Oaxaca, tucked high in a fertile valley 485 kilometers southeast of Mexico City, is one of our favorite places in Mexico. Without a doubt it is one of the most colorful, best-preserved Colonial cities in the country, with the added bonus of a lovely climate year round. It also offers visitors a glimpse of a city and region that truly exhibit three distinct faces of Mexican culture-the ancient archaeological ruins; the wonderful Spanish Colonial art and architecture; and the skilled craftsmen and artists in the surrounding villages.