Palizada, a unique town in Mexico’s deep south, in the state of Campeche, lost in time and history. Once accessible only by river, the community today can only be accessed from one direction, by a single road. Due to its hidden nature, the town is easily overlooked and forgotten. But those who make the trip find a beautiful treasure. Just the picturesque view of the red-colored houses reflected like a mirror in the still water of the river makes it worth the journey.
Now, in Campeche’s state capital, a series of special events celebrate the town’s rich culture, intriguing history, and delightful cuisine. These celebrations highlight some unique cultural aspects of the magical town of Palizada, which are part of the state’s extensive and diverse cultural heritage.
One of the remarkable elements of the town of Palizada is its rich history of trade with Europe. The rivers nowadays form an obstacle to accessing the town, but back in the time when commerce moved by boat, it provided an excellent access point for trade with countries including Spain, England, and France. The latter especially left a mark on the town. Roof tiles produced in Marseilles – which were brought as ballast to balance the ships – to date can be found on the roof of most houses in the town.
What the Europeans were interested in, by way of exchange, was the Palo de Tinte, a tree with a red core that is used as a pigment commonly used in textiles. The unique tint can be used as a base to produce a wide range of colors and bring bright variety to European textiles.
Another notable element of Palizada’s cultural heritage is its food. With its unique, local dishes, the town offers an alluring culinary experience. Tropical products are the stars of the scene, including mango, with two types grown locally, as well as yuca, the root of the cassava plant, and an intriguing fish with a small, long beak and sharp protruding teeth, called the Pejelagarto.
The celebration of the rich culture and historical aspects of Palizada is a flag post of cultural preservation. With globalization and conglomeration, many countries are experiencing homogenization and are at risk of losing their cultural diversity. Fortunately, events aimed at celebrating the uniqueness and importance of culture can still be found in all corners of the world, keeping alive the richness of human civilization.
The series of events in Campeche take place between the 7th and 23rd of February 2025 at Aduana 59 in the historic center of the city. On Wednesday the 19th, a symposium by Professor Pascale Villegas will be held on ‘The History of the Palo de Tinte, and the Tiles of Palizada.’ On the 21st of February, there will be a ‘Night of Cultural Exchange: Palizada – Aduana’ with a guest chef. For more information, see https://linktr.ee/ExperienciasAduana.
By Roza Wegkamp for Times New Media Mexico.
The post Historic Forgotten Town Culturally Celebrated in Campeche first appeared on The Yucatan Times.