Mercado Juárez [1]: A regiment of stalls offers the best traditional Oaxaca merchandise, from huaraches and huipiles to mountain-gathered remedies and spit-roasted chickens.
Catedral de Oaxaca [2]: The recently restored facade and the inner chapel, which enshrines one of the four replicas of the Holy Cross of Huatulco [3], highlight a visit to this plaza-front gem.
Basilica de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad [4]: Five pounds of gold and 600 diamonds crown Oaxaca’s adored patron, and a fascinating adjacent museum preserves her beloved legacy.
Ex-Convento de Santa Catalina [5]: Wander the tranquil inner courtyards of this richly restored ex-convent, now a distinguished hotel.
Centro Cultural de Santo Domingo [6]: Explore the celebrated duo — the art-swathed Iglesia de Santo Domingo, and the adjacent Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca, with its golden treasure of Monte Albán’s Tomb 7.
Los Arquitos [7]: The original 18th-century aqueduct still stands, in Oaxaca City’s uptown northwest corner, in a quaint string of arches called Los Arquitos. The surrounding neighborhood is ripe for strolling winding village lanes and lingering at a sprinkling of shops, small cafés, and an all-natural Saturday food market.
MARO [8]: Do a major part of your Oaxaca handicrafts shopping at this store, run by a remarkable group of native Oaxacan women artisans.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/oaxaca/oaxaca-city/sights/around-zocalo/mercado-juarez
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/oaxaca/oaxaca-city/sights/around-zocalo/catedral-de-oaxaca
[3] http://www.moon.com/destinations/oaxaca/pacific-resorts/holy-cross-huatulco
[4] http://www.moon.com/destinations/oaxaca/oaxaca-city/sights/northwest-zocalo/basilica-de-nuestra-senora-de-la-soledad
[5] http://www.moon.com/destinations/oaxaca/oaxaca-city/sights/andador-de-macedonio-alcala/ex-convento-de-santa-catalina
[6] http://www.moon.com/destinations/oaxaca/oaxaca-city/sights/andador-de-macedonio-alcala/centro-cultural-de-santo-domingo
[7] http://www.moon.com/destinations/oaxaca/oaxaca-city/sights/los-arquitos
[8] http://www.moon.com/destinations/oaxaca/oaxaca-city/shopping/private-shops/maro