Top 10 Places To Visit In A Guanajuato City Tour - Video

A video review of what I consider the top 10 places to visit in Guanajuato city. Take the tour!

3 Thigs To Know About "La Valenciana" Temple - Church In Guanajuato

 1.-This is one of the most representative construction in Guanajuato. Also known as San Cayetano Church.

2.- Its construction dates back to the XVIII century and is witness of one of the periods of economic affluence for the city, thanks to the great gold production of the mine "La Valenciana".

3.- If you wan to see an impressive show of the grandeur richness of those years, you want to enter the temple and contemplate the golden main altar.  This is made of pure, solid gold. That´s why the temple is usually closed, you must enter following the guided tours that are offered by the administrators  and you can´t take pictures without permit. 

Walking On Guanajuato City... "El Campanero" and "Positos"

Top 10 Places to Visit in Guanajuato

1.- Teatro Juárez: It is  considered one of  the most  beautiful Mexican theaters, built  between 1872 and 1903, with many interruption periods in   the  construction  in   between  this   period.  It  was  inaugurated on October 27th 1903 by  the General Porfirio Diaz. Its  portic is  of  roman Doric style, where  eight columns  sustain  the Eight Muses. Among its attractions it counts  with a smoking room (foyer) of art  nouveau style.

2.-Alhondiga de Granaditas: Historic   building that was the scene of the first, and one of the most bloody,  battles during the independence  war. It was witness  of  the heroic act   of  “El  Pipila”, who burned the door so the people's army could enter the place where the spaniards where hidding.  In  this museum  there can be seen  many historic documents, paintings and many other historic objects. It is open, Tuesday to  Saturday 10:00-13:30 and 16:00-17:30. Sunday 10:00-14:30.

3.- El Pípila: This is a big monument in form of a statue that was built at the top of one of the cerros that surrounds the cañada. You can enter the monument and once inside climb the narrow stairs to the top and have a wonderful view of the city from the observing cabin. You can arrive by car driving on the panoramic street or by foot if you dare to climb one of the narrow alleys that reach there from the bottom of the cañada.

4.- Museo de la Momias: This is  maybe the most original and scary museum in  Guanajuato. The exhibition consists  of  119 mummified bodies in  prefect conditions due to  the minerals in  the soil of the cemetery. The first mummy was exhumed in 1885. It is open, Monday to  Sunday 9:00-18:00

5.- La Presa de la Olla: This is a charming dam situated in the western tip of the city, just where the road to the mining zone begins. It used to be the place where rich people had their houses, so you will see many french-style constructions dating from the end of the XIX century. 

6.- Mercado Hidalgo: The main market of the city. Dating from the early years of the XX century. This magnificent building was initially intended to be a railroad station. Constructed mainly with with steel and cantera rock, it has a clear european style that makes it a unique building in México.  

7.- Museo Iconográfico del Quijote:  It  was  inaugurated in 1987,  the exhibition consists  of  art  works dedicated to  Don Quijote, they are a donation of  Mister  Eulalio Ferrer. Among the works that can be found there are works from Dali,  Rafael and Pedro Coronel. Tuesday to  Saturday 10:00-18:00. Sundays 10:00-15:00

8.- Casa de Diego Rivera: This is a house dating from the XVIII century in which the world famous muralist Diego Rivera was born. In this place there are many works from Rivera in exhibition. It is open, Tuesday to  Saturday 10:00-18:30. Sunday 10:00-14:30.

9.- Olga Costa-José Chávez Morado Casa Museo: These two artists left great paintings to be admired. José Chavez Morado learned from Diego Rivera and became himself also a great muralist, with his paintings present on the walls of the Alhóndiga and the Municipal building, among other buildings.

10.- Palacio Legislativo: It was built  in 1753. Its  façade is  of neoclassical style and the interior has an influence of  art  nouveau.   During the first half  of the XX century it was the house for the three powers of the state. It was inaugurated in 1903 by  General Porfirio Diaz. Today is the house for the Legislative Power of the State of Guanajuato.

"El Baratillo" Fountain In Guanajuato

In the city of Guanajuato you can find many charming "plazas" that will invite you to stay an denjoy the environment. One of the most representative of these "plazas" is "El Baratillo". This is situated right in the central zone of the city, it´s surrounded by many old houses of historical values. 

Its main attraction is the lovely fountain situated in the center of the plaza. It has its origins in Florence, Italy; in the year 1852.

Three big helicopters passing by the city in a cloudy July evening. The colourful houses on the hills of Guanajuato make a great contrast with the grey and white clouds of this overcast sky. Notice a reminiscent of an old era, the big "parabolic dish" on the roof the red house. An antenna that now only serves as a reminder that once, not too long ago, we didn't have "optic fibre" lines, neither internet.

