Guanajuato (city) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Guanajuato
City and municipality
Guanajuato skyline Basílica colegiata University of Guanajuato Alhóndiga de Granaditas Juárez Theater Church of the Valenciana silver mine Hidalgo market
Coat of arms
Guanajuato Location in Guanajuato Show map of Guanajuato Guanajuato Location in Mexico Show map of Mexico
Country	Mexico
State	Guanajuato
Founded	1548
Founded as	Real de Minas de Guanajuato
Founded by	Antonio de Mendoza
Area
• Municipality	1,014 km2 (392 sq mi)
• City	12.25 km2 (4.73 sq mi)
Elevation (of seat)	2,045 m (6,709 ft)
Population  (2020 census)
• Municipality	194,500
• Density	191.81/km2 (496.8/sq mi)
• City	70,068
• City density	5,719.8/km2 (14,814/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Guanajuatense
Time zone	UTC−6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Postal code (of seat)	36000
Area code(s)	+52 473
Website	[1]
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name: Historic Town of Guanajuato and Adjacent Mines
Type:	Cultural
Criteria:	I, II, IV, VI
Designated:	1988 (12th session)
Reference #:	482
Region:	Latin America and the Caribbean

Guanajuato (Spanish pronunciation: [gwanaˈxwato]) is a beautiful city in central Mexico. It is the capital of the state of the same name. The city is nestled in a narrow valley, which means its streets are very narrow and winding. Many are alleys where cars cannot go. Some are long sets of stairs climbing up the mountainsides.

Many of the city's main roads are partly or fully underground. The historic center is full of small plazas and old buildings. These include colonial-era mansions, churches, and other structures. They are built using pink or green sandstone, which gives the city a unique look. In 1988, UNESCO declared the city's historic center and nearby mines a World Heritage Site. This means they are very important to the world's history and culture.

Guanajuato grew because of the rich minerals found in the surrounding mountains. Its mines were among the most important during the time Europeans colonized America. One mine, La Valenciana, produced two-thirds of the world's silver at its peak!

The city is also home to the Mummy Museum. This museum displays naturally mummified bodies found in the local cemetery. Guanajuato also hosts the Festival Internacional Cervantino. This festival brings artists and performers from all over the world to Mexico. The city was also the site of the first major battle of the Mexican War of Independence. This battle took place at the Alhóndiga de Granaditas.

History of Guanajuato

Early Inhabitants and Names

The first known people in this area were the Otomi. Later, the Chichimeca people lived here. The Purépecha also had a presence due to old trading routes. The oldest name for the area was “Mo-o-ti,” meaning “place of metals.” The Aztecs later called it "Paxtitlán," which means “place of Spanish moss.”

The current name, Guanajuato, comes from the Purépecha words kuanhasï juáta. This means “frog hill.” People mined in this area long before the Spanish arrived. The Aztecs looked for metals to make special objects for their leaders. Some old stories say the area was so rich in minerals that gold nuggets could be found right on the ground.

Colonial Era and Silver Mining

The Spanish found gold deposits here in the 1540s. They quickly sent soldiers and built forts. In 1548, the outpost was officially named Real de Minas de Guanajuato. This was done by viceroy Don Antonio de Mendoza. Even with Chichimeca attacks, the population grew fast. Many Spanish and Creole migrants came, along with indigenous and mestizo traders and workers.

It soon became a town called Santa Fe Real de Minas de Guanajuato. Its first church was built in 1555. The very first mineral vein found was called San Bernabé. This discovery brought thousands of people to the area. It led to finding other rich deposits, like at the Rayas mine. The San Bernabé mine produced silver until 1928. Today, you can see its remains in the small village of La Luz.

In 1679, the city's name changed to Ciudad de Santa Fe y Real de Minas de Guanajuato. It also received its own coat of arms, which is still used today. In 1741, the city was given the title “The Most Noble and Loyal City of Santa Fe de Minas de Guanajuato.” It became an important province in 1790. This was because of the huge amount of wealth from its mines.

In the 18th century, Guanajuato was the world's top silver mining center. This made it the richest city in Mexico for much of the early colonial period. The La Valenciana mine alone produced so much silver that it affected the world economy. This made the Counts of Valencianas one of the most powerful families in New Spain.

The city's wealth can be seen in its beautiful buildings. The colonial architecture includes some of the best Baroque and Churrigueresque styles in the New World. Examples include the Valenciana, Cata, and La Compañía Churches. Most buildings from this time are made of pink or green sandstone. Inside the churches, the Baroque altars were covered with gold from local mines.

