Getty Images/Hemis.fr RM

Zacatecas

The most northern of Mexico's silver cities, fascinating Zacatecas – a Unesco World Heritage site – runs along a narrow valley overlooked by a steep and imposing hillside. The large historic center is jam-packed with opulent colonial buildings, a stupendous cathedral, magnificent museums and steep, winding streets and alleys that simply ooze charm.

Zacatecas was where thousands of indigenous slaves were forced by the Spanish to toil in the mines under terrible conditions. Pancho Villa enjoyed a historic victory in 1914, and he is still feted by locals today. Today travelers can have their own lofty experiences in a teleférico (cable car) to the Cerro de la Bufa, the impressive rock outcrop that soars above the town and affords great views of the church domes and tiled rooftops below. Alternatively, visitors can drop below the surface to tour the infamous Edén mine, a sobering reminder of the city's brutal colonial past.

Explore Zacatecas

M
Museo Rafael Coronel
The excellent Museo Rafael Coronel is not to be missed. Imaginatively housed in the ruins of the lovely 16th-century Ex-Convento de San Francisco, it…
M
Museo Pedro Coronel
The 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…
C
Cerro de la Bufa
The most appealing of the many explanations for the name of the hill that dominates Zacatecas is that bufa is an old Basque word for wineskin, which is…
M
Mina El Edén
Visiting one of Mexico's richest mines (1586−1960s) provides an insight into a source of wealth and the terrible price paid for it. Digging for hoards of…
C
Catedral
Built between 1729 and 1752, the pink-stone cathedral is an ultimate expression of Mexican baroque. The stupendous main facade is a wall of detailed…
M
Museo Toma de Zacatecas
This museum memorializes the 1914 battle fought on the slopes of the Cerro de la Bufa in which the revolutionary División del Norte, led by Pancho Villa…
C
Capilla de la Virgen del Patrocinio
Named after the patron saint of miners, this 18th-century chapel has a holy image of the Virgen del Patrocinio above its altar that is said to be capable…
M
Museo del Arte Abstracto Manuel Felguérez
This superb abstract-art museum is worth visiting for the building alone; originally a seminary, it was later used as a prison and has been renovated to…
P
Plaza de Armas
The city's main plaza is north of the cathedral and although normally quiet in the day it buzzes at night with families promenading, children playing and…

M
Museo Rafael Coronel
The excellent Museo Rafael Coronel is not to be missed. Imaginatively housed in the ruins of the lovely 16th-century Ex-Convento de San Francisco, it…
M
Museo Pedro Coronel
The 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…
C
Cerro de la Bufa
The most appealing of the many explanations for the name of the hill that dominates Zacatecas is that bufa is an old Basque word for wineskin, which is…
M
Mina El Edén
Visiting one of Mexico's richest mines (1586−1960s) provides an insight into a source of wealth and the terrible price paid for it. Digging for hoards of…
C
Catedral
Built between 1729 and 1752, the pink-stone cathedral is an ultimate expression of Mexican baroque. The stupendous main facade is a wall of detailed…
M
Museo Toma de Zacatecas
This museum memorializes the 1914 battle fought on the slopes of the Cerro de la Bufa in which the revolutionary División del Norte, led by Pancho Villa…
C
Capilla de la Virgen del Patrocinio
Named after the patron saint of miners, this 18th-century chapel has a holy image of the Virgen del Patrocinio above its altar that is said to be capable…
M
Museo del Arte Abstracto Manuel Felguérez
This superb abstract-art museum is worth visiting for the building alone; originally a seminary, it was later used as a prison and has been renovated to…
P
Plaza de Armas
The city's main plaza is north of the cathedral and although normally quiet in the day it buzzes at night with families promenading, children playing and…

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Zacatecas.

See
Museo Rafael Coronel
The excellent Museo Rafael Coronel is not to be missed. Imaginatively housed in the ruins of the lovely 16th-century Ex-Convento de San Francisco, it…
See
Museo Pedro Coronel
The 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…
See
Cerro de la Bufa
The most appealing of the many explanations for the name of the hill that dominates Zacatecas is that bufa is an old Basque word for wineskin, which is…
See
Mina El Edén
Visiting one of Mexico's richest mines (1586−1960s) provides an insight into a source of wealth and the terrible price paid for it. Digging for hoards of…
See
Catedral
Built between 1729 and 1752, the pink-stone cathedral is an ultimate expression of Mexican baroque. The stupendous main facade is a wall of detailed…
See
Museo Toma de Zacatecas
This museum memorializes the 1914 battle fought on the slopes of the Cerro de la Bufa in which the revolutionary División del Norte, led by Pancho Villa…
See
Capilla de la Virgen del Patrocinio
Named after the patron saint of miners, this 18th-century chapel has a holy image of the Virgen del Patrocinio above its altar that is said to be capable…
See
Museo del Arte Abstracto Manuel Felguérez
This superb abstract-art museum is worth visiting for the building alone; originally a seminary, it was later used as a prison and has been renovated to…
See
Plaza de Armas
The city's main plaza is north of the cathedral and although normally quiet in the day it buzzes at night with families promenading, children playing and…

Guidebooks

Learn more about Zacatecas

Uncover the heart of travel and be inspired to see new sights with one of Lonely Planet’s in-depth, award-winning guidebooks.