OAXACA was selected for our study abroad program because of the high quality
architectural context that it provides for our studies. The New York Times has repeatedly called OAXACA on of the 10 best travel destinations in the world.

OAXACA is located in the confluence of three mountain valleys 250 miles south
of Mexico City. The city dates from 1529 when the Spanish first drew the outline
of OAXACA's central square ground.

Today, OAXACA is well known as a city that has preserved its historic architectural heritage and as a city of the arts. The buildings of the city's center date from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. Many of Mexico's most important museums as well as artists including Rafino Tameyo, Rodolfo Morales, and Francesco Toledo reside in OAXACA.

OAXACA's Zocalo, the central square, is among the finest public spaces in the world; the courtyard buildings that form the majority of the structures of the city provide a rich learning resource for our studies; the city is powerfully demarcated by the mountains that surround it; and it is a city that is easily and rewardingly negotiated by pedestrians.

The city is surounded by villages that each specialize in a specific craft. Within an easy day trip of the city are villages that weave rugs, make pottery, carve wooden animals, and make paper. Mounte Alban, Yagoul, and Mitla are ruins of pre-Hispanic civilizations that are located within an hour of the city. Beaches are 6 1/2 hours away by bus (cheap fares) or 45 minutes by air (expensive).

The climate is mild year around with temperatures of 75 degrees during the day and 60 degrees in the evening. January is clear while February, March, and April have a scattering of cloudy days.