What is the oldest tianguis in Mexico City

Tianguis are those spaces where Mexicans can find everything: from fruits and vegetables, to animals, clothing, beauty items and much more. However, many people do not know that these spaces are the legacy of pre-Hispanic Mexico.

Although the arrival of the Spaniards significantly changed the customs of the City, they were never able to completely eradicate these establishments, because apart from being places full of all kinds of varieties, they were important economic centers for various indigenous groups.

Although there is much talk about the market in Tlatelolco, one of the most important trading places in Mexico-Tenochtitlan, little is said about the corners that are installed on the streets in an “irregular” way. What stood out were the stalls that were established near what soon became the Merced market and what is now the oldest market in CDMX: La Lagunilla.

The history of this place dates back to pre-Columbian times, since, according to historian Beatriz Fernández, it was one of the areas where many indigenous people went to “chachar”, since that time there were countless “antiques, animal skins, medicinal herbs, bird feathers and pieces of gold and copper”.

Much of what was sold there was part of what came to Tlatelolco, since this was a strategic point (made up of lakes) that connected with that market, for this reason, the site was fed by various products brought by potchecas (traveling merchants), who came to distant regions such as Honduras or parts from the Caribbean to bring exclusive items that were sold or exchanged for very valuable things.

It should be noted that the size of the tianguis was limited, since at that time the few towns that were nearby were surrounded by bodies of water and there was “a lot of dealing with the mud that formed in some parts”.

Over time, the Spaniards began to “regulate” this type of activity and obtained economic advantages that affected the profits of the sellers, however, the shops managed to survive.

Due to the abandonment of the area by the authorities at different times in history, the relocation of the premises was not formally taken into account until 1904, when construction began on a new space to improve the appearance of the capital. It was part of the various “progress” projects of Porfirio Díaz.

On September 14, 1905, the market of la Lagunilla was opened, which was built by Ernesto Canseco. The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) details that one of the purposes of this work was for the inhabitants of the colony to have a supply center that could benefit “other nearby places such as Guerrero or Santa María la Ribera”.

In the mid-1950s, the accommodation of the place was restructured and new parts of the market were opened, as well as support was provided to entrepreneurs from there and from Tepito.

Although the market was a great tool to give vendors a better place, the settlements of irregular premises did not stop, on the contrary, they multiplied and began a “boom of all kinds of appliances such as used furniture, clothes and shoes, as well as electronic devices, pans and curiosities”.

Nowadays, several of the stalls of this ancient tianguis survive and continue to give identity to the streets of La Lagunilla. Hundreds of tourists and chilangos venture every Sunday to look for all kinds of strange and familiar pieces. There is no doubt that taking a walk around the place is not only a way to support the local economy, it is also a way to learn about the history of the country.

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