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Handicrafts in Santa Rosalía, Expressiveness That Thrills the Senses

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Original and full of life is how we would describe the work of Santa Rosalía artisans, whose creations are made with materials unique in the region and with subject matter that reflects their Baja California Sur identity.

Inspiration on San Marcos Island

About ten and a half miles from this Magical Town, in the Gulf of California, is San Marcos, an island known for its deposits of alabaster, which artisans from Mulegé use to make lovely decorative objects.

Pieces made with this material have a beautiful pure white translucent quality, and what’s more, since alabaster is relatively soft, it can be carved.

City shops sell figures with nautical themes, masks, angels, candlesticks and jewelry, among many other things.

Collectibles: Objects from Villages along the Peninsula

The mountainous zone around Santa Rosalía is dotted with tiny communities, and many of the people living there supplement their income by making fully handcrafted leather items, such as saddlebags, saddles and ropes.

Local leather workers pay tribute to the cowboys of yesteryear: skilled cattle drivers who lived in the state’s rugged mountains and whose descendants have kept their traditions alive.

Despite it being a centenary trade, leatherwork, as well as engraving on it, has flourished in the hands of regional artisans, who masterfully create pieces to be cherished for a lifetime.

A Strong Heartbeat Underground

When talking about handicrafts, we can’t forget those with a mining theme that constantly remind people in Santa Rosalía of their identity. Because of that, it is very easy to find small replicas of machinery used during the El Boleo mining boom, in the early 20th century.

Several shops offer plaster, wood or metal wagons, cranes and, of course, the locomotive that welcomes people into the city.

Similarly, replicas of the major historical monuments abound, like Santa Bárbara Church and the Museo de Historia de la Minería (Museum of Mining History).

The Sea: Endless Creative Inspiration

Given its privileged location on the Gulf of California, many of the city’s handicrafts are related to the sea in one way or another. 

Unquestionably, seashells are among the artisans’ favorite elements and can be found in every size, decorating common items such as pens, key chains, picture frames and souvenirs, often together with the name of Santa Rosalía.

For a very special gift, look at the mirrors framed with stunning intricately inlaid seashells.

Handcrafted Jewelry

Handmade jewelry featuring original designs and local materials such as seashells, abalone and wood deserve special mention.

Such nautical references as whale fins, turtles, anchors and fish abound in necklaces, earrings and bracelets.

Original jewelry made with the shell of the Spondylus, a bivalve with a thick, orange shell highly valued by the ancient Mesoamerican cultures, stand out, since it was used to make offerings to their gods.

 


Gifts for Young and Old

Children, too, will get excited with traditional local toys, including colorful felt animals such as dogs, cats and horses, all made by hand.

At the same time, adult heads will turn at the surprising variety of wooden objects, from little French-style houses and miniature kitchens to hand-painted jewelry boxes.

To top it all off, for more conventional souvenirs encompass everything from hand-painted tequila shot glasses to mugs, t-shirts, caps, magnets and cloth bags with the name of the city in an array of designs, colors and styles.

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