"Guanajuato, capital of the state of Guanajuato..." Guanajuato by Ronald_T

Guanajuato Travel Guide: 180 reviews and 579 photos

UNDER RE-CONSTRUCTION - Guanajuato
UNDER RE-CONSTRUCTION

Until the beginning of the 15th century, Guanajuato was home to a settlement of Otomí natives.

Note: Otomí are a Middle American Indian population living in the central plateau region of Mexico. The Otomí peoples speak at least four closely related languages, all called Otomí. A rather large number of modern Otomí no longer speak the Otomí language but continue to consider them Otomí.

Indeed, the name “Guanajuato” comes from a word in the Purepecha language, “Guanaxhuato”, meaning “hilly place of the frogs”.

The city of Guanajuato owes its foundation to the rich silver mines that discovered by the Spanish from 1548 onwards. In 1741, the city was given the title of “The Most Noble and Loyal of Santa Fe y Real de Minas de Guanajuato” and subsequently went on to become the richest city in Mexico, in the 16th century. The mining splendor of this period is reflected in the city’s magnificent religious and civil architecture.

Guanajuato boasts some of the finest examples of baroque and Churrigueresque (Spanish Rococo style in architecture, historically a late Baroque return to the aesthetics of the earlier Plateresque style) architecture in the New World, such as the Valenciana, Cata and La Compañia churches, as well as the Basilica of Our Lady of Guanajuato.

The city is a beautiful example of the art and architecture of the age of the Viceroys and a style, which continued into the 19th century. This can be seen in magnificent neoclassical structures, including the Juárez Theatre or the La Paz Square, which is lined with some of the city’s most striking palaces, including Guanajuato’s City Hall, the Legislative Palace.

  • Last visit to Guanajuato: Feb 2002
  • Intro Updated Jun 10, 2003
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Reviews (20)

In the heart of the centre,... - Guanajuato In the heart of the centre,... Favorites (15)

In the heart of the centre, you find the picturesque Union Garden. Together with the Juarez Theatre (see “must see... more travel advice

Visit the nicest alley in the... - Guanajuato Visit the nicest alley in the... Favorites (15)

Visit the nicest alley in the city, the so-called 'Kiss Alley' (Callejón del Beso) and is situated near de Plazuela de... more travel advice

The Church of Our Lady of... - Guanajuato The Church of Our Lady of... Favorites (15)

The Church of Our Lady of Guanajuato became the Basilica in 1957. Its façade is mannerist-baroque in style. Within the... more travel advice

Here, on the Peace Plaza... - Guanajuato Here, on the Peace Plaza... Favorites (15)

Here, on the Peace Plaza (Plaza de la Paz) you can see the statue of “Peace”, standing in front of the Basilica of Our... more travel advice

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