• The city of Guanajuato

• don Quijote Guanajuato
• Pricelist

THE CITY:

• Population: 160,000
• The city of Guanajuato is the state capital of Mexico's Guanajuato State and one of the most important historical and cultural colonial cities in Mexico.
• Guanajuato is located in the central part of Mexico, south of the high Mexican plateau.
• In 1988, UNESCO declared Guanajuato and its surrounding silver mines a "World Heritage Site”.
• The state possesses an international airport, just 40 kilometers from the city center.

CULTURAL/RECREATIONAL:

• Although a small city, Guanajuato has a great deal to offer: from beautiful colonial buildings to modern museums, from the silver mines to the university, a variety of activities can be enjoyed!.
• Guanajuato astonishes the visitor with the charm of its relaxed atmosphere. Its paved streets and picturesque squares.
• The Festival International Cervantino, or FIC, is a very prestigious and famous festival of culture, music, theater and dance and attracting intellectuals, artists and tourists from all over the world.
• The famous Underground Street, officially known as Calle Miguel Hidalgo is an amazing maze which follows the course of the old Guanajuato River, running nearly 3 kilometers beneath the city!
• Practically the entire State of Guanajuato has a pleasant climate with temperatures between 12oC/53oF and 24o C/75oF.

Guanajuato (2009 pop. 5,033,276), Capital of the Guanajuato State, with an altitude of 6,583 ft (2,008 m), is a historical and picturesque town of agreeable little plazas and stair-lined streets, pastel-colored facades, balconies trimmed with iron work, and charming flower-filled window boxes.

Located about a five-hour drive northwest of Mexico City, the town of Guanajuato is a maze of cobblestone streets and alleys that wind around steep hillsides upon a small ravine, opening into vistas of beautiful churches and small plazas.

Most of these passageways are largely pedestrians only, since modern traffic circumvents through the narrow streets underground, in massive stone tunnels and upon the riverbed, past the basements of the core city.

The Basilica Nuestra Señora

A typical mexican courtyard

For centuries, Guanajuato was a major mining center whose mines poured out silver for the Spanish crown. Today, the town holds a government seat and is known as a popular college town.

An interesting detail to know is that Guanajuato has no traffic lights or neon signs which led it to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. This makes Guanajuato an extremely enjoyable place to walk peacefully, yet still maintaining plenty of life in the streets, and much more to see.

Festival Cervantino:More than 35 countries participate in this major annual international art fiesta where dance, music, visual arts, films and theater expressions take on the streets and theaters of Guanajuato in October. This festival is named after Miguel de Cervantes, author of "Don Quixote de La Mancha".

-Hot Air Balloon Festival: More than 100 colorful hot air balloons sail effortlessly through the skies of Guanajuato every November.

-Alfeñique Fair:Fair held in San Fernando Square the last days of October in which many vendors sell various shapes of elaborated skull figurines made out of sugar and highly decorated for the upcoming "Day of the Dead" celebrations at the beginning of November. Prizes are awarded to the best works.

-The Festival de la PresaThis traditional fiesta marks the start of the rainy season when the town gathers to watch the floodgates of the presa (reservoir) are opened to flush clean the Guanajuato River. Officially begins mid-June.