PUERTO VALLARTA (PVDN) – In an extraordinary display of cultural heritage and preservation, Puerto Vallarta welcomes back a collection of real mummies for the city’s Day of the Dead Festival. The mummies, originating from the “Las Ánimas Museum” of Encarnación de Díaz in the Los Altos region of Jalisco, offer a unique glimpse into the past due to their remarkable state of preservation. Discovered in the cemetery of the Pantheon of the Lord of Mercy, a site recognized by UNESCO as part of the Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010, these mummies are on a path that traces the historic Camino Real de Tierra Adentro.
For the second year, residents and visitors of Puerto Vallarta have the opportunity to experience the exhibition, “Death Before Your Eyes,” hosted at the El Pitillal Cultural Center. The center, suitably located in the former market at Libertad Street and Hidalgo, before the bridge on Francisco Villa Avenue, opens its doors from 10:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., offering free admission to all who wish to partake in this captivating encounter with history.
Luis Escoto, the director of the Vallartense Institute of Culture, extends a warm invitation, emphasizing the city’s cultural richness beyond its nightlife and parties. The exhibition is set to draw tourists to the municipal delegation of El Pitillal, enriching the cultural offerings in each of the city’s delegations. Escoto also noted the success of last year’s display, which attracted over 18,000 visitors, with more than 25,000 anticipated to attend this year between November 1 to 12.
The exhibition promises more than just a viewing of mummified remains; it is an immersive experience. With the backdrop of twelve monks and a setting replete with candles, dim lighting, ambient music, fog, incense, and a tzompantli (a rack of skulls), attendees are transported into a different era. The entrance greets visitors with confetti and a grand altar of the dead, setting the tone for the journey ahead.
Among the mummies on display are figures such as Doña Marta, a middle-class woman felled by a stroke, whose features remain distinct; an Emigrant clad in double garments; a Lady dressed in attire from the 1960s; and the world’s smallest mummy, a fetus only 10 centimeters tall. Not to be overlooked are the Woman who died in a hospital, still donning a wristband and bandaged feet; El Sopitas, a man who salvaged vegetables from the market; and El Cristero, identified by a medal of nocturnal worship, hailing from the era of the Cristero War (1926-1929).
The exhibit’s inauguration was marked by the presence of the president of the Municipal System for the Comprehensive Development of the Family (DIF), María de Jesús López Delgado, and councilor María Elena Curiel Preciado, who acknowledged the Day of the Dead as a crucial component of Mexican identity. This event not only celebrates those who have passed but also showcases the rich tapestry of Mexico’s cultural heritage.
As the exhibition draws both local families and international visitors, it is clear that the fascination with this aspect of Mexican history transcends borders. The mummies of Puerto Vallarta stand as silent ambassadors, telling a story that continues to intrigue and educate, leaving attendees with a profound sense of connection to the traditions that shape the nation’s cultural landscape.
PUERTO VALLARTA (PVDN) - In an extraordinary display of cultural heritage and preservation, Puerto Vallarta welcomes back a collection of real mummies for the city . . .
