The best to see and visit in Taxco (Mexico) in 1 day

Among the places to visit in the surroundings for the CDMX, one of the most attractive and interesting is Taxco.

It is located about 175 kilometers away from the capital, making it one of the favorite destinations of its inhabitants for a weekend getaway.

Taxco is on the route to Acapulco, so it is also a good stop in case you are going to visit this city famous for its beaches on the coast of the Pacific Ocean.

Upon arriving at Taxco Its location is surprising, on a very steep hill, and the great difference in level that exists between the upper and lower part of the city.

All this warns of the slopes that you are going to encounter when walking through its streets.

Curiosities history of Taxco

The origin of Taxco and its monumental wealth are due, as in other Mexican cities such as Guanajuato y Zacatecas, to the existence of silver mines in the vicinity.

Taxco can therefore be included in the Silver Route which includes some of the most beautiful cities that had their heyday in the Virreinal time.

La church of Santa Prisca (the most important in the city) and its surroundings have been included since 2001 in the tentative list of the World Heritage for the Unesco, so it is reasonable to think that he will achieve that recognition in the near future.

The rise of Taxco is closely related to The silver, but it is a very peculiar story that develops in three very different stages.

It can be said that Taxco mines were the first to be exploited in North America.

In 1531 the first facilities were built, but after a few years the vein was exhausted, and the place was practically abandoned.

The stage of true splendor came two centuries later, in 1743, and is closely related to the fundamental character in the history of the city: José de la Borda.

It is said that he discovered a very rich vein by accident, and that his experience as a miner led him to introduce very important technical improvements in the process.

He also owned mines in Zacatecas, so he became the richest man in New Spain.

Over time those veins ran out and Taxco It became a city frozen in time.

The third stage of the history of Taxco It began in 1929 with the arrival of William (whom everyone calls Bill) Spratling, who opened a workshop to create silver jewelry with designs inspired by pre-Hispanic motifs.

His apprentices in turn established their own workshops, and that is why today Taxco is one of best places in Mexico to buy silver jewelry, both for the quality of the work and the beauty of the designs.

What to see and do in Taxco

One of the pleasures of Taxco is to walk aimlessly through the alleys that open in the surroundings of the church of Santa Prisca, continually encountering splendid mansions and picturesque corners.

It must be kept in mind that the city is located on a very steep slope, so many of the streets, which are cobblestone, are on a slope; Strong and comfortable footwear is the fundamental element for a Taxco visit.

Church of Santa Prisca in Plaza Borda de Taxco

It is very likely that any tour of Taxco start in the Zócalo, also known as Borda square, where the temple of Santa Prisca.

The first thing that catches your attention about the church is the height of the towers, an impression that is reinforced by the relative narrowness of its single nave.

It is said that it is so narrow due to the slope of the land and therefore there was no room to build a larger church.

This temple was a gift from José de Borda to the city as thanks to God for the prosperity of his mines, so it is actually a tribute to his religious zeal.

To do this, he hired the best artists and architects, who completed the work in just seven years.

But the wealth of the complex is such that it almost meant the ruin of the magnate.

La church of Santa Prisca It is built of pink stone that shines magnificently in the light of day.

Much of its beauty is due to the unity achieved by all the elements despite their diversity, be it the Churrigueresque altars, the furniture, the sculptures, the paintings and the stone itself.

One of the most beautiful details is the fabulous relief that occupies the façade and represents the baptism of Jesus Christ.

It is no exaggeration to say that it is one of the most important works of baroque art in the world.

In addition to Borda square which is located in front of the church, there are a series of squares in the surroundings through which the fabric of the city is articulated.

Casa Borda in Taxco

At the time Santa Prisca Most of the relevant buildings in the city were built.

One of the most notable is the Casa Borda, which now works as Cultural center.

A curious detail is how it adapts to the terrain, since the street that leaves the Zócalo, over which its main façade overlooks, begins a very steep descent, and that is why the back of the building is four stories higher than the front.

Museum of Viceregal Art in Taxco

Another important building is the Humboldt House, so called because the German naturalist spent a night there.

It is now the headquarters of Viceregal Art Museum which keeps some works that had remained hidden in the basements of the church.

Guillermo Spratling Museum in Taxco

To understand the history of Taxco You must also visit the Guillermo Spratling Museum, which keeps the prehispanic art collection and a sample of the jewelry designs of the goldsmith himself.

Ex-convent of San Bernardino de Siena in Taxco

Although it pales when compared to Santa Prisca, it is interesting to approach the ex-convent of San Bernardino de Siena, probably the oldest in Taxco.

At the back there is a sculptural group of three figures dedicated to the cross, penitent and anima, fundamental characters of the Taxqueña Holy Week.

From the area of ​​the old convent you have a good view of the complex of Santa Prisca and the contrast can be seen between the towers completely covered in reliefs and the rest of the temple, much simpler.

In any case, one of the fundamental attractions of Taxco is to walk through its streets and observe the environment, full of food and craft vendors, in addition to the surprises of finding curious little squares or corners.

One of the characteristics of Taxco is the great abundance of taxis, which are usually old models of the Volkswagen Beetle, small vehicles that adapt very well to narrow hillside streets.

Traffic on most of the streets is one-way, but in some it is two-way, and it is curious to see how cars pass each other on hill curves where there is hardly any visibility.

Mirador de Cristo Monumental in Taxco

The urban development of Taxco makes there are numerous viewpoints over the city and surroundings.

To have a good view of the whole, one option is to use the cableway that comes out of the ex-Hacienda del Chorrillo and it reaches the hotel Monte Taxco.

This old hacienda is one of the oldest buildings in the city, since it was used during mining exploitation in the 16th century.

However, the best viewpoint in Taxco that we know is that of Monumental Christ, which is in the Atache hill.

To get there, there are minibuses, although the most practical thing is to take a taxi.

From the viewpoint you can see the entire city, with the temple of Santa Prisca dominating the whole.

When the street lighting is turned on at dusk, everything Taxco It shines, and one would almost say that it is not a mountain of silver, but of gold.

Map: how to get to Taxco

Taxco is 180 kilometers south of Mexico City, where you arrive by car in about two and a half hours.