Violines

The state of Aguascalientes is located in an intermediate zone between the center and the west of the Mexican Republic and is completely surrounded by the states of Jalisco and Zacatecas. This land was home to fierce Chichimecas who put up strong resistance against the Spanish conquerors. Due to its numerous gold deposits, Aguascalientes preserves one of the most important collections of colonial architecture. 

Baja California Sur is one of the Mexican states with the lowest population density (its entire territory is home to fewer than 400,000 people). It was early inhabited by nomadic groups who left evidence of their presence through numerous rock paintings. This region gained statehood in 1974, a time when tourist destinations such as Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo were developed. 

Campeche is part of the vast plain that makes up the Yucatan Peninsula, which it shares with Yucatan and Quintana Roo. It was inhabited by groups of the ancient Mayan culture, whose traces can still be seen today in sites such as Edzná and Calakmul. On the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, in what was once the Mayan city of Ah Kin Pech (“place of the sun”), Francisco de Montejo the Younger established the foundation of the Villa de San Francisco de Campeche. 

Chihuahua, the capital of the state with the same name, is a historic and cultural city in northern Mexico. Founded in 1709, it is notable for its colonial architecture, such as the Chihuahua Cathedral. The city is recognized for its role in the Mexican Revolution and is home to the Casa de Villa Museum. Its economy is driven by industry, livestock, and trade. Additionally, the region boasts natural landscapes like the Sierra Tarahumara and the Copper Canyon. 

Mexico City, the capital of Mexico, is a historic metropolis founded on Tenochtitlán in 1325. It serves as a political, cultural, and economic hub, featuring landmarks such as the Historic Center, the Anthropology Museum, and the Palace of Fine Arts. Surrounded by mountains and volcanoes, it faces challenges like mobility and pollution. Its rich culture and gastronomy, along with its role in the economy, position it as a globally iconic city. 

Coahuila de Zaragoza is a state in northern Mexico known for its historical, cultural, and natural wealth. Its capital, Saltillo, is renowned for its automotive and textile industries, while Torreón stands out for its economic development. Coahuila features vast deserts, renowned vineyards in Parras de la Fuente, and historic sites from the Mexican Revolution. It is also home to dinosaur fossils and the impressive Sierra de Arteaga, a prime destination for ecotourism.

Colima is a small state in western Mexico that borders Jalisco, Michoacán, and the Pacific Ocean. Its name comes from the Nahuatl word coliman, derived from colli (“hill,” “volcano,” or “grandfather”) and maitl (“hand” or “domain”), meaning “place ruled by our ancestors” or “place where the Old God reigns,” referring to the Colima Volcano. On the back of this violin, we can observe an allusion to the last king of Colima. 

The first violin I painted is a blend of elements that are part of my roots and the inspiration behind the Mexico in Violins project. This violin includes features from all over Michoacán, founding dates, a quote from Mario Moreno "Cantinflas," and is signed by the Ecuadorian violinist Martha Psyko. 

The state of Durango is nestled in the Sierra Madre Occidental and shares borders with Sinaloa, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Zacatecas, Jalisco, and Nayarit. Its surroundings are filled with natural formations of unparalleled beauty, which have served as settings for several films recreating the North American Old West. Its landscapes include forests, canyons, valleys, rivers, lagoons, deserts, orchards, and vineyards 

Guanajuato stands out for its mining heritage, its underground streets and tunnels, its baroque and neoclassical architecture, its colorful houses, its alleys, and its significance in Mexican history. Meanwhile, San Miguel de Allende is a gem of Mexican baroque, boasting some of the most beautiful buildings in the entire country. 

Guerrero is one of the most beautiful states in the Mexican Republic, located in a privileged geographic area in the south of the country. It shares borders with the states of Mexico, Morelos, Puebla, Oaxaca, and Michoacán, and boasts a stunning horizon along the Pacific Ocean.

Listing its attractions would take considerable space, but it is worth mentioning that it is home to Mexico's most beautiful and famous bay: Acapulco, along with countless beaches. It also features colonial cities like Taxco, renowned for its rich silver deposits, among many others.

The Day of the Dead is one of the oldest and most representative celebrations of Mexican culture. It has also been declared a Masterpiece of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It is a tradition with pre-Hispanic origins, during which people take the opportunity to remember and honor the deceased with flowers, colors, cuisine, and offerings that make up altars. 

