Culture and Traditions
Destinations
Adventure and Nature
Magical Towns
Information
MICE tourism
Culture and Traditions
Destinations
Adventure and Nature
Magical Towns
Beaches
Information
MICE tourism
Header of twenty towns
The Municipality of Zempoala derives its name from Cempoalla, which comes from the roots Cempoalli meaning "twenty" and lan or tlan meaning "place of," "place of twenties," where the number twenty was venerated or where the market was held every twenty days.
Zempoala junto con Zacuala, Textilpan y Tlaquilpan fueron los cuatro poblados que a mediados del siglo XVI convergieron para formar la Congregación de Todos los Santos, que tenía su epicentro en lo que hoy es la Plaza Principal de la localidad de Zempoala.
Facing the Main Square is the parish and former convent of Todos Los Santos, and next to the convent is the Casa Grande hacienda, the only one in the region that did not produce pulque (a traditional alcoholic beverage), as the owners, the Enciso family, had the Los Olivos hacienda dedicated to the production of this spirited drink.
Therefore, Casa Grande operated as an inn and sold bread, candles, soap, and vegetables from its garden. Casa Grande hacienda can be visited to appreciate its magnificent rooms furnished with pieces brought directly from Europe.
It is located 26 km (30 minutes) from Pachuca and 83 km (1.5 hours) from Mexico City.
Zempoala
What to See in Zempoala
Zempoala Tourist Attractions
Exconvento de Todos Los Santos (Former Convent)
In the center of this municipality stands the imposing former convent of Todos Los Santos, founded between 1570 and 1580 by Franciscan friars. Its architectural style projects an image of the so-called fortress convents, with high walls finished with battlements and a plateresque facade; its tall and slender bell tower stands out. The convent also features an open chapel with two enormous access arches and two large naves. The temple preserves remnants of mural paintings with religious scenes, as do the walls of the adjoining convent, where paintings depicting scenes from the Passion of Christ can still be seen.
Plaza Principal (Main Plaza)
In the square, the kiosk stands out, and the monument La Picota or Rollo also rises, a nearly 5-meter-high stone column with jaguar figures at its base and lions on its capital; it served as a public punishment pillar for offenders.
Hacienda Casa Grande
Located just a few meters from the center, it was built in 1860. The hacienda is built on a 17,000-square-meter area and features several rooms, courtyards, and gardens ideal for any social event. The hacienda was built on lands expropriated from the clergy according to the reform laws. It originated from the idea of offering in services to travelers and merchants, as the paths of the northern silver and Pachuca that lead to Veracruz crossed in that location.
In 1880, the train arrived in the area driven by Porfirio Díaz, and thanks to that, pulque began to gain much importance in the country, leading to the boom of pulque haciendas.
Hacienda Casa Grande in Zempoala changed its focus and engaged in commerce, supplying the haciendas' general stores and also owning lands for pulque production.
In subsequent years, due to the revolution and especially the agrarian reform during Lázaro Cárdenas' presidency, the pulque boom declined. Currently, the hacienda is in the best condition to host social events.
San Juan Pueblilla Hacienda
It is another must-visit place and stands out for its craft beer production. A stop at Zontecomate Hacienda is mandatory, where you can enjoy typical cuisine.
Father Tembleque Aqueduct
What distinguishes and amazes in Zempoala is the Father Tembleque Aqueduct, built in the early years of evangelization in Hidalgo to supply water to several towns and haciendas.
It was Fray Francisco de Tembleque who designed this hydraulic work, which stretches for 48 kilometers and is considered the most important of the 16th century. In 2015, it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
This aqueduct includes 6 sections, highlighting the Arquería Mayor or Zempoala Arches, with a length of 904 meters and a height of nearly 39 meters, on the borders of Hidalgo and the State of Mexico.
What to Do in Zempoala
Select your Adventure in Hidalgo
UNMISSABLE EXPERIENCES IN ZEMPOALA
Enjoy Tlajomulco Forest
During your visit to Tlajomulco Forest, you can engage in activities such as hiking, ecotourism, and mountain biking.
It is also ideal for enjoying nature, getting away from the noise of the city, admiring the landscape, flora, and fauna.
El Abejedario
It is a place created by beekeepers passionate about bees, where you can learn about and have solidarity experiences. With a one-day experience, you can actively get involved in beekeeping and how it affects ecosystems