About Orizaba, Mexico
Orizaba means place of joyful waters in Nahuatl and is a city located in a central part of Veracruz, immersed in a mountainous region. This city is in the valley of the Pico de Orizaba or Citlatepetl, the highest volcano in Mexico and the natural attraction par excellence of the region. Many visitors come here with mountain guides to reach the top, situated over 5,500 meters (18,040 ft) above the sea.
As in any typical Mexican town, Orizaba has a main square with gazebo, which is called Alameda Central, where locals have seen chaneques, mischievous goblins that scare people at night. The City Hall is one block from this park, which features a central courtyard surrounded by arcades and the Social Revolution mural painted by José Clemente Orozco. Behind the City Hall there is a promenade along the river that crosses the city, with alleys, 15 bridges, including a suspension one and the San Antonio bridge, dating from 1550, and an ecological animal exhibition circuit. Also, next to the palace is the cable car terminal, a new city attraction consisting of a scenic ride 950 meters (3,116 ft) long, which goes from El Pichucalco Park to the Borrego Hill
In the downtown area of the city you can find the Cathedal of San Miguel Archangel with a baroque and neoclassical Corinthian style, and a clock made by the clockmaker of Napoleon III; the Iron Palace, a detachable construction that was brought from Belgium and designed in a nouveau-style by the same architect and engineer who made the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The palace houses the offices of tourism and two museums: the Museum of Beer and a museum dedicated to the history of the valley of Orizaba.
Other tour attractions in this city include the Museum of Art of the State of Veracruz, where you can see works by Diego Rivera and works of the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries; the Ignacio de la Llave Theater, considered among the best in the state; the Mier y Pesado Castle, that today operates as asylum and features an English style with beautiful gardens; and the Municipal Pantheon, that houses the Giant Stone, a six-ton monolith that was used for sacrifices. Near the cemetery is La Concordia, the bullring and art performance center in Latin America, with a roof on a geodesic form.
There are numerous churches within Orizaba, standing out the Church of Santa Gertrudis, boasting a Churrigueresque-style facade; the Temple of Santa Maria de los Siervos with romance style; the former Convent of Our Lady of Carmen, the former Convent of San José de Gracia, and La Concordia Guadalupe Shrine. On the perimeter of the city is the Elephant Waterfall, that belongs to Blanco River Canyon National Park and has two waterfalls that simulate animal fangs. On this site, there are two main attractions: the walk of 500 Steps surrounded by greenery and nature that you go down to reach the lagoon, and a zip line that it is said to be the longest in the country.
***The official currency of Mexico is the Mexican Peso (MXN).
