in this area, with much of it coming from Lake Patzcuaro — all delicious.
La Hueva de Pescado – Mexican Caviar on tortilla chips