Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende
The grandest of Mexico’s silver mining towns, Guanajuato has often been likened to the city of Toledo in Spain. The town winds around a hillside dotted with flower gardens and lively side streets with a maze of corkscrew lanes that turn into plazas, hidden alleys and stairways. According to the legend of the Street of the Kiss, Guanajuato’s alleys are so narrow, lovers can lean from their balconies to embrace. The opulence of its churches attests to the riches of the mine owners who built them.
La Valenciana church, for example, constructed in 1788, is said to
have been built with mortar fused with wine and silver.
The Union Garden is the elegant main plaza, ringed by cozy outdoor cafes, which add to the town’s quaint and romantic atmosphere.
Other attractions include the downtown crafts market; the Mercado Hidalgo, a 1910 cast-iron-and-glass building designed by Gustave Eiffel; the Alhondiga de Granaditas museum, which
outlines the importance it played in the War of Independence; the Mineralogy Museum; and the Hacienda of San Miguel de Barrera, filled with impressive furnishings and art collections.
San Miguel de Allende, about an hour away by road, is another beautifulmountain city famous as an artists’ and writers’ colony, with a large population of retired U.S. and Canadians residents.
Founded in 1542, it’s also a well-preserved colonial mining town with a famous Gothic Revival church called La Parroquia, designed by the self-taught native Ceferino Gutierrez in the late 19th century.
The cobblestone streets lead to the animated town square, lovely colonial mansions, cafes, restaurants, and shops with outstanding tin handicrafts.
Events like the annual chamber music and jazz festivals, plus art shows and local fairs, have made it a cultural hub of the region.
The Colonial Treasures of Mexico Route…
Aguascalientes, Queretaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosi, Zacatecas
Tips Tour:
Days 1 & 2 Queretaro (World Heritage Site)
Queretaro (airports: BJX and QRO) is one of the most prosperous and modern cities in Mexico.
The Centro Historico, a World Heritage Site, is filled with beautiful
examples of baroque architecture in soft-colored cantera stone, including Santa Cruz church and convent, and the churches of San Felipe and Santa Rosa de Viterbo.
You’ll also find old mansions turned into elegant hotels, cozy restaurants and boutiques.
Just outside the Centro Historico you will find the old aqueduct that supplied Queretaro with water; its arches are a symbol of the city. Make a side trip to Guanajuato and then to San Miguel de Allende, a well-preserved colonial city with the only neogothic cathedral in Mexico.
Day 3 San Luis Potosi
Known as the City of Gardens, San Luis Potosi (airport: SLP) is remarkable for its neoclassic
architecture. The best examples are the Teatro de la Paz, the Templo de San Francisco. San Luis Rey Cathedral has outstanding Churrigueresque ornaments, and the town is well known for its Silent Procession during Holy Week.
Queretaro to San Luis Potosi: 202 kms/125 miles
Day 4 San Luis Potosi to Aguascalientes
Aguascalientes (airport AGU) is an interesting mix of old neighborhoods, monuments, baroque architecture, modern buildings and plazas.
It is famous across Mexico for handcrafts, particularly textiles. Openwork embroidery (deshilados) designs are passed down from generation to generation.
Aguascalientes is also home to an important regional wine industry, with visits and tastings possible.
San Luis Potosi to Aguascalientes: 168 km/104 miles
Days 5 & 6 Zacatecas (World Heritage Site)
Zacatecas (airport: ZCL), built mostly of pink cantera stone, is perhaps the most beautiful
colonial city of Mexico. Silver mines fueled the building of Zacatecas’ ornately carved cathedral, the Palacio de Gobierno (Governor’s Mansion) and many other churches and public buildings.
The city was built on very steep terrain. Take the Funicular 82 m/270 ft to the top of the Cerro de la Bufa, for an exciting perspective of Zacatecas.
Aguascalientes to Zacatecas: 129 km/80 mi
Access and Traveling the Colonial Treasures of Mexico Route:
These cities’ airports offer direct connections to U.S. gateway cities, mainly Houston, San Antonio, Dallas-Fort Worth and Los Angeles.
You can also fly to Mexico City and drive to Queretaro, an easy 2 1⁄2-hour drive to the north.
Intercity buses are an excellent option, the ETN bus provides first-class-only services to all the cities included on the route.
ETN even has a 7 day-6 night bus and hotel package allowing coverage of the entire route.
For more information, call toll-free 01-800-300-0887 (in Mexico only) or visit: http://www.etn.com.mx/.
