Before the Tepeji Municipality existed, there were two towns that during a long time fought the right
to own this territory, later, with the arrival of the Franciscan, the towns in Tepexic and Otlaxpan unified themselves to give place to a new town that is now known as Tepeji del Río of Ocampo, in the state of Hidalgo or just Tepeji.
Precisely at the ex-Convent of San Francisco, a religious enclosure of the XVI century, all these things took place. You can still go and read in its wall –as if it were a Graphic Novel– this epic fight.
If you go inside the San Francisco de Asis Parish, you will discover that behind its Renaissance facade, there is a sturdy church of a Classical style with the tallest arches in accordance with the minimalist philosophy of the Franciscans.
Ask for the work of the Novohispanic painters Juan Correa y Francisco Martinez. Its paintings are amazing both in the topics portrayed as well as in the techniques they used.
This religious enclosure is composed of three chapels and a cloister that is perfectly preserved, no matter its age. Outside, in the atrium, you can enjoy its stony roads or sit in the circular banquette that surrounds the cross in front of the church.
Tepeji is an important spot of the Camino Real of Tierra Adentro, the Camino of Santa Fe better known as “The Silver Road”, that encompassed the terrirory of what was known as the New Spain to Santa Fe in New Mexico.
From those golden years of the Camino Real, the structures of the Ex Hacienda of Caltengo are still preserved with its 3 centuries old. This was also the last place that Melchor Ocampo saw in his life: inside this building he was killed. Today, this place is used as a place for social gatherings like weddings, baptisms and other events.
Among Its most representative commemorations we can find the “Silence Procession” that has taken place every Holy Friday for more than 70 years. In this rite you can see a procession walking next to a crucified Christ. At the end, performances related to the life of Christ, from his birth to the day of his resurreccion, are presented.
It will take you 1 hour and 10 minutes (77 km) to get here if you are coming from Mexico City and one hour and 30 minutes if you are coming from Pachuca (117 km).
