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Guanajuato
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Destination Information for Guanajuato
Cities, Towns and Areas of Guanajuato
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Guanajuato
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Guanajuato
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Destination Information
Guanajuato is a state in the central
highlands of Mexico. It is named after its capital city,
Guanajuato, which comes from the local indigenous
P'urhépecha language, meaning "Hill of Frogs." Las
Ranas ("the Frogs") is a nickname for people from
this state as frogs are their state animal. After
central Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico coast, Guanajuato
was one of the first areas of Mexico colonized by the
Spanish, in the 1520s, for its rich silver deposits.
Guanajuato's colonial architecture is very well
preserved along with over 35 old churches in its capital
alone.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 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. (Information provided by
Wikipedia. Click on
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guanajuato
for additional information.)
|
Location of Guanajuato in Mexico |
Spanish in Mexico - Mexico
is a great place to learn Spanish. A country where you'll enjoy the same comfort
and technology level than in USA while getting in touch with the language spoken
in Spain. Our school is located
in downtown Guanajuato. A modern school with a multimedia room among the many
classrooms in the facilities. We offer specialized courses for small groups or
an individual student.
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Cities, Towns and Areas of Guanajuato
In addition to the state capital city of Guanajuato,
the state includes the cities of San Luis de la Paz, Acámbaro, Celaya, León,
Yuriria, Salamanca, Irapuato, San Miguel de Allende, Salvatierra—the first city
of Guanajuato, Cortazar, Tarimoro, and Dolores Hidalgo, the cradle of Mexican
independence.
Acámbaro
Celaya
Cortazar
Dolores Hidalgo
Guanajuato
Irapuato
León
Salamanca
Salvatierra
San Luis de la Paz
San Miguel de Allende
Tarimoro
Yuriria
Acámbaro
Acámbaro is a city and municipality in the
southeastern corner of the Mexican state of Guanajuato, on the
banks of the Lerma River, and the oldest of the 46
municipalities of Guanajuato. Acámbaro is noted as a major
railway junction, a local transport hub, and the origin of the
nationally famous Acámbaro bread. Its greatest claim to world
fame is being the source of the Acambaro figures, a purported
archaeological forgery. The current (2005 census) population of
the municipality is 101,762 persons, that of the city proper
55,082. The municipality covers an area of 867.67 km² (335.01 sq
mi) and includes many small outlying communities, the largest of
which are Iramuco and Parácuaro. The municipality of Acámbaro is
bordered to the north by Tarimoro and Jerécuaro, to the
southeast by Tarandacuao, to the south by the state of
Michoacán, and to the west by Salvatierra. (Information provided by
Wikipedia. Click on
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ac%C3%A1mbaro
for additional information.)
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Celaya
Celaya is a city and its surrounding municipality
in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico, located in the southeast
quadrant of the state. It is the third most populous city in the
state, with a 2005 census population of 310,413. The
municipality for which the city serves as municipal seat, had a
population of 415,869. The city is located in the geographic
center of the municipality, which has an areal extent of 553.18
km² (213.58 sq mi) and includes many smaller outlying
communities, the largest of which are San Miguel Octopan, Rincón
de Tamayo and San Juan de la Vega. There are many smaller towns
around Celaya including Rincón De Tamayo, Tarimoro, Salvatierra,
La Moncada, Panales Jamaica (Cañones), Panales Galera, La
Calera, La Estancia, La Noria, La Acebuche, Cacalote, and Charco
Largo. The Celaya Airport has as of January 22, 2007 opened
flights in and out giving the city a chance to open its doors to
tourism. (Information provided by
Wikipedia. Click on
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celaya
for additional information.)