It's also important to mention that historically, the city of Guanajuato had been kind of isolated, the big hills and mountains around the houses blocked many of the communication signals sent by air from the old tv and radio stations. Now, with the great advance of internet presence in the city, this is most an issue from the past.     

"La Compañía" Church Cupola - Night View

The cupola of "La Compañía" church is illuminated at night. This is an old building, its construction was mandated by the Jesuitas in the XVIII century. It is one of the most characteristic, and old, buildings of the city of Guanajuato. It has an architectural style known as "churrigueresco". The building is impressive in the size of its walls and the interiors. You will find a great collection of "sacred art", mainly paints by Miguel Cabrera, in the gallery adjacent to the church. There are also concerts and other cultural events that take place inside the walls of this historical building.

Strange Lions Guarding An Old Castle In Guanajuato

These two lions, guard the entrance of an old house, that looks more as a castle, in the "La Presa de la Olla" zone in Guanajuato. The big house used to be the residence of the state Governor. These days the building is used as government offices, particularly the " Secretaría de Finanzas" (finance office).

I find these lions looking more like "Scooby Do" than a fiery beast. Definitely they are not the best lion statues you can find in the city or in any other city in México or the world.

"Presa de la Olla" Pouring Water In July

In July of every year, rain season has been present in the region for more than a month and one of the indicators that let people of Guanajuato know that the rain has been good, or at least enough, is the pouring of water from one of the most famous dams of the city. This is the "La Olla" dam, situated on the west tip of the urban zone. This is the place where the roads to the mines have their starting point and somehow marks the end of the city, as the "Sierra de Guanajuato" embraces the region with its mountains and "Encino" and "Tejocote" trees.

"La Presa de la Olla" host the annual celebration of "La Apertura". This is a gathering where the civil authorities and people in general witness the opening of the dam gates accompanied by the classic piece composed by the famous mexican musician Juventino Rosas, this is the waltz known as "Sobre las Olas".  

Looking North Panoramic View Of Guanajuato City

Walking on the "Panoramic Street" you will be able to enjoy this kind of views. The city of Guanajuato was built inside a "bowl", framed by many hills and mountains that have shaped the alleys and streets of the city. Here you will always be walking uphill or downhill. The straight line seems to be "forbidden". 

Cerro de Sirena, Guanajuato

A view of the "Cerro de Sirena" in the evening. This is the dominant elevation in the city of Guanajuato. It has a big cross on its top, this is why some people also call the mountain, el "cerro de la crucita". 

Quick Facts About Guanajuato City

Guanajuato is located in the mexican region know as "El Bajío". This is a zone of the central plateau that defines the geography of this part of México. The average altitude of the city is 2100 m (6890 ft) above sea level.

The city of Guanajuato has a population of 170,000 habitants.

Postal code (zip code) of Guanajuato is 36000 and Area code is 473.

Official Name: Historic Town of Guanajuato and Adjacent Mines

Date of Foundation: 1548

Guanajuato City Travel Guide

The city of Guanajuato is a beautiful town in central México that in recent years has become one of the most important touristic destination in the country and even in Latin America. It is considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1988.

From the first moment you arrive in the city, you will notice that you are in a different place. This city is totally unlike to others you have visited before. Here you won´t find the usual distribution of houses and buildings of common cities. Here blocks and avenues are practically proscribed by the topography of the zone. This is an old city of unique, colorful, buildings and historical constructions that together conform a peculiar labyrinth drawn on the hills and resulting in hundreds of intertwined alleys that you won´t find anywhere else in the world.

The city is the capital of the mexican state of Guanajuato. Driving time from México City is 4 hrs. as an average, and you can also arrive by air using the International Airport of Guanajuato that is situated at just 20 minutes driving time from the city. Other nearby cities are Guadalajara (3hrs), San Luis Potosi (1.5 hrs), Querétaro (2 hrs), Aguascalientes (2 hrs).

The foundation of Guanajuato was a direct consequence of the richness in gold and silver of the surrounding hills and mountains. This topography would embrace and guide the design of the suburbs and buildings of the emerging city. The foundation year of the Real de Minas de Guanajuato was 1548 by the Spaniard Viceroy, Don Antonio de Mendoza.

These days the main economic activity of Guanajuato is tourism. Many of the tourists are attracted by the numerous festivals organized in the city along the year, including the world famous "Festival Internacional Cervantino" held in October and also the "Guanajuato International Film Festival" in July of each year.

Guanajuato is a great place to visit and spend various days contemplating all of its charming and unique buildings, merging with its people, discovering and walking its many alleys and in short, enjoying one of the most beautiful cities in México.

Night and Fire Works in Guanajuato

Guanajuato is a city of many festivities. Along the years you will always witness a festival or religious celebration. In many of them, it is an obliged tradition the use of fire works of many sizes. Some are just the noise of "cohetes" exploding in mid air, but other can be as spectacular as the one shown in the picture that belongs to a 15 September, "Independence Day" celebration.