 General
information
The setup of Guanajuato in a narrow valley among steep hills is
to be experienced, to be believed. The city´s indescribable
mystery and beauty have the power to enchant any visitor with
tales of other times. The hotels and restaurans of Guanajuato
are comfortable and modern, always trying to provide all the conveniences
of home.
Guanajuato is located in the heart of the so called Bajio (low
land) which is in the heart of the Altiplano, the plateau between
the Sierra Madre Occidental to the west and the Sierra Madre Oriental
to the east. The name, Guanajuato, comes from Qanax'uato, a Tarascan
Indian phrase meaning "place of the frogs."
Guanajuato
was founded in the 1546 in a great basin of the surrounding Sierra
Madre Mountains. It became the world's leading silver extraction
centre in the 18th century. This past can be seen in its "subterranean
streets" and the "Boca del Infierno", a mineshaft
that plunges a breathtaking 600 meters. Most of its small "downtown"
resembles the old parts of Paris or London or Madrid. Its churches,
La Compañía and La Valenciana, are considered to
be among the most beautiful examples of Baroque architecture in
Central and South America.
At 2,000 meters above sealevel, one of the pleasant things you
will enjoy in Guanajuato is its incredibly clean, clear, dry air
as there is no polluting industry.
Guanajuato
was founded in the 1546 in a great basin of the surrounding Sierra
Madre Mountains. It became the world's leading silver extraction
centre in the 18th century. This past can be seen in its "subterranean
streets" and the "Boca del Infierno", a mineshaft
that plunges a breathtaking 600 meters. Most of its small "downtown"
resembles the old parts of Paris or London or Madrid. Its churches,
La Compañía and La Valenciana, are considered to
be among the most beautiful examples of Baroque architecture in
Central and South America.
At 2,000 meters above sealevel, one of the pleasant things you
will enjoy in Guanajuato is its incredibly clean, clear, dry air
as there is no polluting industry.
The
city itself is an artifact, designated by UNESCO as a "Cultural
Treasure of Mankind."
At any time of year there are music, dance and theater performances
in Guanajuato. Guanajuato traditions include a highly specialized
form of street music. Bands of young musicians in medieval costumes
lead visitors up and down and around Guanajuato's steep, narrow
cobblestone "callejones" -- lanes impassable to motor
vehicles. The repertoire for "callejoneadas," as the
musical perambulations are called, include a mix of traditional
and contemporary tunes, accompanied by guitars, tambourines and
the occasional accordion.
Holy Week in Guanajuato is famous among Mexicans. The city's annual
Festival Cervantino, which runs for three weeks in October, is
an international celebration with a high budget. This year the
festival featured 1,400 artists from 17 countries. Latin America
was heavily represented. But performers also came from Europe,
Asia, Africa and other parts of North America.
Check our hotel offer
for San Miguel de Allende
San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico, is a beautiful historical
colonial city which has a high number of foreigners living here;
this creates an interesting atmosphere with lots of cultural activities,
artistic exhibitions, and unique handicrafts.
As an almost picture perfect colonial city, San Miguel de Allende
traces its roots to the village planned in 1555 as a watch station
along the road between Mexico City and the rich silver mines of
Zacatecas.
Subsequently,
San Miguel attracted cultural and wealthy noblemen who built impressive
palaces. The College of San Francisco de Sales was founded in
1734 and served as a political think tank where major ideas and
policy for the battle for Independence from Spain were developed.
Nowadays
the city has a unique life style, an artistic & cultural ambience,
and a wonderful climate year round making it a favorite tourist
destination and retirement heaven. The 2 major international airports
of México City and El Bajío in León are close
by, and make San Miguel de Allende even more attractive to visitors.
San
Miguel de Allende has also became an arts and crafts production
center supplying national and international markets and has several
excellent arts and cultural educational centers very well known
worldwide and helped San Miguel de Allende to be named one of
the 20 most visited cities in the world by several tourist magazines
in the United States and Europe. Today's
San Miguel remains a peaceful artist's colony with cobble-stoned
streets, pastel colored colonial buildings with flower filled
patios and an air of tranquility that stimulates the mind and
pleases the soul.
Check
our hotel offer for Léon
As an mono-industrial city, Leon has flourished and gained a world-wide
reputation for quality craftsmanship in shoe manufacturing. In
spite of its enterprising spirit, Leon retains much of its colonial
roots with splendid flower laden and tree lined streets. In addition,
Leon has matured as an important sports minded city with developed
facilities for its citizens and various stadiums to support local
teams.
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