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Cortazar
Cortazar is a city bordered to the north by
Villagrán, to the north and east by Celaya, to the southeast by
Tarimoro, to the south by Salvatierra, and to the west by Jaral
del Progreso and Salamanca. The city had a 2005 census
population of 57,748 inhabitants, while the municipality had a
population of 83,175. The municipality has an area of 331.8 km²
(128.1 sq mi) and includes many smaller outlying communities,
the largest of which are Tierra Fría to the west and La Cañada
de Caracheo to the south. In pre-Columbian times the region was
inhabitated primarely by Otomí and Mexicas people. Founded in
1721 by Franciscan friars, the village of San José de los Amoles
was under the order of the congress of Guanajuato given the
present name of Cortázar in 1857 after Luis Cortazar y Rábago, a
Mexican patriot and leader of Mexico's war of independence
against Spain. The municipal president of the city and its
microregions is Jesús Oviedo Herrera. (Information provided by
Wikipedia. Click on
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cortazar,_Guanajuato
for additional information.)
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Dolores Hidalgo
Dolores Hidalgo (in full, Dolores Hidalgo
Cuna de la Independencia Nacional) is a city and its
surrounding municipality in the north-central part of
the Mexican state of Guanajuato. It is located at an
elevation of about 6480 feet above sea level. In the
census of 2005 the city had a population of 54,843
people, while the municipality had 134,641 inhabitants.
The city lies directly in the center of the
municipality, which has an areal extent of 1,590 km²
(613.9 sq mi) and includes numerous small outlying
communities, the largest of which is Río Laja. Dolores
Hidalgo was named a "Pueblo Mágico" in 2002.
The city was a small town
known simply as Dolores when Father
Miguel Hidalgo uttered his famous cry
for the independence of Mexico (the "Grito
de Dolores") there in the early morning
hours of September 16, 1810 in front of
his parish church. After Mexico achieved
independence, the town was renamed
"Dolores Hidalgo" in his honor. On
September 28, 1810, Hidalgo's forces
killed more than 500 Spaniard and Creole
loyalist soldiers during the battle for
Dolores; 2,000 Indigenous Mexicans died
in the fighting.
Today Dolores Hidalgo is
known primarily for its ceramics
industry, which provides income to well
over half the town's population. The
inexpensive and mass-produced output of
the town is marketed throughout Latin
America. The central square of the town,
in front of Fr Hidalgo's historic
church, is popular on weekends for the
unusual flavors of locally-made ice
cream, such as shrimp and tequila, sold
by vendors from small barrows. Interred
in the towns cemetery one will find José
Alfredo Jiménez, one of Mexicos most
beloved singers, as well as her most
prolific songwriter and popular
composer. (Information provided by
Wikipedia. Click on
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolores_Hidalgo
for additional information.)
|
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Guanajuato
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believe should be added to this section of Getting Away, please send it to
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Irapuato
| Irapuato is a Mexican city (and
municipality) located at the foot of the Arandas mountain (in Spanish:
el cerro de arandas), in the south central region of the state of
Guanajuato. It lies between the Silao River and the Guanajuato River, a
tributary of the Lerma River, at 1,724 m (5,656 ft) above sea level. The
city is the second-largest in the state (only behind León), with a
population of 342,561 according to the 2005 census, while its
municipality has a population of 463,103. The municipality has an area
of 845.16 km² (326.32 sq mi) and includes numerous smaller outlying
communities. The city's main industry is agriculture and it is famous
for its strawberries and the raising of pigs and cattle. The fruits and
flowers of Irapuato's luxurious gardens are well known throughout
Mexico. In the 16th century, vasts amounts of silver ore were discovered
at the present day site of the capital city of Guanajuato. This
discovery led to a massive migration of Spanish conquistadors settling
in the area. |
 |
In the pre-hispanic era, the site was inhabited by the
Chichimecas (c. 1200 C.E.), a group of semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers. Later
on, the Tarascans (also known as the P'urhépecha) conquered the region and
initiated the establishment of a permanent settlement. They constructed
buildings in the tarascan architectural style, produced pottery, and
practiced agriculture. They called the settlement Xiriquitzio (or Iriquitzio),
which the Spanish conquerors pronounced "Jiricuato" (or Jiricuicho), which
meant "the place with houses (or low dwellings)." The initial growth period,
however, was short lived. The downfall of the Purépecha empire led to the
abandonment of the settlement, at which point it was once again inhabited by
the Chichimecas. In the 16th century, vasts amounts of silver ore were
discovered at the present day site of the capital city of Guanajuato. This
discovery led to a massive migration of Spanish conquistadors settling in
the area. (Information provided by
Wikipedia. Click on
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irapuato
for additional information.)