Located in the center of the country and surrounded by intricate mountain ranges, the state of Morelos has one of the mildest climates in Mexico. It borders Mexico City and the states of Mexico, Puebla, and Guerrero. This territory was initially dominated by the Chichimecas, but the Xochimilcas and later the Tlahuicas also settled there. It was these people who would found Cuauhnáhuac, which the Spanish transformed into Cuernavaca, and which would be chosen by Hernán Cortés to establish an extensive feudal estate. 

On the Pacific coast and sheltered by the states of Sinaloa, Durango, Zacatecas, and Jalisco lies the beautiful state of Nayarit. Its origins trace back to the Cora and Huichol groups who settled in the mountains of the Sierra Madre Occidental. Since ancient times, it has been an important transit zone, and according to legend, the group that, guided by the mythical Huitzilopochtli, would found the great Tenochtitlan, departed from the island of Mexcaltitán. During the 18th century, it became the starting point for the evangelization of Alta California. 

It is located in the northeastern region of Mexico, bordering the states of Coahuila, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosí, and Tamaulipas; to the north, it borders the U.S. state of Texas. Its climate is extreme: in the highlands, it is cold for most of the year, and in summer, it is temperate with rainfall; in the south, it is temperate, and in the east, it is extremely desert-like. It was inhabited by nomadic hunter-gatherer groups, whose evidence is limited to rock paintings in Boca de Potrerillos. 

Land of mezcal, the Guelaguetza, and a magical and abundant cuisine, its landscape offers natural contrasts that give it a unique charm. It is surrounded by the Sierra Madre Oriental, which leads to the Mixtec Knot, and the Sierra Madre del Sur. The Central Valleys are formed by a depression between these mountain ranges. The climates are varied: tropical to the north of the Sierra de Oaxaca. Here, two of the great cultures of pre-Hispanic Mexico developed: the Zapotecs, with their center in Monte Albán, and the Mixtecs, whose capital was Mitla.

The state of Querétaro is filled with historical, cultural, and natural attractions. It is located in the center of the country and is bordered by Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, the State of Mexico, and Michoacán. Its landscape is mostly composed of mountain ranges and hills, while the southern part features fertile valleys. 

Quintana Roo is one of the youngest states in the country and the easternmost, making it the first Mexican state to see the sun every day. It is located on the Yucatán Peninsula, which it shares with Campeche and Yucatán; to the south, it is separated from Belize and Guatemala by the Bay of Chetumal and the Hondo River; to the east, it is bordered by the beautiful Caribbean Sea.

Here lie some of the most spectacular sites of the Mayan world, such as Tulum, Cobá, and Kohunlich. Modern beach destinations like Cancún and Playa del Carmen, and traditional ones like Isla Mujeres. Its lack of surface rivers is compensated by a complex system of underground rivers and cenotes, ideal for cave diving.

Sinaloa, located in northwestern Mexico, is known for its cultural, agricultural, and coastal richness. Its capital, Culiacán, serves as an economic hub, while Mazatlán, "The Pearl of the Pacific," is famous for its beaches and carnival. Sinaloan cuisine is renowned for its seafood, especially aguachile. The state's economy is driven by agriculture, fishing, and tourism. Additionally, Sinaloa is the birthplace of banda music, a cultural emblem of the state. 

Sonora, in northwestern Mexico, is the second-largest state in the country. Its capital, Hermosillo, is a major industrial and agricultural center. The state is notable for its biodiversity, featuring deserts, mountain ranges, and coastlines along the Gulf of California. Its cuisine includes grilled meat, coyotas, and seafood. The economy is driven by mining, livestock, and fishing. Sonora is also home to the Seri and Yaqui, indigenous peoples with a rich cultural heritage.

Tamaulipas, located in northeastern Mexico, stands out for its economy based on agriculture, livestock, fishing, and international trade due to its border with the United States. Its capital is Ciudad Victoria, and Reynosa and Matamoros are important industrial hubs. It boasts natural attractions such as the El Cielo Biosphere Reserve and beaches like Miramar in Tampico. Tamaulipas plays a key role in national history, especially during the Independence era. 

The legendary land of the Mayab is located in the northern part of the peninsula that bears its name, which it shares with Campeche and Quintana Roo; to the north, it is washed by the Gulf of Mexico. Yucatán is part of the Maya World, a culture whose remnants are scattered throughout its territory, with notable sites such as Chichén Itzá and Uxmal. Lacking surface rivers, water flows through a complex system of underground rivers and cenotes.