When I first set foot in Guanajuato, this city in Mexico’s central plateau reminded me of Rome. By the second day, I was proclaiming it the most beautiful city in the world. After five days of wandering around its pristine cobblestone streets, discovering one jaw-dropping beautiful plaza and church after another, I was looking at apartments.
Guanajuato Mexico is a city where I could happily live the rest of my life, and that is high praise from a vagabond like me. Aside from its astonishing colonial architecture, exquisitely landscaped plazas, and ideal weather, the city has a vibrancy unlike anything I have felt elsewhere in Mexico. This is partially due to the 20,000 students who attend the University of Guanajuato. Located in the city’s historic center, the university’s fine arts focus is the impetus behind many of the cultural seminars, workshops, and exhibits that occur throughout the year. But the vibrant energy of Guanajuato is also a result of its history.
It is said that in 1548, a muleteer named Rayas, who was camping in the hills around Guanajuato, found silver ore inside his bonfire. The land belonged to the New Spain Viceroyalty at that point and the King of Spain was quick to take note; by 1571 the city had been founded on the wealth of what would, for many centuries, be the richest mine in the world. Nouveau riche mine owners poured money into creating a city that would reflect their social standing, building theaters and mansions and funding churches that rivaled one another in opulence.
Can’t view the above slide show of Guanajuato, Mexico? Click here.
Today, the heart of the city is Plaza de la Paz, anchored by stunning Nuestra Senora de Guanajuato Basilica. Just one of more than 35 old churches in the city, the Basilica glitters gold in the late afternoon sun, framed by exotic furry green plants and tall black sculptures. Around the corner, Jardin de la Union is the favorite gathering place for locals. From the outdoor cafes to the steps of Romanesque Teatro Juarez, where crowds gather each night to watch street performers, this plaza bustles with activity into the wee hours. And culture vultures will appreciate the array of museums in the city, which range from the Museo Regional de Guanajuato Alhóndiga de Granaditas (a granary that was turned into a fortress during the Mexican War of Independence) to Museo de las Momias, famous for its display of the startlingly well-preserved mummies of Guanajuato.
A remarkable feature of Guanajuato are its tunnels, which divert vehicles beneath the city. This was not planned; the city was built over the Guanajuato River, which flowed through tunnels beneath the city. However, after years of raising buildings to accommodate repeated flooding, a dam was constructed and the river was redirected into underground caverns. The empty tunnels were paved with cobblestones and lit for automobile traffic, leaving many of the upper level streets for pedestrians.
From the historic center, narrow curving streets and steep staircases climb past jewel-tone houses that cling precariously to valley walls. Every step brings another delight: doorways open to lushly landscaped interior courtyards, murals decorate long stretches of wall, boughs thick with salmon and magenta Bougainvilla overhang sidewalks.
While other Mexican cities are showing signs of stress from difficult economic conditions currently plaguing the country, Guanajuato remains pristine. Hardly a scrap of trash can be found lying about and the city is eminently safe. That can partially be attributed to its silver mines, which are still among the richest-producing in the world, but more likely it has to do with a community that takes great pride in the fact that the historic center was declared a UNESCO Word Heritage Site in 1988.
Not surprisingly, Guanajuato Mexico is one of the country’s most important and most popular tourist destinations. What is surprising, however, is that very few Americans know about this undiscovered cultural gem in the geographic center of its neighbor to the south.
There’s no doubt in my mind that Sydney is the most beautiful city in the world but this looks lovely too.
Thanks Barbara! I just added another must see destination to ever growing list!
I studied abroad in Guanajuato two years ago and just came across this article via StumbleUpon and could not be happier to have found it! Thank you so much for this perfect depiction of an incredible city–living there was some of the best months of my life, and I cannot wait to return!
I got stuck on this city when I researched my own trip to Mexico (hopefully in the very near future) and thought that Guanajuato will be a must. Your article confirms that. Reading your Mexico posts make me very travel-itchy. Can’t wait to pack my bags 🙂 Thank you Barbara!
You are welcome, Fida. Do come! I am now in the jungles of southern Mexico, in Chiapas, and it is incredible here as well.
I’ll have to say that I was skeptical about anywhere being proclaimed the most beautiful city in the world. The competition for that title must be fierce. Your photos are very persuasive though. Wow. I can see why you would say that now. The place just looks so alive and vibrant.
Great post about my favourite city in the world – it is utterly enchanting. I was there for Semana Santa (Holy Week) last year, and the processions were quite incredible.
It does look beautiful – you know you’ve found your place if you want to settle in and stay for a while.
On those tunnels that housed the river, in Valencia they did something similar when they diverted the river that ran through the city centre after it flooded one time too many and now it is a string of parks along the river bed that’s great for cycling, walking and sport
I loved Guanajuato and completely agree that it’s a perfect place! I plan on going back someday, perhaps to live there for a bit, it was so beautiful and friendly!
I love your photos btw!
Oh my – I’ve never heard of the city before – but what beautiful pictures! Living abroad is a fun adventure…could be a good place to blog from! 🙂
With Guanajuato being so beautiful, I still wonder why expats flock to San Miguel de Allende. Oh, well. More charm for the rest of us to enjoy.