Things to see and do in
Irapuato
►Dolphin (or
Florentine) Fountain: In 1864, Archduke Maximilian
of Hapsburg donated three bronze Florentine fountains to the state of
Guanajuato.
►Fountain
of Dancing Water: The fountain stands
in the central plaza of Irapuato. Every night there is a light,
music and water show. The fountain is lit up in a rainbow of
colors, and the jets provide a choreographed show accompanied by
music.
►Irapuato
Cathedral: The cathedral was built in
16th century in the baroque style. The outside facade is also
baroque. The interior is in the neoclassical architectural
style. The cathedral is laid out in the traditional Latin Cross
style.
►Irapuato
Zoo: The Irapuato Zoo, which is
located on the outskirts of the city, is home hundres of
mammals, birds and many species of fish. The zoo was established
in 1992 by architect Vicente Cázares Rodriguez, with the support
of the then state governor, Carlos Medina Placencia.
►John
Paul II Monument: Bronze statue of
Pope John Paul II, located in the Miguel Hidalgo square next to
the Irapuato Cathedral. The bronze sculpture has a steel
skeleton and has a weight of 661 pounds.
►Little
Hospital Church: This was the first
church built in lrapuato. The interior was completed in 1713 and
the facade in 1733. It is baroque in style and dedicated to the
Lady of Mercy. The church is built in the traditional Latin
Cross style. The main altars contain images made from corn
paste. The church was originally built as a chapel for the
Indians' Hospital, which was built two centuries earlier by
Vasco de Quiroga in 1550.
►Miguel
Hidalgo Square: A large public square
in the historical center of Irapuato. The square contains the
Fountain of Dancing Water as well as the Irapuato Cathedral. The
square is named after Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, the father of
the Mexican Independence movement.
►Plaza
Cibeles Mall: This is the newest and
largest mall in the city of Irapuato. The mall contains many
stores such as the Liverpool chain, and a Cinépolis movie
theatre. The mall was named after the famous Plaza de Cibeles, a
famous square in Madrid, Spain.
►Sergio
Leon Chávez Stadium: Former home of
the Irapuato Freseros soccer team. It was one of the stadiums
used in the 1986 FIFA World Cup. It has a maximum capacity of
32,000 spectators.
►Sun Clock:
The clock is over a century old and it is located in the Juan
Alvarez Square. The clock is elevated on a pedestal and column.
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León
| The city of León, formally León de los
Aldama is the fifth most populous city in Mexico and the first in the
state of Guanajuato. It is also the seat of the municipality of León. It
has a strong leather industry, offering shoes, boots, belts, jackets,
and other leather accessories both to national and international
markets. The city's public transportation system features a mix of buses
and the Optibus bus rapid transit colloquially known as "La Oruga"
(The Caterpillar). The municipally-operated Oruga started its operation
on September 27, 2003; León pioneered its use in Mexico.
León was inhabited in pre-Hispanic times by diverse
native groups, such as the Toltecs, Chichimecas, Guamares, among others.
The archaeological sites of Alfaro and Ibarrilla, close to the city of
León, reveal that the oldest settlements of this zone date from
Preclassical times. |
 |
The city of León was founded January 20, 1576
with the name Villa de Leon, by the order of the Virrey Don
Martín Enríquez de Almaza, for the purpose of creating a defense
against the attacks of the Chichimecas. In 1580 it was elevated
to the category of Alcaldía Mayor, separating it from Guanajuato
and had jurisdiction in the present municipality of León. In
June of 1830 it was elevated to the rank of city with the
official name: León de los Aldama. During the Mexican War of
Independence, it suffered in the political, social, and economic
areas. Because many people abandoned the mines of Guanajuato
because of the war, many workers were re-established themselves
in León. Agriculture was the main economic activity to the 18th
century, until the craft and the production of footwear began to
compete with it. The post-revolution years were, for León, ones
of prosperity and material progress, as well as of population
growth. The economic development resulted in extraordinary
agricultural and industrial growth and the wealth of 1923. (Information provided by
Wikipedia. Click on
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le%C3%B3n,_Guanajuato
for additional information.)
