San Rafael, Veracruz
San Rafael Municipality is a municipality located in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The municipal seat is San Rafael, Veracruz. The economy of the municipality is primarily based on the primary sector. It produces bananas, lime, vanilla and other agricultural products. There is also a small tourism sector based on the area's immigrant culture. In the 19th century there was a wave of settlers from eastern France. As a result of this, a type of vernacular architecture emerged in the region, sometimes called the casas de las riberas del río Nautla (riverside houses of the Nautla River). The town The town of San Rafael was founded as part of a colonization effort by French immigrants in the first half of the 19th century. These French originally settled in Jicaltepec on the other side of the Bobos River, but local landowner Rafael Martínez de la Torre also offered them land on this side. Another indicator is French style names on some of the businesses, as well as a European style local bread sold in stores called “pan de agua.” The entrance to the town from the highway is marked by the Plaza del Reloj (Clock Square). The monumental clock is relatively