Paracho de Verduzco facts for kids
Paracho de Verduzco, often just called Paracho, is a lively city in Michoacán, Mexico. It is about 100 kilometers (62 miles) west of Morelia, the state capital. Paracho is famous around the world for its amazing handmade guitars and other musical instruments.
Contents
Paracho: The Guitar Capital!
Where Guitars Come Alive
Paracho is known as a global center for making stringed instruments. This is because the city's skilled craftspeople make some of the best sounding guitars and vihuelas in all of Mexico. A vihuela is a type of guitar with a rounded back.
The town is full of music shops. They sell many kinds of handmade stringed instruments. You can find ten-string mandolins, guitars made with armadillo shells (called concheras), and acoustic bass guitars. Of course, they also have regular classical guitars, bajo sextos, vihuelas, and guitarrones. Many shops let you watch the guitar-making process up close!
The Guitar Festival
Every year, Paracho hosts a big festival called "Feria de La Guitarra." It usually happens in the second week of August. This festival lasts for nine days. It shows off the city's culture, delicious food, and old traditions. From its special bread to its famous guitars, Paracho is rich in culture and fun traditions.
A Rich History of Craftsmanship
How Guitar Making Began
Paracho has been famous for its guitars and instrument makers for over 480 years! This tradition started a long time ago. When Spanish explorers arrived in Mexico, a priest named Vasco de Quiroga had a clever idea. He thought each local village should learn a special craft. This would help them earn money and join the new Spanish system.
Quiroga started similar plans in other towns. For example, Santa Clara became known for copper. Uruapan became famous for lacquerware. Paracho was chosen for stringed instruments because it was surrounded by pine forests. This meant plenty of wood was available. Many families learned the craft and passed it down through generations.
Guitars Evolve in Paracho
Even though Paracho's instrument makers have been perfecting their skills for centuries, their guitars look different from European ones. A Yale expert named Ron Fernandez noticed this. He said it was because of the building methods and tools used. European makers often use a workbench. But in Mexico, people carved wood while seated, just like their ancestors did.
For a long time, Paracho makers would take apart foreign guitars. They did this to learn new ways to improve their own instruments. Then, in the 1980s, master instrument makers from Spain visited Paracho. They helped local craftspeople make even better guitars.
Today, Paracho is still a place where mariachi bands and other musicians can buy good, affordable instruments. It has also become a popular place for tourists. Visitors can buy a handmade or factory-made guitar at great prices.
See also
In Spanish: Paracho de Verduzco para niños