Another reason why Guanajuato looks so pristine and nice (so we heard) is that Vicente Fox is from Guanajuato and when he was President, he put a lot of money into the city. I believe he resides there now and continues to support the city in many ways.
I have been wondering what it was like since you first mentioned it – and now the photos! They are just stunning, no wonder you compared it to Rome.
It does remind me somewhat of La Laguna, which is the university town and former capital of Tenerife. I guess the old architecture here is the same Spanish, colonial style. La Laguna is also a World Heritage Site. At least, the old part is, that is, the university is a sprawling, concrete horror (in my eyes), but I agree that university towns do have a unique vibrance, all those hopes and dreams, all that curiosity and thirst for knowledge in the air I guess!
Thanks, as always, for sharing!
It’s magical to find a place that speaks to you the way Guanajuato has for you, Barbara. I know very little about the city and appreciate your introduction. So glad you discovered it for yourself.
Hello Barbara,
I traveled to Guanajuato last summer for 6 weeks, i studied engineering and took some spanish classes. It is truly a magical place that is quite different then anything i am accustomed to. I enjoyed reading your article as it brought back life long memories that i will never forget!
Hi Chris! Thanks so much for your comment. Love knowing that others have felt the same way about Guanajuato. I hope I never forget that feeling of awe I had as I rounded each new corner the first couple of days.
I am thoroughly enchanted. This place has everything I want, need, desire. Those colours, that architecture, ahhhh. I’m showing this to my husband immediately. Lovely vivid writing Barbara. You are obviously in love with the place. See you there!
Hi Gail: So glad you liked the post. It is a magical place.
It was $500 a month. It included utilities and was furnished. Two bedroom/Two bathroom, living/dining area, kitchen and patio. The original price was $900 a month but my husband lives in Leon and was able to get the local’s price. So if they give you a crazy price like that, ask to lower it b/c you know they are just trying to get the “gringa” to pay.
Oh, and are the photos all yours? They are spectacular!
Hola Barbara,
Thank you for sharing your heartfelt love letter to Guanajuato with all of us. I couldn’t agree more!
I lived in Guanajuato off and on from 1994-2003 (helped manage a B&B there) and I’m still in love with that beautiful city.
It’s so nice to read about the 99% of Mexico that is beautiful, peaceful, safe, historic, lovely, and friendly.
Hi Betsy: Thanks so much for your comment. Yes, I find Mexico to be at least as safe as the U.S., perhaps more so, since Mexicans exhibit a level of courtesy that is rare in the U.S. Yes, all the photos are mine. On the rare occasion I use a photo belonging to someone else, I always disclose that and provide a link back to the original work. But in the case of Guanajuato, they’re all mine. Of course, it’s hard to take a bad photo in that city!
Oh man, I LOVE GUANAJUATO! I lived there for almost 4 months last summer and was so sad to leave it. I can’t wait till I’m free to move back down there someday. It’s not all that easy w/o a car to get to things like a grocery store or gym and it lacks in jobs other than restaurants. But other than that it’s great. And the weather is awesome. I lived up in a brand new apartment on the side of a hill looking right at El Pipula and overlooking the city. It was heaven (minus walking that hill everyday hahah). I suggest you stay a while and REALLY get to know the city. Maybe move there!
Can’t wait to hear more about your visit to Guanajuato. It’s fulfilling my need to be there and at the same time making me want to go back. Let me know if you have any questions!
Hi Christy: Curious how much you paid for rent. I can really see myself spending winters in Guanajuato.
Wow! Sounds like it was hard to leave. Or did you? Beautiful pics and post. Just lovely.
Hi Darrelyn: I left, but I didn’t want to. It was one of those moments when you wonder if there’s something even better waiting for you in the next town – I had to go and see. Been a half dozen places since then (posts run behind actual travels) and NOTHING can compare to Guanajuato.
Wow! What a great description – your love for this city really shines through. The underground tunnels for cars, the silver mining, and the local college’s arts really do make this a perfect city in Mexico. Fantastic photos, too.
I’m enjoying your blog!
This post on Guanajuato caught my attention; when I was in high school our class took a 3 day trip from Austin to Guanajuato. I forgot my camera so have no pictures. Since that was some nearly 40 years ago, my memories have faded! Nice to see some pictures of the city that I barely remember other than to say, “I had a good time”.
¡Guanajuato es una de mis ciudades favoritas de México también! Su arquitectura colonial, los colores rosas, verdes, azules, todos mexicanos. Su comida y dulces. La cultura e historia. Las momias y su misterio. Todo es hermoso alrededor de Guanajuato 😀
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Guanajuato is one of my favorite places in México too! It´s colonial architecture, it´s colors, rose, green, blue and all kind of mexican colors. It´s food and desserts, the culture and history, the mummies and it´s mistery. Everything is amazing around Guanajuato.
Barbara:
Thanks so much for sharing all of these amazing finds with the rest of us stuck at home in the U.S. What a great service you provide, a chance to dream about future trips!
Love, Laura Lee
Hi Laura Lee and Kate: So glad you are enjoying my blog and traveling vicariously with me. I was absolutely blown away by Guanajuato and so anxious to share the photos with everyone. Some videos coming up on the next two posts. Have a great day!