Things to do in Zacatecas State
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Acrópolis Café
This Greek-owned café with slightly overinflated prices is popular with locals and visitors, more for its location than its meals – light snacks and coffees.
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El Paraíso
This smart bar in the southwest corner of the Mercado González Ortega attracts a friendly, varied, mostly 30s clientele; it’s busiest on Friday and Saturday.
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San Patrizio Caffé
Probably does the best – if priciest – cappuccinos in town and has a relaxing courtyard seating, light snacks, and an array of Italian sodas.
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Trattoria Il Goloso
Trade the tacos for Italian pasta and other mains – in this cozy (if slightly pricey) Sicilian-themed place, behind San Patrizio Caffé.
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Museo Pedro Coronel
The extraordinary Museo Pedro Coronel is housed in a 17th-century former Jesuit college and is one of provincial Mexico’s best art museums. Pedro Coronel (1923−85) was an affluent Zacatecan artist who bequeathed his collection of art and artifacts from all over the world, as well as his own works. The collection includes 20th-century works by Picasso, Rouault, Chagall, Kandinsky and Miró; some entertaining Hogarth lithographs; and fine ink drawings by Francisco de Goya. There are pre-Hispanic Mexican artifacts, masks and other ancient pieces from all over the world, including some important Japanese screens.
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Ex-Templo de San Agustín
Ex-Templo de San Agustín was built for Augustinian monks in the 17th century. During the 19th-century anticlerical movement, the church became a casino. In 1882 it was purchased by American Presbyterian missionaries who destroyed its 'too Catholic' main facade, replacing it with a blank white wall. In the 20th century the church returned to the government. Today it hosts art and cultural exhibitions. The adjoining former monastery is now the seat of the Zacatecas bishopric.
The church's finest feature is the plateresque carving of the conversion of St Augustine over the north doorway.
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Museo Rafael Coronel
The amazing Museo Rafael Coronel is not to be missed. Imaginatively housed in the ruins of the lovely 16th-century Ex-Convento de San Francisco, it houses Mexican folk art collected by the Zacatecan artist Rafael Coronel, brother of Pedro Coronel and son-in-law of Diego Rivera. The highlight is the astonishing, colorful display of over 3000 masks (another 7000 are in storage) used in traditional dances and rituals. Also on display are pottery, puppets, instruments, pre-Hispanic objects and sketches by Rivera. The grounds and garden are a wonderful place to come and relax.
reviewed
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Cable Car
Zacatecas’ most exhilarating ride and the easiest way to Cerro de la Bufa’s summit is the Swiss-built cable car that crosses high above the city from Cerro del Grillo. It’s a short walk east from Mina El Edén (east entrance) to the teleférico ’s Cerro del Grillo station. Alternatively, huff up the steep steps of Callejón de García Rojas, which lead straight to the teleférico from Genaro Codina. Cars depart every 15 minutes (except when it’s raining or when winds exceed 60km/h) and the trip takes seven minutes.
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Los Dorados de Villa
You may have to fight to get into this popular revolutionary-themed restaurant: knock at the door – it’s always locked. It’s full of atmosphere and relics and serves up a delicious array of everything – except Pancho Villa himself. Don’t miss the enchiladas valentinas (M$65). Oh and for posterity, a flying visit to the toilet may knock you off your perch! (The toilet alcove is filled with birds − you have to walk through the aviary to get to your cubicle.)
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Museo Zacatecano
The Museo Zacatecano is a lovely museum which is devoted to Huichol art. The patio area displays superb photographs of the Huichol people (including those taken in 1934 by the first explorers to interact with the groups), their ceremonies and daily life (with captions in English). One section features exquisitely colorful pieces of Huichol embroidery and a few pieces of beadwork. A small shop at the entrance sells some Huichol craftwork.
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Teleférico
Zacatecas' most exhilarating ride and the easiest way to summit Cerro de la Bufa, is the Swiss-built Teleférico that crosses high above the city from Cerro del Grillo. It's a short walk east from Mina El Edén (east entrance) to the teleférico's Cerro del Grillo station. Alternatively, huff up the steep steps of Callejón de García Rojas, which lead straight to the teleférico from Genaro Codina.
reviewed
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Edén Mine
The Edén Mine, which was once one of Mexico’s richest, is a must-see as it provides a dramatic insight into the region’s source of wealth and the terrible price paid for it. Digging for fabulous hoards of silver, gold, iron, copper and zinc, the enslaved indigenous people, including many children, worked under horrific conditions. Up to five people a day died from accidents or diseases like tuberculosis and silicosis.