Mexican Independence and Later Years

By the late 1700s, many people were poor despite the city's great wealth. A protest happened in the city against high taxes. One year later, there were big protests against the expulsion of the Jesuits. These events hinted at the coming Mexican War of Independence.

The War of Independence began in the state of Guanajuato. Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla started it in the town of Dolores on September 15 and 16, 1810. His army marched to San Miguel and then to Guanajuato city. On September 28, 1810, Hidalgo's army attacked the Alhóndiga de Granaditas granary. This was a strong building where royalist troops and many rich people had taken shelter.

The insurgents could not break into the building easily. Then, a miner named Juan José de los Reyes Martínez, known as El Pípila, helped. He strapped a large flat stone to his back for protection. He crawled to the main entrance with tar and a torch. He smeared the wooden doors with tar and set them on fire. This allowed the insurgents to enter and win the battle. A huge statue of El Pípila stands on a hill overlooking the city to remember his bravery.

After Mexico gained independence, Guanajuato became a state capital in 1824. However, fighting continued between different groups in the country. This affected mining in the city. In 1858, Guanajuato was the temporary capital of Mexico. This was when President Benito Juárez fought against rebels.

Mining started again around the 1870s. This was thanks to foreign investments encouraged by the Porfirio Díaz government. This new economic activity led to building projects like the Juárez Theater and the Esperanza Dam.

Flooding was a big problem for Guanajuato for a long time. This was because of the steep hillsides. In the 1700s, two major floods almost destroyed the city. This led to building large ditches and tunnels to control water during the rainy season. In the 1960s, dams helped control the flooding. Many of the old ditches and tunnels were then turned into underground roads.

The first Festival Internacional Cervantino was held in 1972. The historic city center was declared a World Heritage Site in 1988.

Guanajuato's Climate and Geography

Weather in Guanajuato

Guanajuato has two main climates. One is quite hot and is found in the southern parts of the municipality. The other is more temperate and covers the rest of the area, including the city. In warmer areas, summer temperatures can reach up to 36°C (97°F). In the coldest areas, winter temperatures can drop to 3°C (37°F).

The average temperature for the whole area is about 18.5°C (65.3°F). The city gets between 600 and 840 mm (23.6 to 33.1 inches) of rain each year. Most of the rain falls during the monsoon season, from June to September.

City Layout and Transportation

Pocitos Street, looking toward the University of Guanajuato

Guanajuato was first divided into four neighborhoods: Marfil/Santiago, Tepetapa, Santa Ana, and Santa Fe. Santa Fe is considered the oldest. A small river used to split the city. Because of the very hilly land, only one main road goes into the city and one leaves. The main road into the city, called Belaunzarán, now runs for three kilometers underground. It follows the old path of the Guanajuato River.

Unlike many other Spanish and Mexican cities, Guanajuato's streets are very irregular. It has small alleyways, plazas, and steep staircases up hillsides. Most are paved with stone. Only a few are wide enough for cars. Many passages are narrow alleys with small open spaces, giving the city a European feel.

Tunnel entrance

Some alleys have no names, while others have funny names like “Sal si puedes” (Exit if you can). Another famous alley is Callejón Tecolote. Ignacio Allende and Miguel Hidalgo entered the city through this alley in 1810. The Callejón de la Condesa (Alley of the Countess) is near the State Government Palace. It is named after a countess who used its back door to avoid gossip.

The most famous alley is the Callejón del Beso (Alley of the Kiss). It is very narrow, only 168 cm (66 inches) wide in some spots. Its balconies almost touch. A local story says that couples who kiss on the third red-painted step will have seven years of happiness. The name comes from a sad legend about two young lovers.

Street tunnel

The narrow streets and alleys led to a fun activity called "callejoneadas." These are walking parties, often led by students from the University of Guanajuato with live music. Today, tourists can also join these parties.

Juárez Street is one of the few main streets on the surface. It is busy with stores, restaurants, and people. Other main streets are partly or fully underground. They follow old drainage ditches and tunnels dug long ago. These tunnels were first used to control floods. Now, with modern dams, they are dry and used as roads. The most important is Miguel Hidalgo or Belaunzarán.

The city's streets and alleys are full of old colonial buildings. They also have restaurants, bars, and cafes with outdoor seating. Buildings are made of pink and green sandstone, adobe, and other stones. This fills the streets with shades of pink, green, and red. Many small plazas are found in front of or next to churches. Examples include Plaza San Fernando and Plaza San Roque.