Guanajuato City Tour
Querétaro and San Miguel Allende City Tour
The grandest of Mexico’s silver mining towns, Guanajuato has often been likened to the city of Toledo in Spain. The town winds around a hillside dotted with flower gardens and lively side streets with a maze of corkscrew lanes that turn into plazas, hidden alleys and stairways. According to the legend of the Street of the Kiss, Guanajuato’s alleys are so narrow, lovers can lean from their balconies to embrace. The opulence of its churches attests to the riches of the mine owners who built them.La Valenciana church, for example, constructed in 1788, is said to
have been built with mortar fused with wine and silver.
The Union Garden is the elegant main plaza, ringed by cozy outdoor cafes, which add to the town’s quaint and romantic atmosphere.
Other attractions include the downtown crafts market; the Mercado Hidalgo, a 1910 cast-iron-and-glass building designed by Gustave Eiffel; the Alhondiga de Granaditas museum, which
outlines the importance it played in the War of Independence; the Mineralogy Museum; and the Hacienda of San Miguel de Barrera, filled with impressive furnishings and art collections.
San Miguel de Allende, about an hour away by road, is another beautifulmountain city famous as an artists’ and writers’ colony, with a large population of retired U.S. and Canadians residents.Founded in 1542, it’s also a well-preserved colonial mining town with a famous Gothic Revival church called La Parroquia, designed by the self-taught native Ceferino Gutierrez in the late 19th century.
The cobblestone streets lead to the animated town square, lovely colonial mansions, cafes, restaurants, and shops with outstanding tin handicrafts.
Events like the annual chamber music and jazz festivals, plus art shows and local fairs, have made it a cultural hub of the region.
The Colonial Treasures of Mexico Route…
Aguascalientes, Queretaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosi, Zacatecas
Tips Tour:
Days 1 & 2 Queretaro (World Heritage Site)
Queretaro (airports: BJX and QRO) is one of the most prosperous and modern cities in Mexico.The Centro Historico, a World Heritage Site, is filled with beautiful
examples of baroque architecture in soft-colored cantera stone, including Santa Cruz church and convent, and the churches of San Felipe and Santa Rosa de Viterbo.
You’ll also find old mansions turned into elegant hotels, cozy restaurants and boutiques.
Just outside the Centro Historico you will find the old aqueduct that supplied Queretaro with water; its arches are a symbol of the city. Make a side trip to Guanajuato and then to San Miguel de Allende, a well-preserved colonial city with the only neogothic cathedral in Mexico.
Day 3 San Luis Potosi
Known as the City of Gardens, San Luis Potosi (airport: SLP) is remarkable for its neoclassic
architecture. The best examples are the Teatro de la Paz, the Templo de San Francisco. San Luis Rey Cathedral has outstanding Churrigueresque ornaments, and the town is well known for its Silent Procession during Holy Week.Queretaro to San Luis Potosi: 202 kms/125 miles
Day 4 San Luis Potosi to Aguascalientes
Aguascalientes (airport AGU) is an interesting mix of old neighborhoods, monuments, baroque architecture, modern buildings and plazas.It is famous across Mexico for handcrafts, particularly textiles. Openwork embroidery (deshilados) designs are passed down from generation to generation.
Aguascalientes is also home to an important regional wine industry, with visits and tastings possible.
San Luis Potosi to Aguascalientes: 168 km/104 miles
Days 5 & 6 Zacatecas (World Heritage Site)
Zacatecas (airport: ZCL), built mostly of pink cantera stone, is perhaps the most beautiful
colonial city of Mexico. Silver mines fueled the building of Zacatecas’ ornately carved cathedral, the Palacio de Gobierno (Governor’s Mansion) and many other churches and public buildings.The city was built on very steep terrain. Take the Funicular 82 m/270 ft to the top of the Cerro de la Bufa, for an exciting perspective of Zacatecas.
Aguascalientes to Zacatecas: 129 km/80 mi
Access and Traveling the Colonial Treasures of Mexico Route:
These cities’ airports offer direct connections to U.S. gateway cities, mainly Houston, San Antonio, Dallas-Fort Worth and Los Angeles.
You can also fly to Mexico City and drive to Queretaro, an easy 2 1⁄2-hour drive to the north.
Intercity buses are an excellent option, the ETN bus provides first-class-only services to all the cities included on the route.
ETN even has a 7 day-6 night bus and hotel package allowing coverage of the entire route.
For more information, call toll-free 01-800-300-0887 (in Mexico only) or visit: http://www.etn.com.mx/.
Guanajuato City Tour
Querétaro and San Miguel Allende City Tour
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