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La Capilla de la Virgen del Patrocinio
Named after the patron saint of miners. Above the altar of this 18th-century chapel is an image of the Virgin said to be capable of healing the sick. Thousands of pilgrims flock here each year on September 8, when the image is carried to the cathedral. Facing the chapel stand three imposing equestrian statues of the victors of the battle of Zacatecas - Villa, Ángeles and Pánfilo Natera.
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Centro Platero
The Zacatecas silversmith industry lives on in workshops at the Centro Platero, a few kilometers east of town on the road to Guadalupe at the converted 18th-century Ex-Hacienda de Bernardez. Here, young artisans produce some stylish traditional, and funky contemporary, designs. Tour companies can arrange visits, or you can make your own way there by taxi (around M$50).
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Museo Francisco Goitia
The Museo Francisco Goitia displays work by several 20th-century Zacatecan artists, including some evocative paintings of indigenous people by Goitia (1882−1960) himself. Other artists represented include Pedro Coronel, Rafael Coronel and Manuel Felguérez. The museum is in a former governor’s mansion, above Parque Enrique Estrada, and is worth the short walk.
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Museo de la Toma de Zacatecas
The small Museo de la Toma de Zacatecas, at the top of the hill, commemorates the 1914 battle fought on the hill’s slopes in which the revolutionary División del Norte, led by Pancho Villa and Felipe Ángeles, defeated President Victoriano Huerta’s forces. This gave the revolutionaries control of Zacatecas, which was the gateway to Mexico City.
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Restaurant La Plaza
The elegant dining room at Quinta Real is especially memorable for its outlook to the aqueduct and bullring, as well as for its refined ambience and superb international and Zacatecan cuisine. Charge in for a Sunday brunch (M$200) or an evening cocktail in the bar. Tables are nestled in niches, former bull-holding pens (6pm to 1am). Reservations are advisable.
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Ruins of La Quemada
The impressive ruins of La Quemada stand on a hill overlooking a broad valley 45km south of Zacatecas, 2.5km east of the Zacatecas–Guadalajara road. The remote and scenic setting makes the ruins well worth the day trip from the hustle and bustle of Zacatecas. The area is known to have rattlesnakes; keep an eye – and ear! – out.
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Mercado González Ortega
North of the plazuela, the Mercado González Ortega is an impressive 1880s iron-columned building that used to hold Zacatecas' main market. In the 1980s the upper level was renovated into an upscale shopping center. The lower level was once used as bodegas (storage rooms) and now houses several bars and restaurants.
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Huracanzote
This fun bar is a quirky tribute to both kitsch and Huracán, Mexico’s favorite champion of lucha libre (wrestling). The walls are covered in funky 1960s-style florals superimposed with Huracán’s wrestling mask. You can prop yourself up in a ‘boxing ring’ surrounded by, um, women’s lingerie.
reviewed
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Museo de Arte Abstracto Manuel Felguérez
This art museum is worth visiting for the building alone; originally a seminary, it was later used as a prison and has been renovated to create some remarkable exhibition spaces, transforming the former dark, depressing cells and steel walkways into a beautiful site.
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Recepturz
One of a number of agencies that run city tours and excursions to nearby places of interest, such as a city tour including the mine and the teleférico; Guadalupe; the archaeological site of La Quemada; and Fresnillo/Plateros. English-speaking guides can be arranged.
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Site Museum
The modern site museum has interesting archaeology exhibits and an excellent video (with English subtitles). It’s worth heading here first to contextualize the area and view the museum’s miniature site model to get your bearings for your wanderings.
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Templo de Santo Domingo
Although the church is done in a more sober baroque style than the cathedral, it has some fine gilded altars and a graceful horseshoe staircase. Built by the Jesuits in the 1740s, the church was taken over by Dominican monks when the Jesuits were expelled in 1767.
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Centro Platero Gallery
The Zacatecas silversmith industry lives on in workshops at the Centro Platero, a few kilometers east of town on the road to Guadalupe at the converted 18th-century Ex-Hacienda de Bernardez.You can shop in its gallery in town.
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