Guanajuato is situated beautifully at the center of Mexico. The Spanish people first settled in Guanajuato in the 1520s because of its mineral resources, the city’s main source of income is mining and agriculture. The decorated colored buildings that surround the city, the historical museums, the alleyways and so many important things to see making Guanajuato a very attractive destination. Guanajuato is just a beautiful place for vacation so take a look at our Top 12 Things To Do In Guanajuato, Mexico
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Colorful City
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Guanajuato is well patterned with beautiful alleyways, plazas, restaurants and staircases up hillsides that look too good to be true. The alleyways are endless and they all look alike, so you can easily get lost in the city. The beautiful colors especially the green color that gives volume to nature makes the city an amazing and irresistible sight for visitors. Wondering around the colorful lanes is the best choice one can make.
El Callejon del Beso
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The story of the Alley of the kiss came from a legend of two young lovers who lived in the alley across each other, and although the girl’s father forbade their love, they continued to see each other until one day their love took a tragic turn. The alley is too narrow and so it allowed the balconies to almost touch and when the girl’s father saw her he stabbed her and she died in her lover’s hands then he gave her a final kiss. So it is believed that couples who kiss on the third step which is painted in red are guaranteed seven years of happiness together. If you are going to Guanajuato with your spouse then be sure not to miss spot for anything.
The Mummies
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The mummies are the most famous tourist attraction in Guanajuato. Some people believe that the mummies came about as a result of people who have been buried alive, after mistakenly declared dead. It is believed that they died of desperation and as a sign of their pain, convert into mummies. All the mummified bodies are found above ground, not in underground graves. The story museum may seem pretty weird and creepy for strangers but the Mexicans seem to be obsessed with dead bodies. It’s actually an adventure, a very weird one for foreigners.
House Of Laments
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This is another historic place in Guanajuato, the story revolves around Tadeo Mejia whose wife was stabbed in the neck and then died in a street near the house which is now a museum. According to stories, the murder of Constanza has caused a lot of pain to Tadeo Mejia which caused him a psychological problem. Tadeo consulted a witch who told him to do human sacrifices especially of young women, he became a serial murderer and it was said that several bones were found in the mansion’s basement. House of laments is currently a museum also known as a haunted mansion and its actually a place to visit for a whole new adventure for the whole family.
Teatro Juarez
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Juarez Theater is one of the most beautiful theaters in the city, it contains nine sculptures depicting the muses of Greek mythology. The interior has a variety of design and it is richly decorated. This is the only theater in the city that has held on to its original furnishings.
Plaza De La Paz
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It is the main plaza in the city and only the richest people of the city build their homes here and some government buildings and churches. It has a sculpture of a woman representing peace. The plaza is surrounded by churches, government and commercial buildings and mansions. The plaza is noted for its courtyard and architectural features.
Union Garden
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The Union Garden is the most beautiful place you can visit in Gujuanato it surrounded by many restaurants, plaza and musicians which make the place very lively. There is never a dull moment at union garden, there used to be market, bullfights and other indigenous celebrations. Union garden is at the center of Guajanito with green plants which beautifies the environment.
Ancient Mining Site
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The growth of Guanajuato resulted from the availability of the mineral resources surrounding it. The city used to be one of the most influential cities during the colonial period because of the mines. So one of the most adventurous things to do is to visit one of the silver mines that initially announced the city.
Guanajuato University
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The University of Guanajuato is located in the Mexican state of Guanajuato. The University boasts a massive attendance of over 30,000 students pursuing undergraduate, masters and doctorate degrees. The campus is spread out across the city center. The structure of the University is an interesting view from below. If you walk all the way up the stairs, you will see the beautiful view of the city center.
Guanajuato’s Tunnels
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The often flooded Guanajuato’s river made it necessary to create tunnels where the water flowed under the city, although the tunnels are no longer in use as a nearby dam was constructed to control the river upstream. However, the tunnels are used as roadways and it has helped the city a lot by reducing congestion on the streets above the ground. The tunnels are actually well created and save time if you need to get somewhere in a hurry but make sure you have the map with you.
Just So You Know:
- The Spanish pronunciation of the name Guanajuato is “gwanaˈxwato”.
- The city is situated at the center of Mexico, northwest Mexico City.
- Its territory is divided among three of Mexico’s physical regions, the Sierra Madre Oriental, the Mexican Plateau and the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt.
- The climate is mostly semiarid with a rainy season in the summer, with average temperatures between 15 and 20 °C.
Get Some Culture:
- The State is best known for the annual Festival Internacional Cervantino, which takes place in the city of Guanajuato. It consists of so many artists both local and international with different performances ranging opera, film shows, art exhibition and theater production.
- Guanajuato is the home origin of three important painters: Diego Rivera, José Chávez Moradoand Olga Costa.
- Plazuelasis considered for the complexity of its architecture. The site is well constructed with over three hillsides.
- Visit the Regional Museum of Guanajuato Alhóndiga de Granaditas – The Museum was used to store grain to feed the city for a year to protect the people against famine. This literal meaning of the name of the building is “house of grain”. The museum is very important because of its role in Mexican national history. The Museum house some work of famous artist and photographers like Hermeneguildo Bustos and Romualdo Garcia. It also has some rooms for temporary exhibitions and cultural festivals
- Visit the Diego Rivera Museum – The museum and home is name after the owner who was the most famous painter in Mexico. Diego Rivera was born to a wealthy family in Guanajuato. His house and artwork are preserved for a historical purpose; his artwork will never wear you out as most of them are the collection of his original work and some artifacts from his house
Grab A Bite:
- If you are a foodie, then this is definitely a city for you. There are so many restaurants by the street, so walking around the city and sampling some delightful food is actually a tour you will never regret. There are so many big restaurants with different food menu like gorditas, tomales and the famous Mexican coffee which will definitely make your day.
- Enchilada minero (miners’ enchilada), which is a tortilla fried in lard and then filled with chicken and covered with a sauce made with guajillo chili peppers, ranchero cheese and chopped potatoes and carrots
