Current Time in Toluca, Mexico

Toluca de Lerdo, commonly known simply as Toluca, is the capital city of the State of Mexico and one of the most important urban centers in central Mexico. Located in the Toluca Valley at an elevation of approximately 2,680 meters above sea level, it is one of the highest major cities in North America and the highest state capital in Mexico. With a population of approximately 900,000 people in the city and over 2 million in the greater metropolitan area, Toluca is the fifth-largest metropolitan area in Mexico and forms part of the greater Mexico City megalopolis, lying just 65 kilometers west of the national capital.

Toluca's history stretches back to pre-Columbian times, when the Matlatzinca people inhabited the valley and resisted incorporation into the Aztec Empire until the late fifteenth century. Following the Spanish conquest in the early sixteenth century, the area came under Spanish colonial administration and Toluca was formally founded as a Spanish town in 1530. The city grew as an important colonial center in the fertile agricultural valley, known for its abundant production of wheat, maize, and livestock. The weekly Friday market in Toluca, one of the largest traditional markets in Mexico, has roots in the colonial period and continues to be one of the city's most vibrant cultural institutions.

The Toluca Market, held on Fridays in the Juárez Market complex and surrounding areas, is an extraordinary spectacle of commerce and culture. Hundreds of stalls sell an enormous variety of goods including fresh produce, traditional foodstuffs, crafts, textiles, ceramics, flowers, and everyday merchandise, drawing buyers from across the State of Mexico and beyond. The market is particularly famous for its traditional Mexican cuisine, with vendors serving tamales, quesadillas, gorditas, and the local specialty chorizo verde, a distinctive green sausage flavored with herbs that is unique to the Toluca region.

The historic center of Toluca contains several important colonial buildings and institutions. The Cathedral of San José, facing the main plaza, is an imposing nineteenth-century Gothic building that replaced earlier colonial structures. The Los Portales arcades, a long row of archways along the main square, house cafes, restaurants, and businesses and are a defining feature of the city's social landscape. The Cosmovitral, housed in a stunning Art Nouveau building that was originally the city's main market, contains an extraordinary series of stained glass windows created by artist Leopoldo Flores depicting ecological and cosmic themes.

The Nevado de Toluca, a dormant volcano whose summit at 4,690 meters is the fourth-highest peak in Mexico, dominates the landscape west of the city. The volcano's crater contains two scenic mountain lakes, El Sol and La Luna, that can be visited by visitors willing to hike or drive the rough road to the summit. The surrounding Nevado de Toluca National Park provides hiking, camping, and mountain recreation for residents of the crowded Mexico City metropolitan area.

Toluca is a major industrial center, with automotive manufacturing particularly important. Chrysler and other automotive companies have large plants in the metropolitan area. The city has good transportation connections including a toll highway to Mexico City, regular bus services to the capital, and Licenciado Adolfo López Mateos International Airport. Toluca's combination of colonial heritage, industrial significance, natural highland scenery, and proximity to Mexico City make it an important and multifaceted city in central Mexico.