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Salamanca
Salamanca (Otomi:
Xidoo "Place of
Tepetate") is a city in
Guanajuato state,
México. Founded
January 1,
1603
as 'Villa de Salamanca' by the Viceroy
Gaspar de Zuniga and Acevedo, fifth Earl of Monterrey, who
was originally from
Salamanca (Spain).
The town was founded in the lands of Bajio, after cattle
ranchers and poor farmers, a few Spaniards, and small groups of
Otomi Indians who formerly occupied a village named Xidoo,
already lived in the area.In recent years, many refineries
have opened, and Salamanca has grown rapidly to become an
important site for manufacturing and service industry in the
region. Also, the University of Guanajuato has made many
scientific contributions to develop agricultural and industrial
technologies, giving a boost to the local and regional
industries. The city reported a 2005 census population of
143,838, while the municipality had 233,623. The municipality
has an areal extent of 745.96 km² (288.02 sq mi), which includes
such smaller outlying communities as
Valtierrilla,
Cerro Gordo,
San José Temascatio, and
Loma Pelada. The fourth-largest city in the state (behind
León,
Irapuato, and
Celaya), it is also the largest of four places called
"Salamanca" in Mexico.
Salamanca's cuisine is very diverse, because thanks to the
oil refinery, it is a city that has people from all over the
country, from cities such as
Veracruz,
Tamaulipas,
Oaxaca and
Mexico City. Each of these cities brings its own variety of
food, so one can find enchiladas, wheat gorditas, pambazos,
hamburgers, the famous carnitas, arrachera, cabrito, birria,
barbecue, cecinas, and pizzas, and there are food stands on
virtually every street corner. Nieve de Pasta is a type of ice
cream made of vanilla, nuts, egg, milk, sugar that is popular in
the city.
Salamanca is also known for its many cantinas,
botaneros, and low-cost night arrancones. It
is also renowned for its typical cockfighting
and fair spring in which you can appreciate the
workmanship, business, employment, and enjoying
the theater of the people as well as different
artistic groups and cuisine. (Information provided by
Wikipedia. Click on
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salamanca,_Guanajuato
for additional information.)
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Salvatierra
Salvatierra is a Mexican
city (and municipality) located in the
valley of Huatzindeo in the lowlands of
the state of Guanajuato. With an area of
507.70 square kilometres, Salvatierra
accounts for 1.66% the total area of the
state. It is bordered to the north by
Tarimoro and Cortazar, to the south by
Acámbaro and the state of Michoacán, to
the west by Yuriria and Santiago
Maravatío, and to the northeast by Jaral
del Progreso. The municipality had a
total of 94,558 inhabitants of which
34,066 lived in the city of Salvatierra,
according to the 2005 census. In
pre-Columbian times the area was known
as Guatzindeo or "Place of beautiful
vegetation" by the mostly P'urhépecha
inhabitants.
The city
of San Andrés de
Salvatierra was founded
under the order of
Spanish viceroy Don
Garcia Sarmiento de
Sotomayor, 2nd Count of
Salvatierra and Marquis
of Sobroso, on February
9th, 1644.
Due to
its rich soil and
strategic location
(midway between the
three most populated
areas, namely Mexico
City, Guadalajara, and
Monterrey) for most of
the next three centuries
the city was one of the
most prosperous in the
state of Guanajuato.