Underground Tunnels of Guanajuato

The Guanajuato underground tunnels are a network of wide passages. They help direct traffic away from the city center. These tunnels have different levels and underground intersections. Traffic heading east uses the tunnels. Traffic going west passes through the city center. All tunnels have footpaths, and some bus stops are even underground.

The tunnel system was built to stop flooding. Túnel La Galereña is the longest tunnel. It was dug in the early 1800s to move the Guanajuato River away from the city. In the 1960s, the old river tunnels were strengthened. They were then turned into road tunnels. The first cars drove through in 1961. These old tunnels were good for cars and small buses. However, they were too small for larger vehicles. A second tunnel was dug in the late 1960s to divert the river deeper. More tunnels were added in the 1990s.

Historic Mines of Guanajuato

San Cayetano Church near La Valenciana mine

The mines that made Guanajuato rich are located in and around the city. Many of these mines led to the growth of small communities. These communities still exist with their own churches and museums. Famous mines gave their names to some of the city's oldest neighborhoods. These include Cata, Rayas y Mellado, La Pastita, San Luisito, and Valenciana. Some mines are open for public tours.

The first important mine was San Bernabé. It attracted many people to Guanajuato. This led to finding other mineral deposits. This mine operated from the 1500s until 1928. You can still see its remains in the small village of La Luz.

The most important mining complex is La Valenciana mine. It is on the northern edge of the city and started in 1774. From then until the early 1800s, it was one of the world's most productive silver mines. At its peak, it produced two-thirds of the world's silver. It produced 80% of all silver from Guanajuato state. For over 250 years, it produced about 30% of the world's silver. The mine still operates today, though less productively. One ton of rock is still extracted every six minutes. Its largest shaft goes down 450 meters (1,476 feet). About 10,000 miners have worked there over time.

Tourists visiting the Bocamina mine

The mine made its owners, the Counts of Valenciana, very rich. The first Count of Valenciana, Antonio de Obregón y Alcocer, built the San Cayetano Church near the mine entrance. This church was built between 1765 and 1788. It has a beautiful Churrigueresque entrance. Inside, it has gilded altarpieces and a pulpit decorated with ivory.

Near La Valenciana Mine is the Guadalupe Mine. It was built in the 1500s. Its complex has very large stone walls, looking like a medieval fortress. The mine is no longer active, but the complex is being turned into a resort.

La Cata mine is another early mine, and a neighborhood is named after it. It started in 1558. Its peak production was in the early 1700s. The center of the neighborhood has the Señor de Villaseca Church, also called La Cata Church. This church was built in the 1600s in a Mexican Baroque style. It holds a valuable crucifix called the Señor del Villaseca.

The Bocamina de San Ramón mine is one of the city's first mines. Its main deposit was found in 1548. Today, it is a tourist attraction. Visitors can go down into the earth through the old shafts. The complex has a patio, a mineral gallery, and a bar called El Petardo. This bar used to be the gunpowder storage room.

The Rayas mine led to one of the city's first neighborhoods. It was found in 1550 by Juan Rayas. The mine was most successful in the 1700s. Today, it is on the Carretera Panorámica (Panoramic Highway) that circles the city. Its walls are tall and supported by stone buttresses. It has one of the longest mine shafts in the world, going down 425 meters (1,394 feet).

The Castile of Santa Cecilia is a grand medieval-style building. It was built on an old 17th-century mining estate. The building now functions as a hotel.

Mummies of Guanajuato

The city's most famous tourist attraction is the Mummies of Guanajuato. They are displayed in their own museum next to the municipal cemetery. The Mummy Museum has a collection of bodies that naturally mummified in the cemetery.

The modern museum opened in 1970. It has proper lighting and ventilation. The mummies are protected behind glass. The collection includes 111 mummies, mostly women, some men, and about 20 children. Only 59 are on display. It is the largest collection of mummies in the Western Hemisphere.

360° panoramic view of the municipal cemetery next to the Museum of Mummies

Festival Internacional Cervantino

The world-famous Festival Internacional Cervantino is an annual cultural event. It is held in Guanajuato city. The festival hosts many artistic and cultural events. Artists from Mexico and around the world are invited. The event is named after Miguel de Cervantes, who wrote Don Quixote.

The festival started in 1972. It began with short plays performed by University of Guanajuato students. These plays were based on Cervantes' works. The festival includes opera, theater, film showings, art exhibitions, and concerts. Performances happen in 70 venues for most of October. Events are held throughout the city. The most important venue in Guanajuato is Juárez Theater. Other key venues are Teatro Principal and Cervantes Theater. Events also take place in churches, plazas, and on the streets.

