Culture and art are fundamental aspects of travel these days. Every museum, each eye-catching corner, every historical detail, and each legend or artistic expression create an enjoyable travel experience. Guerrero has a diverse range of artistic and cultural offerings to share.
Museums
Museo de la Platería (The Silver Museum)
The Silver Museum is located in the building known as the Patio de las Artesanías in the city of Taxco de Alarcón and shows visitors the evolution, representation and figures of this art form.
The museum was created thanks to the efforts of Mr. Antonio Pineda, a renowned silversmith and recipient of many national and international awards. This Taxco resident has spent years dedicating his body and soul to the creation of this museum and has managed to combine a series of pieces from a diverse group of artists. As a result, he has created a magnificent collection representative of silversmiths from all over Mexico.
Prior to the museum's creation, the state government donated the capital required to build it and granted the National Institute of Anthropology the responsibility to make this important museum a reality. Then, during the National Silver Fair of 1988, the museum was formally inaugurated the Museo de la Platería (the Silver Museum).
As you begin a tour of the museum, you can see pieces from pre-Hispanic times that show the work that the ancient people of the continent created with the precious mineral of that time. This work established important ties between the indigenous cultures. Over time, these people honed their techniques to create these pieces... perfected works of casting, lamination, filigree and sculpture.
Among these works you will find a mask that represents Xipe-Totec, god of goldsmiths, flowers and spring.
This museum has a collection of original works by William Spratling, the artist who helped develop new ways (designs, commercialization) to increase the growth of the silver industry in Taxco.
Museo Histórico de la Bandera (Historical Museum of the Flag)
On February 24, 1821, in the city of Iguala, the first national flag was created by a tailor named José Magdaleno Ocampo. The flag still resides in Iguala at the Museo Histórico de la Bandera. The flag is a significant part of Mexico's history.
Museo de la Historia Social de Taxco Siglo XX (Twentieth Century Social History Museum of Taxco)
This museum is located in the Casa Borda in Taxco de Alarcón. This eighteenth century construction was commissioned by a miner, José de la Borda, who made his fortune in this land. The main facade of the building opens up to the central square known also as Plaza Borda.
Casa Museo Ignacio Manuel Altamirano (Ignacio Manuel Altamirano Museum)
Located in the city of Tixtla, within the Santiago Apóstol square, you will find the house where the writer, leader and liberal politician, Ignacio Manuel Altamirano, once lived with his family. His home was converted to a museum and pays tribute to the Mexican intellectual whose work became internationally known.
Museo del Palacio Legislativo (Legislative Palace Museum)
This museum can be found in Chilpancingo de los Bravo, the capital city of the state, in the foyer of the Legislative Palace. It consists of two areas full of historical documents on the development of Mexico’s independence.
Museo de la Minería (Mining Museum)
Created to commemorate five centuries of mining in Mexico, this museum is made up of three rooms. It is located in the community of Tehuilotepec, in the municipality of Taxco. The building was the former home of one of the first miners of this region, Don Manuel de la Borda.
Museo de Arte Teatral (Theatre Art Museum)
This museum is located in Taxco as part of the Museum and Festival Program. The exhibits show the past, present and future social, economic, political and cultural aspects of theater using certificates, graphics and models.
Museo de la Judería (Jewish Museum)
The purpose of this museum is to show the development of a people, whose history gave rise to the birth of one of the largest religions in the world.
Museo de Plástica (Plastic Museum)
This museum is made up of a collection of plastic sculpture. Some of the outstanding artists include David Alfaro Siqueiros, Carlos Mérida, Rufino Tamayo, Chavéz Morado, Federico Cantú, Arnol Belkin and Julio Prieto to name a few.
Traditions, Customs and Beliefs
Mexican tradition has been passed down over many generations, from grandparents to great-grandchildren and has formed society and a large part of the popular culture and daily life of the country. Among these you’ll find proverbs, sayings, weddings, funerals, histories, legends and others that have all become part of the cultural background of the country.
Some of the traditions of Guerrero belong to other states and countries as well.
Some Guerreran traditions include:
Fables - of the coyote and the rabbit, the louse and the flea, the buzzard, the sparrow hawk and the tlacoache
Legends - of Bermeja Hill, Tecampana, Tixtla Lake, Tecóatl, many sorrows, pools, caves, canyons, springs and trees
Anecdotes - of the chamuco, elves, heroes, saints, witches and animal spirits
Recipes – for medicine that the people apply every day and food and drink recipes
The custom of celebrating someone or something with music, flowers, firecrackers, presents, food, drink and sometimes dances, bells, and fireworks is very common.
Music and dance are fundamental parts of the culture and artistic expression of the state. Dances are known by name and sometimes by their place of origin. They are characterized by special clothing, individual rhythmic dancing, or synchronized dancing like modern ballet choreography. The traditional dances are generally done during religious festivals and civic ceremonies.
Some dance groups and artists include the “Tlacololeros” from Chilpancingo, Tixtla and Chichihualco, the “Tigres” from Zitlala, Almolonga, Tixtla and Apaxtla, the “Siete Vicios” from Chilapa, the “Aguileros” from Ixcateopan, the “Pescados” and the “Machos” from Costa Chica, the “Diablos”, “Tecuanes”, “Moros”, “Manueles”, “Gachupines”, “Maizos”, “Tejoneros”, “Zopilotes” and the “Palomo” from San Miguel Teloloapan. In recent years they have taken up the dance of the “Chinelos” from the state of Morelos as well. Regionally, other customary dances are the “Zapateado” from Tierra Caliente, the “Chilena” and the “Fandango Costeño” on the two state coasts.
Several folkloric ballet groups exist in honor of “Vicente Guerrero”, “Citlalli” and “Xochicalli”.
Dances
Independent of the dance groups in Guerrero, some artistic and cultural dances exist in the state like the Dance of the Tlacoloteros, Dance of the Tecuani or Dance of the Tecuanes, Dance of the Diablos, Dance of the Manueles, Dance of the Gachupines, Dance of the Siete Vicios, Dance of the Pescados, Dance of the Machos, Dance of the Moros, Dance of the Maizos, Dance of the Zopilotes, Dance of the Tesoneros and Dance of Palomo de Guerrero.
