Guanajuato

Located in Mexico’s central region, Guanajuato lies south of Zacatecas and San Luis Potosi, west of Queretaro, north of Michoacan and east of Jalisco.

The city of Guanajuato is the capital of the state of the same name. It is located at 21.02°N 101.28°W, 370 km (230 miles) northwest of Mexico City, at an elevation of 1,996 m (6,550 ft) above sea level. The estimated population in 2003 was about 78,000 people.
Guanajuato was founded as a town in 1554 and received the designation as a city in 1741. The city is well known for its wealth of fine colonial era Spanish architecture.
The historic town and adjacent mines are a World Heritage Site.
The name "Guanajuato" comes from the tarascan word, "Quanax-juato", which means "place of frogs."

This state has a temperate climate and geography that consists of mountains, sierras and nature reserves. During your stay, you can visit the city of Guanajuato, the state capital, which was declared a World Heritage Site due to its beautiful colonial architecture and its lively culture. The best way to check out the city is on foot along the narrow cobblestone streets, which lead to plazas and small squares, where locals just might tell you a story or two about the city’s many legends. One of Guanajuato’s main tourist attractions and a must-see for first-time visitors is the Mummy Museum.

In the Panteon catacombs to the west of the city is a famous cementery noted for the natural mummies produced by the mineral content of the soil. In the late 1800's the town insituted a "burial tax" for the families of the deceased. Some of the poorest families where unable to pay the tax and so their relatives where dug up and, because of their mummified state, where placed in public viewing in a museum. The state removed the tax in the 1950's and no new mummies have been disinterred.

Also important is the International Cervantes Festival, a festive cultural event that takes place in October. Nearby, you can visit the town of Dolores Hidalgo, famous for its ceramics, and the magical town of San Miguel de Allende, where you’ll find a serene atmosphere that has inspired many writers and artists. It’s also a popular retirement community. In the city of Leon you’ll find various leather goods including shoes and jackets.

In the surrounding areas, you can visit the famous Cerro del Cubilete, where you’ll find the mystical Santuario de Cristo Rey, which has a large Christ statue at the top of the hill. You can also visit nature areas, such as Valle de Santiago and Sierra de Lobos, the ideal spots for camping, rappelling and observing diverse flora and fauna.

Today, Guanajuato’s mines are still among the richest-producing silver mines in the world (historically one of the largest). The state also produces tin, gold, copper, lead, mercury, and opals. Guanajuato comprises the ¨Bajío¨ region which has been historically renown as a rich cultivable area that has given economic support to the region since pre-Colombian times. Guanajuato also leads the nation in shoe production and various farm products such as lettuce and potatoes. The state’s main export products are motor vehicles and autoparts, footwear, leather goods, chemicals, electric machinery and materials, fruits and vegetables.