“When it comes to cultural wealth, Veracruz is one of the richest states in Mexico. The Olmec civilization — often referred to as the mother culture of Mesoamerica — flourished in this region, as did the Totonac and Huastec peoples. Shortly after the Spanish expedition led by Hernán Cortés made landfall in 1519, they founded Villa Rica de la Veracruz, the town that eventually became the modern city of Veracruz, the state’s largest. The state of Veracruz is home to 35 sites designated as World Heritage Sites in Mexico, including the pre-Columbian city of El Tajín and the Historic Monuments Zone of Tlacotalpan.”
Ana Paula de la Torre, Writer