Another must see and do when in Oaxaca The architect and…read moreartifacts are mind blowing The Santo Domingo Cultural Center is a cultural complex that is located in what was one of the most important convents in the colony. It is a large convent in which the Museum of Cultures of Oaxaca, the Fray Francisco de Burgoa Library and the Ethnobotanical Garden have been established. The Santo Domingo Cultural Center has multipurpose spaces in the former convent, in which temporary exhibitions, conferences, courses, book presentations and concerts, among many other activities, are held.

The beautiful setting and amazing artifacts are worth a visit, preferably with a guide. No staff…read morespoke any English. No entrance signs in another language. Our friends had their experience ruined by lack of handicap accessibility AND the guard who aggressively asked for proof in a card. Her brace wasn't enough proof. Made even more confusing because a nicer guard had already given her a wheelchair. Beyond two rooms on the first floor there was nothing to see for her. Another guard wouldn't let us even try to follow her because we were not following the arrows. The stairs are quit steep. Despite all of this my husband says it was one of the best museums he has ever been to and would like to go back with a guide. Go early to avoid crowds.

Features local artists and one of a kind art items for your souvenirs or to ship back home. This is…read morewhere you want to shop for those unique pieces that you cant find anywhere else.

I was told that this was the place to buy quality crafts. I was very disappointed. The selection…read morewas limited and I didn't find anything particularly special. I wanted to buy placemats, but they only had one of the mat I wanted. I would have liked to get four for my table. Staff was not helpful. I would certainly not go out of my way to come here. Many other stores in Centro with wider selections.

This was the only place I could find leather skull key rings for dia de Muertos 2023 presents for…read moreour kids left at home! Excellent quality & reasonably priced at 50 pesos each

One reason I stopped in Oaxaca was to pick up a rug -- not too big as it had to fit in my backpack…read more This city is a great place to explore traditional well-made crafts and textiles. There is a depth and variety of style here, too, because Oaxaca is home to so many artists. I was looking for a simply-designed rug with natural plant and insect dyes. Most rugs use chemical dyes because chemicals are easier to obtain and cheaper to buy. Most buyers in these markets don't care because they typically want a conversation piece so the demand is not there. I have shopped at a few stores in Oaxaca over the years. (MARO, the women's artist cooperative nearby is a worthwhile place to check out.) The people here at Casa de las Artesanías de Oaxaca were all very helpful. I spoke with an elderly woman weaver who showed me some beautiful rugs but none with natural dyes. One of the weavers said that natural dyes are more difficult to find because there are far fewer skilled persons locally that know which plants and insects to use and the methods to produce the dyes are labor-intensive. After a hunt, I was brought some natural-dyed rugs but the designs were too touristy for my taste. One fellow said he had a rug but didn't think I would like the design because it was very unusual. I was curious so he pulled it out from under a large pile of more popular offerings. Unusual it was and even the elderly woman weaver didn't know what to make of it. She said she had never seen such a design and it surely wasn't Mexican-influenced. I loved it and bought weaver Agostin Mendoza's what I call 'Mexican mid-century-modern' rug.

Its one of those experiences that frames the history of the place you're visiting and makes you…read moresay, "oh, now I get it! " Im not a mega museum fan but this one is curated from local history and artists and is a must when in Oaxaca. Let your imagination run wild with the events that must have taken place in the stunning corridors. It would be the perfect place for a masquerade ball.

Gorgeous museum showcasing history in Oaxaca, from the indigenous Zapotec era through the Spanish…read morecolonization. The architecture is stunning and spacious. The exhibits are super organized and clean. Highly recommended and well worth the $5 admission fee. Clean restrooms as well.