Things to do in Chihuahua
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Museo Histórico de la Revolución Mexicana
Housed in Quinta Luz, a 48-room mansion and former headquarters of Pancho Villa, the Museo Histórico de la Revolución Mexicana is a must-see, not only for history buffs but for anyone who appreciates a good made-for-Hollywood story of crime, stakeouts and riches.
After his assassination in 1923, 25 of Villa's 'wives' filed claims for his estate. Government investigations determined that Luz Corral de Villa was the generalissimo's legal spouse; the mansion was awarded to her and became known as Quinta Luz. She opened the museum and the army acquired it after her death in 1981. You'll see many of Villa's personal effects plus weapons from his era, but everyone's favorite …
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Quinta Gameros
Wealthy mine-owner Manuel Gameros started building the bold, art nouveau Quinta Gameros in 1907 as a wedding present for his much younger fiancée, Elisa Muller. By the time it was finished, three years later, she had died, and soon afterwards the Revolution began and the Gameros family fled Mexico. Pancho Villa would later use it as offices. Today, the house is gorgeously restored and filled with a mix of period furnishings and art from the Universidad de Chihuahua’s permanent collection. Every room is unique and the whole place is a sensuous delight of stained glass, carved and painted wood, sinuous forms, and floral and bird motifs.
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La Casa de los Milagros
Legend has it that Pancho Villa and his pals loved this stylish café, and you probably will too. In a beautiful, 110-year-old mansion featuring high ceilings, tiled floors and an airy courtyard, the food, cocktails and ambience all merge into a fantastic evening. The menu features a great selection of coffee drinks, fresh salads, some original antojitos (Mexican snacks), and steaks and chicken for heartier appetites. There’s live music, usually ballads and trova, from 9pm Wednesday to Sunday.
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Palacio de Gobierno
The courtyard of the handsome, 19th-century state government building features fantastic 1950s murals by Aarón Piña Mora showing the highly eventful history of Chihuahua. Authorized guide Óscar Mazón is usually on hand here from noon to 4pm to give an excellent explanation of the paintings in English, French, Italian or Spanish for M$200 – or you can get a free booklet on them in the tourist office.
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Casa Chihuahua
Chihuahua’s former Palacio Federal, built in 1908–10, is now a cultural center full of very interesting and varied exhibits, with most explanations in English and Spanish. The most famous gallery is the Calabozo de Hidalgo, the dungeon where Miguel Hidalgo was held prior to his execution. The Calabozo and two rooms of historical exhibits next to the dungeon comprise the building’s Museo de Sitio.
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Botero’s
Botero’s is brightly contemporary in both its adventurous Chihuahua-meets-Europe cuisine and its bi-level, window-walled design. Steaks, seafood and pasta (in sauces, such as smoked salmon and vodka) head up the menu; lighter options include salads with ingredients such as mango and goat cheese, and some truly tempting tentaciones (temptations). It does a big M$90 breakfast buffet, too.
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Grutas de Nombre de Dios
These warm caves on the northeast edge of town have some impressive stalagmites, stalactites and other rock formations, making the one-hour, 17-chamber underground journey fun, especially for kids. To get there take either a taxi (M$70) or a ‘Nombre de Dios Ojo’ bus (M$6) from outside Posada Tierra Blanca on Niños Héroes. Ask the driver to tell you when to get off.
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Conexión a la Avéntura
Conexión a la Avéntura offers numerous outdoor trips all over the region, including rock climbing and rappelling in Parque Nacional Cumbres de Majalco, kayaking the Río Conchos and sandboarding at Samalayuca Dunes. A nine-day Copper Canyon trip with four days of burro trekking costs US$1135 per person with four people.
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Mi Café
This American-style greasy-spoon diner caters both to travelers and local cowboys, serving up excellent breakfasts and coffee at big, comfy booths. Chilaquiles montados con huevos (corn tortillas with chili and eggs) is great way to start the morning or kick a hangover. Internet access also available.
