In 1519, when Hernán Cortez stepped foot on solid land at a place he christened Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz, the world changed forever. He set up the first Spanish settlement there, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, before he and his troops struck out for the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan. They passed through the tropical coastal plains that bordered waters rich in fish they’d never tasted before. The locals introduced them to the intoxicating aroma of vanilla before they ascended into the verdant mountains that, under Spanish rule, would soon produce some of the most highly prized coffee in the world. They passed by the country’s highest mountain—they named it Pico de Orizaba—and discovered herbs like epazote, hoja santa and xonequi, and vegetables like tomatoes and tomatillos. Squash—from the plants runners and vines to the tender young fruits and mature pumpkin seeds—were a revelation to them, as were the tortillas and tamales made from corn, extraordinary new staple grain to these newly arrived Spaniards.
For the three centuries of colonial rule, Spaniards came and went through the port of Veracruz, leaving a Mediterranean mark (charcutería! panadería!), producing a unique blending of indigenous and European. So did those of the African diaspora who settled in Veracruz after fleeing the slave trade. Mexico abolished slavery in 1829, long before the United States, creating a safe haven for those we now call Afro-Mexicanos.
The natural wealth of Veracruz’ land and waters woven together with the richness of its multicultural history has produced a remarkable, unique spot in the slice of earth we now call Mexico.