What is essential to see and do in Guanajuato (Mexico) in 1 day

You are probably thinking about including the city of Guanajuato in a trip to Mexico since it has some details that make it unique and especially attractive.

Many of them are due to the fact that for centuries it was one of the richest cities in the world due to the importance of the nearby mines.

Other attractions are due to its spectacular location, on the steep slopes of a narrow valley.

A very suggestive feature of Guanajuato They are your houses painted in bright colors which, when adapted to the steep terrain, form a very attractive stepped ensemble.

From various viewpoints You can enjoy excellent panoramic views of the city.

In any case, the greatest attractions are found in the historical Center, which forms a compact complex that can only be explored on foot.

Guanajuato, World Heritage Site

During the 18th century in Guanajuato were exploited richest silver mines in the world.

The highly ornate baroque and neoclassical architecture that arose from the prosperity of the mines influenced many other places.

That is why the Unesco registered the historic center of Guanajuato and nearby mines on the list World Heritage in 1988.

What to see when visiting Guanajuato

Un walk through the center of Guanajuato It cannot start very far from the squares that are one of the characteristic features of this historic center.

Union Garden in Guanajuato

El union garden, with its Indian laurels and restaurant terraces, has always been the social center of the city.

Music bands play several days a week at the kiosk and there are always guitarists, especially in the afternoon, brightening the atmosphere with their serenades.

On Saturday nights, the Estudiantetinas, bands of musicians reminiscent of tunos, usually appear.

Juárez Theater in Guanajuato

Al union garden the San Diego church, with its baroque façade, and the splendid Juarez Theater.

This theater is a magnificent building that took 30 years to build, it was inaugurated in 1903, and whose exterior is adorned with Doric columns, bronze lions and statues of the nine muses.

Don Quixote Iconographic Museum

The readers of the Quijote they should not miss the nearby Don Quixote Iconographic Museum, where the work of Cervantes; orA statue in front of the façade remembers the author.

Guanajuato is declared Cervantes Capital of America and every year it organizes the Cervantino Festival, with performances of hors d'oeuvres in the squares and concerts by orchestras from around the world.

Peace Square in Guanajuato

A few meters away is the Peace Square, dominated by Collegiate Basilica of Our Lady of Guanajuato.

It is said that the image of the Virgin, which is covered in jewels, was donated by Felipe II in gratitude to the city for the enormous wealth it contributed to the empire.

Climbing a steep hill you access the University of Guanajuato, with a curious crenellated building.

It is located in the old Jesuit seminary and that is why next to it is the temple of the Company of Jesus.

back to the Peace Square continues through the Juarez Avenue, but it is advisable to continually take any street that encourages you to take a detour. This is how hidden squares such as San Fernando and San Roque are discovered.

Kiss Alley in Guanajuato

One of these detours leads to Kiss alley.

It is so narrow that the neighbors could kiss each other while each looking out of their respective windows.

The place has given rise to legends with a history similar to that of Romeo AND Juliet.

Around this alley there are many more, all narrow and steep, and they are one of the student girls' favorite places for their tours and parties.

Following the Juarez Avenue it ends up reaching Hidalgo market.

It is the typical mexican market where everything is sold, from fruit and household goods to souvenirs for tourists.

There is an upper floor through which you can circulate, continually peeking into the ground floor to observe the hustle and bustle of daily life.

Alhóndiga de Grenaditas

Guanajuato played an important role in the history of mexican independence.

The place to relive the first important victory of the rebels against the colonial power is the Alhóndiga de Grenaditas, which is now a art and history museum.

La stock market It was the city's grain warehouse that ended up becoming the fortress of the Spanish troops.

The place was taken after a siege thanks to the intervention of a miner known as the Pípila, who managed to set fire to the doors.

He is the character in whose honor the monument was built, located in one of the best viewpoints over the city.

Museum and House of Diego Rivera in Guanajuato

In the same area of ​​the city is the Museum and House of Diego Rivera, located in the house where the great Mexican painter was born in 1886, where different of his works are displayed as well as furniture from the period.

Guanajuato It is a city very conducive to wandering.

During the day the around the Plaza de la Paz They are very lively with passersby and food stalls.

You have to try the spiropope, a modest potato turned into a fast food masterpiece.

In the afternoon and evening around the union garden They are very animated.

Guanajuato Viewpoint

To get an idea of ​​the unique location of Guanajuato, the best thing is to go up to the viewpoint of the Pípila monument.

Any time is good, during the day there are food and refreshment stands—you don't have to leave Mexico without trying the rice horchata or Jamaica's water—, but by late afternoon this hustle and bustle has ended and the view of the city, when the sky darkens and the lights come on, is exceptional.

Underground streets of Guanajuato

There is a curious detail that cannot be seen from the viewpoint.

From here you can only see narrow streets that make traffic impossible in the center of an urban complex of almost 200.000 inhabitants.

The solution found in Guanajuato was to create a complex system of underground streets that make it possible for traffic to circulate underground.

The curious thing is that some of them are also open to pedestrians who walk or wait for the bus a few meters deep.

Eg Miguel Hidalgo Street It now circulates under large vaults along the old river bed.

A walk or better yet a taxi ride through this network of tunnels provides one of the most curious experiences that can be had in a Mexican city.

Mummies Museum in Guanajuato

Outside the historic center there are other places that are worth a visit.

The most surprising is the mummy Museum, in which naturally mummified bodies are displayed in a cemetery due to the characteristics of the soil and are discovered as old tombs are emptied to make room for new bodies.

The museum is a good example of the Mexican people's relationship with death.

What to see around Guanajuato

The wealth of Guanajuato was due to the exploitation of the La Valenciana mine, which is located about 5 kilometers from the center.

You can visit some of the facilities of the historic complex, although you cannot enter the mine as it is still commercially exploited.

Yes you can visit the Church of San Cayetano, known as the La Valenciana Temple, built by the owner of the mine.

It has a lavish churrigueresque facade, one of the most spectacular in all of Mexico.

Moreover Guanajuato It is an excellent base for visiting nearby places such as Dolores Hidalgo, San Miguel de Allende and Atotonilco sanctuary.