Although this state is located in the northeast of Mexico, culturally speaking, it has more in common with the west. It is surrounded by Sonora, Chihuahua, Durango and Nayarit, and has a beautiful, broad Pacific shoreline as well as a coastline along the Sea of Cortés. In ancient times, it was occupied by groups of hunter-gatherers that supplemented their diet with seafood. The Conquest required several expeditions and it was not until the arrival of the Jesuit missionaries that the region was pacified. Mining spurred the development of the Spanish settlements that in turn led to the emergence of baroque religious art, evident in the churches of Copala, Rosario and Concordia.
Mazatlán always has surprises in store. Its multiple, complex nature make boredom impossible. Wandering through the city and its historic center, sunbathing on its magnificent beaches, traveling to the islands using every imaginable form of transport, and gazing at the horizon from hills such as El Faro and El Cerro de la Nevería, enjoying one of the most elaborate regional seafood cuisines, participating in the carnival, sailing or sport fishing are some of the things that have made Mazatlán famous the world over.
The region now occupied by Mazatlán has been populated since long before the Spanish conquest. Nuño Beltrán and Francisco de Ibarra subdued the local indigenous groups and then divided up the vast plots of land on the coast between themselves. The Spaniards called it Mazatlán Island, in honor of the three islands facing the bay. During the colonial era, it was a major port from which ships laden with gold set off for Spain on long journeys round Cape Horn. The early 19th century saw the arrival of Germans, Italians and North Americans that gave the city a cosmopolitan spirit that it has preserved to this day. Despite being overrun by pirates, gold prospectors and invaders, Mazatlán managed to retain both its pride and its hospitality. |