However, unlike León,
Irapuato, and Celaya,
Salvatierra never
developed into a strong
industrial town and has
seen its working
population shrink with
many choosing to
relocate to nearby
cities and others
leaving the country
entirely to seek jobs in
the United States. (Information provided by
Wikipedia. Click on
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvatierra,_Guanajuato
for additional information.)
|
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San Luis de la Paz
San Luis de la Paz, a charming city with great historic and
cultural wealth, was founded in August 25, 1552, as a defensive town in the
Silver Road, which linked the Zacatecas mines with Mexico City during Spanish
domination. It owes its name to the peace treaty between Otomi Indians, who were
Spaniard allies, and the native Chichimecas, in the day of Saint Louis of
France, August 25. The Chichimeca Nation, as it is also known, is an attractive
touristic center.
San Luis de la Paz, with its colonial elegance and narrow
streets, preserves until now unique places and buildings that talk about its
fascinating past. They range from native rock paintings in nearby hills, and
remains of antique cobblestone Spanish roads, to forgotten chapel ruins and old
structures. Mineral de Pozos, the most important mining town in the state of
Guanajuato from the end of the XIX century to the beginning of the XX, is just
like being in the movies (like James Bond and the Magic Roudabout)! It amazes to
see everywhere deserted and rundown remains of ancestral constructions like the
Jesuits’ Mining Ovens and the Modelo Schools. Vergel the Bernalejo it’s an Eden.
It’s a place with wonderful natural sceneries, and caves that hide marvelous
stalactites and stalagmites. It also is a forest where there are many kinds of
trees like pines and firs, which are home to wild animals like deer and eagles.
Finally, it is surrounded by many legendary mountains and rock formations, like
the Bernalejo hill and the Bridge of God. (Information provided by
Wikipedia. Click on
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Luis_de_la_Paz
for additional information.)
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San Miguel de
Allende
| San Miguel de Allende is
the seat of the municipality of Allende. It is a
historic town founded in 1542 that has become an
attractive tourist destination for wealthy Mexico City
residents and has a large American and Canadian
expatriate community composed primarily of retirees. San Miguel de Allende is
located in the eastern part of
Guanajuato in
Mexico's mountainous
bajío region. The bajío
(low place) is a relatively flat region
about 2,000 m (7,000 ft) above sea level
surrounded by mountains; it is a part of
the
Mexican altiplano.
San Miguel de Allende is
located at 6,140 feet above sea level.
To the north it is bordered by the
municipalities of
San Luis de la Paz and
Dolores Hidalgo. To the west it is
also bordered by
Dolores Hidalgo. To the south the
municipality is bordered by
Juventino Rosas, Guanajuato and
Comonfort and to the southeast by
Apaseo el Grande. To the northeast
it is bordered by
San José Iturbide. Finally, to the
east it is bordered by
Querétaro municipality in the state
of
Querétaro. The municipal seat is
located 274 km (170 mi) from
Mexico City and 97 km (60 mi) from
the state capital of
Guanajuato.
(Information provided by
Wikipedia. Click on
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Miguel_de_Allende
for additional information.) |
 |
Things to see and do
During the final week of July, San Miguel de
Allende and
Guanajuato, Guanajuato are co-hosts to the
Expresión en Corto International Film Festival,
Mexico’s largest competitive film festival and
the most prestigious of its kind in Latin
America. The internationally renowned festival
is free to the public and screens over 400 films
from 10am until 4am each day in 16 venues, which
include such unusual locations as San Miguel's
Jardín Principal (or main square), the
subterranean streets and tunnels of Guanajuato,
the Guanajuato Mummy Museum and both city's
Municipal graveyards (Panteónes). San Miguel
de Allende was also named a
Pueblo Mágico in 2002. In 2008, San Miguel
was designated by
UNESCO as a
World Heritage Site.
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Tarimoro
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Yuriria
Yuririapundaro, also known as Yuriria, is one of 46
municipalities in the Mexican state of Guanajuato. Its location and historical
importance are key factors to the outstanding and significal importance of the
municipality.
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Accommodations Suggestions
Click on
Hotels in Guanajuato for hotels and other
accommodations in this area.
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Getting To and Around
Guanajuato
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Things to See
and Do
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Restaurant and Dining Suggestions
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Links
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