Visiting the very old town of Copala part 1

Today we have been on the road for 100 days. So far have taken over 3000 pictures. Did you think it was more than that?

After leaving Malpica on Friday we continued up the old Mazatlan/Durango highway 40, also known as "The Devil's Backbone". We were going to Copala.

The area around Copala was ruled by indigenous peoples until 1564 when the Spanish arrived. Francisco de Ibarra crossed the Sierra Madre Occidental from Durango and conquered the area for Spain. Prospectors discovered silver there in 1565 and Copala was founded to service the mines. Ibarra named it Copala after a mythical city of gold which he had been searching for in northern Mexico. Copala was destroyed in 1616 by an Indian uprising but was rebuilt the following year. 

The little town is about 2000 feet above sea level and has a population of around 400.

Heading down the cobblestone road into town.

Here is a video of driving down the cobblestone road into town. Click here to watch it full screen. 

Passing some of the homes on the main street .

Aren't those flowers beautiful?

I looked them up. They are Trumpet Vines - and they are an invasive species. They grow very quickly and take over a whole area in one season. 

Looking down one of the narrow side streets. 

More Trumpet Vine. 

Every time I see this building it looks to me like it was cut in half at one time in the distant past. 

One of Copala’s most famous myths is about the church, San José temple, in which there is a miner-shaped figure just above the entrance to the main door, if a bride about to enter the Altar is spat at by the figure, it means that she is not a lady (virgin) so the statue gives her away in front of the boyfriend. The church was built in the mid 1700's.

Just some view of the outside of the church. 

You can see where some repair work was done at one time. 

Looking down at part of the town from the walk way around the church. Most of the homes have the red tile roofs. A few photos from inside the church. 

The smaller door cut in the huge wooden door. 

The altar is very unusual in its decoration. 

Back outside, the community building. Notice the guy on the right he is a painter and he is looking for somewhere to plug his sprayer in.  

Fountain in front of the church, needs a little TLC.

This building used to be a very big gift/souvenir shop. It has been closed for a long time. But since we were here last the mural has been restored. 

Will stop here for now. Lots more to come another day.