Introducing Guanajuato
The extraordinary Unesco World Heritage city of Guanajuato was founded in 1559 due to the region’s rich silver and gold deposits. Opulent colonial buildings, stunning tree-filled plazas and brightly-colored houses are crammed onto the steep slopes of a ravine. Excellent museums, handsome theaters and a fine marketplace punctuate the cobblestoned streets. The city’s ‘main’ roads twist around the hillsides and plunge into tunnels, formerly rivers.
Advertisement
The city is best known internationally for its acclaimed annual international arts festival, the Festival Cervantino. Yet this colorful and lively place holds center stage all year long; much of the youthful vibrancy and prolific cultural activities – callejoneadas, films, theater and orchestras – can be attributed to the 20, 000 students of the city’s own University of Guanajuato.
The city usually boasts fine weather during the day, but beware of cold and windy nights in the winter.
Last updated: Mar 2, 2009
Tips & articles
-
On the trail of Mexico’s best kept secrets
6 February 2012
Forget the seaside margaritas and hire yourself a set of wheels to explore this huge, varied but eminently driveable country,...
-
Top 10 festivals and fiestas in Mexico
15 September 2011
The Nobel Prize-winning Mexican writer Octavio Paz said, ‘The art of the fiesta has been debased almost everywhere else, but...
-
Top 8 places to (safely) visit in Mexico now
5 May 2011
‘Is it safe to go to Mexico?’ We hear that question weekly. And the answer is always yes, if you...
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
-
Guanajuato trip report
by raindog2k 04 September 2011
Hi folks, I went to Guanajuato for 8 days, including a day each in Doloros Hidalgo and San Miguel de Allende. I stayed at the apartme…
-
RE: Spanish Classes in Guanajuato city, Mexico
by earthpileofrocks 25 July 2011
I have been studying Spanish for a few months in Guanajuato. I have gone to both Escuela Mexicana and Adelita. I very much enjoyed my…
-
RE: Cashing Traveler's Checks in Mexico
by bethwilliamson 15 July 2011
My bank is no longer selling travelers' checks and in October no bank in Guanajuato, Guanajuato would cash TCs unless one had an account…
