Xico: Church Art, Patronal Festival and Local Cuisine

Culture and regional cuisine are two practical starting points for planning your trip to Xico. In the town center are the Parroquia de Santa María Magdalena and another church; the Casa de la Cultura focuses on local dance traditions. Museums and scenic destinations in Malseseca and Arroyo Seco are in the surrounding area. This distinction helps you separate visits within the town from destinations outside its boundaries.

Church Art and Culture in the Town Center

The Parroquia de Santa María Magdalena stands in the center of Xico and houses the image of the town’s patron saint. The Museo del Vestido de Santa María Magdalena is located in the Patio de las Palomas. Its collection includes more than 820 dresses and bears witness to the veneration of Santa María Magdalena. Check the venue’s current visitor rules before your visit. A church on Calle Guadalupe Victoria, also in the center, dates from 1950; its interior features rich Guadalupan symbolism. Religious references are expressed in different ways: in the image of the patron saint, the collection of dresses and the church’s symbolism.

Patronal Festival and Dance Traditions

The patronal festival in honor of Santa María Magdalena takes place in July. Festival features include sawdust carpets, a monumental flower arch in front of the parish church, processions and dances. The festivities also include the burning of toritos and the release of fighting bulls, known as the “Xiqueñada.” If you plan to time your trip to coincide with the festival, check the dates for your intended travel period.

The Casa de la Cultura in Xico also focuses on local culture. Inside, six sections cover dance traditions, the history of individual dances, traditional costumes, masks and music. The history of the dances adds their cultural context to their visible forms of expression.

Dishes and Typical Drinks

Mole is considered Xico’s most typical dish. It is a relatively sweet variety made with ingredients including ancho chili, apple, chocolate, panela and banana. Another part of the local cuisine is Xonequi: a bean soup with heart-shaped leaves from the vine of the same name and dough balls seasoned in lard. The two dishes are quite different: mole combines various ingredients in a sweetish version, while Xonequi is a soup with beans, leaves and dough balls.

Typical drinks include Verde de Xico and Licor de Mora. The latter contains alcohol and is made with mora from a plant endemic to the municipality.

Nearby Destinations and Regional Orientation

In Malseseca, the Museo Xicochimalco displays archaeological objects, including stone monoliths, spearheads, grinding stones, ceramics and anthropomorphic sculptures. Its focus therefore differs from that of the clothing collection at the Museo del Vestido: here, the emphasis is on archaeological finds. The museum is in the surrounding area of Xico, not in the town itself.

Arroyo Seco is also outside Xico. The site is home to a waterfall more than 20 meters high. Group visits are available on weekdays by appointment. Arroyo Seco is 15 minutes from the municipal seat. Activities listed there include camping, hiking, environmental education talks, family recreational activities, encounters with farm animals, horseback riding and visits to the municipal vermicomposting facility; equine therapy is available.

For regional context: Coatepec is 9 km from Xico, and Xalapa is 19 km away. This lets you plan separately for cultural sites in the town center, nearby collections and scenic destinations, and connections to the wider travel area.

Discover more destinations: Buenavista, San Antonio Bonixi, Toluca De Lerdo, Villa Del Carbón, Juchitepec de Mariano Rivapalacio, Ecatepec De Morelos, Temascalapa, Ixtapan De La Sal.

For the broader travel overview: México.