Mexico’s Best-Kept Secret: 10 Reasons To Visit Guanajuato Now
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Travellers headed to Mexico tend to make a beeline for the beaches, but giving the magical state of Guanajuato a miss is a big mistake. We’ll give you 10 reasons why…
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Mexico’s Best-Kept Secret: 10 Reasons To Visit Guanajuato Now.
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1. Guanajuato City – Melding UNESCO-anointed architecture with contemporary flair, the region’s namesake city is also its beating cultural heart. Even when international artists aren’t pouring into town for the Cervantino Festival – a widely acclaimed arts event that takes place annually – Guanajuato City is alive with creative energy, from theatre to orchestra, film and the visual arts. Visitors can best soak up the vibrant atmosphere by strolling along its steep, meandering streets, tree-lined avenues, picturesque plazas and myriad tunnels, taking in the authentic 16th-century colonial architecture and reflecting on the history of the region. Not to miss: The Museo de las Momias (Mummy Museum), a rather morbid yet hugely popular attraction featuring hundreds of naturally mummified human remains.
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Mexico’s Best-Kept Secret: 10 Reasons To Visit Guanajuato Now.
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2. San Miguel de Allende – Fans of architecture and art won’t be disappointed by this colonial city, rich with baroque Spanish façades, serene squares and magnificent cathedrals. The historic centre, which was given UNESCO World Heritage status in 2008, is the best place to start, where you can pay a visit to the El Jardín central plaza and the Parroquia, a striking pink church that also serves as the city’s emblem. Be sure to set aside enough time to explore the charming boutiques, high-end restaurants and buzzing nightlife. And if you overindulge, just book into one of the many day spas in the surrounding region to take a dip in a natural hot spring and enjoy a massage with local ingredients. Not to miss: The city’s unique Day of the Dead celebrations.
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Mexico’s Best-Kept Secret: 10 Reasons To Visit Guanajuato Now.
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3. Dolores Hidalgo – This is one for the history buffs: The tranquil atmosphere of this town belies its fierce past as the birthplace of Mexican independence, where in 1810, parish priest Miguel Hidalgo gathered the townspeople and launched a revolution. Later, the town – formerly just called Dolores – would change its name to honour him. An easy day trip distance from San Miguel de Allende or Guanajuato City, Dolores Hidalgo offers independence-themed museums and monuments, as well as thriving Talavera ceramic workshops and ice cream makers peddling exotic flavours. Not to miss: The colourful tomb of beloved ranchera musician José Alfredo Jiménez.
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Mexico’s Best-Kept Secret: 10 Reasons To Visit Guanajuato Now.
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4. Mineral de Pozos – Looking for something even further from the beaten track? Try Mineral de Pozos on for size. Known simply as Pozos to locals, this once-flourishing mining town has been abandoned twice in its history, the victim of epidemics both medical and economic. Today, the population of 5,000 is a laid-back one, unbothered by the hurried pace of modern life or the occasional tourist who stops in to see the old mines or the overgrown 19th-century ruins that tell stories of grander times. But hurry: Investments are on the rise in this growing ‘artist colony’, meaning it won’t stay secret for long.
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Mexico’s Best-Kept Secret: 10 Reasons To Visit Guanajuato Now.
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5. Salvatierra – An important religious centre during colonial times, Salvatierra is home to many impressive churches and places of worship. The citadel-like Las Capuchinas Church and Convent is a good place to start, from which you can walk to the picturesque park El Sabinal for a picnic before continuing into Salvatierra’s old town centre to admire its colonial buildings, mansions and haciendas. Not to miss: The local dish called largas, featuring tortillas – handmade according to tradition – and served with hearty stews and sauces.
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Mexico’s Best-Kept Secret: 10 Reasons To Visit Guanajuato Now.
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6. Yuriria – A tranquil town where indigenous customs and colonial architecture exist in harmony, Yuriria is known for its scenic shores: for one, the large artificial lagoon constructed in the 16th century and considered to be the first colonial hydraulic work in the Americas; the other a crater lake once referred to as ‘The Bloody Lake’ by the native Purépecha people. It is said that the water turns red when an earthquake or volcanic activity occurs in the area. Not to miss: A stroll in the markets peddling local handicrafts, like petates basketry and hand-engraved leather products.
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Mexico’s Best-Kept Secret: 10 Reasons To Visit Guanajuato Now.
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7. Jalpa de Cánovas – A peek into the past, this sleepy village was once a bustling hub for the cattle and grain industries, complete with a masterfully engineered system of dams and canals. A leisurely wander about will reveal the old hacienda, as well as a quaint town centre. Not to miss: A soak in the nearby hot springs. [Photo: Comisión Mexicana de Filmaciones/Flickr]
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Mexico’s Best-Kept Secret: 10 Reasons To Visit Guanajuato Now.
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8. The Tequila Circuit – What’s a trip to Mexico without sampling the country’s most festive export? Six major tequila factories can be found in the southwestern part of the state of Guanajuato, in the wide open fields near Pénjamo. Along the route, you’ll learn about every step of the tequila-making process, from cultivation to fermentation and, of course, degustation.
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Mexico’s Best-Kept Secret: 10 Reasons To Visit Guanajuato Now.
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9. The Wine Circuit – Mexican wine is a rising star, and Guanajuato’s vintages shine bright among the best. The state’s winemakers are clustered around San Miguel de Allende and Dolores Hidalgo, where you can take a guided walk among the vines in the top vineyards, tour their wine cellars and taste their vintages along with regional specialties. You might even get the chance to make your own handcrafted cuvée.
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Mexico’s Best-Kept Secret: 10 Reasons To Visit Guanajuato Now.
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10. The Route of Archaeology – Thanks to its fertile soil and abundance of surface water, Guanajuato (particularly the Bajío region) has nurtured civilisations for thousands of years. Vestiges of pre-Columbian human settlements can be found at archaeological sites throughout the area, some of them with still-mysterious origins. Explore the ruins of Plazuelas, Peralta, Cañada de la Virgen and El Cóporo to learn about these ancient societies and – just maybe – unveil their secrets.
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Mexico’s Best-Kept Secret: 10 Reasons To Visit Guanajuato Now.
Travellers headed to Mexico tend to make a beeline for the beaches, but giving the magical state of Guanajuato a miss is a big mistake. We’ll give you 10 reasons why...
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