El Cerrillo: History, Church and Culture

Culture and history in El Cerrillo

El Cerrillo brings together historic religious buildings, archaeological themes and community cultural offerings. This gives you different options to consider when planning your trip: the Parroquia de San Mateo Apóstol and the Capilla La Preciosa Sangre de Cristo each tell a story of religious architecture, while the Museo de las Culturas Lacustres del Valle de Toluca explores archaeological work on the lake cultures of the valley. The plaza, theater and Casa de Cultura add places to get your bearings and enjoy culture. You can consider whether historic architecture, archaeological themes or cultural offerings are of most interest to you.

Religious buildings and their history

The Parroquia de San Mateo Apóstol was built in 1592 by the Franciscan order from red tezontle, with support from the local population. Its construction date, building material and the population’s involvement give the building a clear historical context. The parish church includes an open chapel with three arches. This is a distinct architectural detail: the open chapel adds a specific feature to the church’s architecture, beyond its year of foundation. If religious architecture is part of your trip, you can also factor in this feature when planning.

The Capilla La Preciosa Sangre de Cristo, in Barrio de Guadalupe, has a Baroque altarpiece dating from the 17th century. This adds a later period and a feature of the interior to the history of the Parroquia. The comparison helps distinguish these two historic points of interest: for the Parroquia, the focus is on the year 1592, the red tezontle and the open chapel; for the Capilla, it is the Baroque altarpiece. Together, they offer a perspective spanning the history of the buildings and religious art.

Mammoth remains and lake cultures

The Museo de las Culturas Lacustres del Valle de Toluca preserves the tusks and 56 vertebrae of a mammoth. The animal was found in 2009 in Barrio de San Pedro de San Mateo Atenco. Alongside these specific remains, the museum presents archaeological work on the lake cultures of the Toluca Valley. This brings together an individual mammoth find and a broader archaeological theme. If you are interested in archaeological collections, this connection offers a starting point: you can explore both the finds and the lake cultures as a subject.

Plaza and cultural offerings

Plaza Cívica Benito Juárez is in the center of San Mateo Atenco, next to the Parroquia de San Mateo. The plaza and the church are therefore two neighboring landmarks to help you find your way around the center. The plaza complements the historic Parroquia with a place explicitly located in the town center.

Teatro Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz has seating for 200 people. If a performance is important to your trip, check the dates for your preferred travel period. Casa de Cultura Rosa Nava de López offers the community workshops in classical and folkloric dance, guitar, violin, keyboard and visual arts. While the theater has a stated seating capacity, the Casa de Cultura’s workshops are aimed at the community.

Another historical detail concerns the Capilla de San Pedro y San Pablo: it was the first chapel in the municipality of San Mateo Atenco. This statement refers to the municipal area and adds a municipality-wide historical point of reference to the building history of the Parroquia and the Capilla La Preciosa Sangre de Cristo.

These different themes can help you decide whether to stay in El Cerrillo: religious architecture, archaeological subjects or community cultural offerings. If you are looking for a hotel for your stay, you can start by considering which of these interests matters most to your trip.

Discover more destinations: Ixtapaluca, Tepotzotlán, Calixtlahuaca, San Buenaventura, Polotitlán, Emiliano Zapata, San Pablo Atlazalpan, El Pedregal.

For the overview of destinations: México.