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Cervecería
While other Zona Dorada nightspots try to outdo themselves with flash and style, this drive-in, park-like spot guarantees its success with one simple hook: cheap beer. One liter is just 28 pesos. Norteño and country bands kick off around 21:00 and the earthy crowd makes for great people-watching.
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Mining Museum
Though it's just on the outskirts of Chihuahua, the historic hillside mining village of Santa Eulalia feels worlds away. The area's first silver was dug out of these mountains in the 17th century and the mines are still going strong. The library (the new orange building) has a little Mining Museum.
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Rock Shop
Though it's just on the outskirts of Chihuahua, the historic hillside mining village of Santa Eulalia feels worlds away. The area's first silver was dug out of these mountains in the 17th century and the mines are still going strong. Take a look at Chino's Rock Shop just downhill from the church.
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La Casona
The city’s top out-to-dinner experience is at this 19th-century mansion once owned by prerevolutionary potentate Luis Terrazas. Polished waiters in black ties and waistcoats serve up steaks, seafood, pasta and an ample wine list in a fairly formal atmosphere. Breakfasts are great.
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Nutry Vida
For vegetarians growing tired of cheese, this little natural-foods café and bakery is a welcome stop. You'll find salads, yogurts, veggie burgers (which aren't very good, frankly), fresh-squeezed juices and a variety of whole-wheat baked goods. Eat in or take out.
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Trolley Turístico
Chihuahua's historic-looking Trolley Turístico offers a 45-minute narrated (in Spanish) peek at Chihuahua's main historic sights. It departs from Plaza Hidalgo every hour from 09:00 to noon and 15:00 to 19:00, Tuesday to Sunday; buy tickets at the tourist office.
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Mine Tours
Santo Domingo is an interestingly ugly town full of old mining buildings, 3km uphill from Santa Eulalia. Señor Oaxaca, whose father was a miner, leads five-hour Mine Tours. He provides hardhats and lanterns. The tourist office in Chihuahua can make arrangements.
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Museo de Arte Sacro
On the southeast side of the cathedral is the entrance to the small Museo de Arte Sacro, which displays dozens of religious paintings from the big names of the 18th century, including Miguel Cabrera, plus a chair used by Pope John Paul II during his 1990 visit.
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Casa Sebastián
The Casa Sebastián, a restored 1880s gem, has temporary galleries in the front, and small-scale models of the massive metal sculptures by renowned Chihuahuan artist Sebastián, whose work is seen in cities around the world, in back.
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Hotel San Juan
The dive bar edging the front courtyard of this budget hotel attracts many Chihuahua student types. It has loud rock and metal on the jukebox yet maintains a mellow vibe, and there are usually as many women as men pounding back whiskey and beer.
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Museo Casa de Juárez
The Museo Casa de Juárez maintains the 1860s feel and exhibits objects and documents from the period, including some signed by the great reformer Benito Juárez, as well as replicas of his furniture and horse-drawn carriage.
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Museo Tariké
The seldom-visited Museo Tariké near Quinta Luz covers the history of the city. The old photos are generally more interesting than the exhibits (labeled in Spanish only), but the rolling toilet used by miners is alone worth the trip.
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Antojitos Pam-Pam
Nothing fancy, just great home-style cooking, which makes it a favorite with downtown workers at lunchtime. The chile relleno (chili stuffed with meat or cheese, usually fried with egg batter) burritos are delicious and filling.
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Cathedral
The majestic cathedral, built between 1725 and 1826, presides over the bustle of the Plaza de Armas. Behind its marvelous baroque facade are an altar of Italian marble and the original organ installed in 1796.
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La Roca
A fun-loving, unpretentious crowd packs this bar in a downbeat area to share cubetes (buckets) of beer (10 bottles for M$130) and puzzle at the oddities dangling from the ceiling (milk pails, chairs, bugles…).
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Casa Redonda
Filling a former railroad roundhouse, Casa Redonda now hosts the local contemporary arts museum, which brings in some top-class touring exhibitions. There is also a room of railway relics here.
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