Important Landmarks and Buildings

Plaza de la Paz and Basilica

Plaza de la Paz and the Basílica colegiata de Nuestra Señora de Guanajuato (2009)

The center of modern Guanajuato is Plaza de la Paz (Plaza of Peace). Since colonial times, the city's richest families built their homes here. Government buildings and the main church were also here. This plaza is a garden with a sculpture of a woman representing peace. Its placement in the late 1800s changed the plaza's official name. Today, the plaza is surrounded by the basilica, other churches, and government buildings. Many of these were once grand mansions.

The city's main church is Basílica Colegiata de Nuestra Señora de Guanajuato. It was built between 1671 and 1696. The church has a simple Mexican Baroque style. It also shows influences from the city's rich mining families. The Marquis of San Clemente and Pedro Lascuráin de Retana were early supporters. Later, the Counts of Valenciana donated a clock for one of the towers. They also got relics of a saint from the Pope. These relics are in the main altar. The main entrance is made of pink sandstone. The main altar features the image of Our Lady of Guanajuato. She is the city's patroness. She was given to the city by Carlos I and his son Felipe II in 1557. The church became a minor basilica in 1696 and a full basilica in 1957.

The Legislative Palace, or state government building, was once the customs house. The current building was built in a European style popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It opened in 1903. Its front has a Neoclassical entrance made of local sandstone. It contains the legislative chamber, decorated with paintings and old furniture.

Alhóndiga de Granaditas: A Historic Granary

Historical monument of Alhóndiga de Granaditas for a night concert during the Cervantino Festival.

The Alhóndiga de Granaditas is a very large building. It covers an entire city block. It was originally built to store enough grain to feed the city for a year. This was to protect people from famines. Its name means “house of grain.” The building has two floors, few windows, and a large inner courtyard. Construction began in 1798 and finished under José del Mazo.

The Alhóndiga was used for grain storage for only eight months. Its importance today comes from being the site of the first battle of the Mexican War of Independence. This battle happened on September 28, 1810. When Miguel Hidalgo's army approached, royalist troops and rich citizens hid inside. The building was hard to attack due to its strong walls and few openings.

The battle was stuck until a miner named Juan José de los Reyes Martínez, known as El Pípila, found a way. He strapped a large flat stone to his back for protection. He crawled to the main entrance with tar and a torch. He smeared the wooden door with tar and set it on fire. This allowed the insurgents to enter and take the building.

After the battle, the Alhóndiga was used as barracks and a prison. From 1949, it became the Museo Regional de Guanajuato. This museum shows the history of the area and its role in Mexican history. It has fourteen halls with exhibits. The main hall has sculptures of important figures like Miguel Hidalgo. An eternal flame burns in front of them. The walls of the main stairwell have murals by José Chávez Morado about Independence. The museum also has a large collection of ceramics. It displays works by local artists like Hermeneguildo Bustos.

The large courtyard inside the Alhóndiga is a traditional place to celebrate Mexico's Independence Day. It is also a venue for events during the Festival Cervantino. The museum was renovated in 2010 for Mexico's Bicentennial.

University of Guanajuato: A Center for Learning

University of Guanajuato

The University of Guanajuato started as a Jesuit school in the early 1700s. Josefa Teresa de Busto y Moya helped establish this school in 1732. She donated a lot of her money and got donations from other rich families. Over time, the school grew. It began offering high school and college-level studies. It changed names several times, finally becoming the University of Guanajuato in 1945.

Today, the university serves about 30,000 students. It has campuses in other parts of Guanajuato state. The university hosts many events for the Festival Cervantino. Its famous staircase is often used as seating for audiences. The main building in Guanajuato city is well-known. It was built in a Neoclassical style with green stone. It has a long staircase with 113 steps. Under the main roof is a 16th-century chapel. It is called the Templo de los Hospitales (Temple of the Hospitals).

The Museo de Historia Natural Alfredo Dugès is on the ground floor of the university's main building. It has a national collection of fossils, plants, and animals. This collection is important because of its age and how well it is preserved.

Other Plazas and Churches to Explore

The city has many small plazas or squares. They were built with churches, which often gave them their names. One well-known plaza is Jardín de la Unión. It is next to San Diego Church. This garden has carefully trimmed Indian laurels. It is surrounded by cafes, restaurants, and Juárez Theater. It used to be the church's front yard. Today, concerts are held here. It is popular with student musicians performing callejoneadas.

San Diego Church has a Churrigueresque front. Inside, it has 18th-century paintings. The current church was built between 1780 and 1784. The monastery that was destroyed by a flood was never rebuilt. Now, the San Diego Museum is on that site. It shows the city's cultural history.

La Compañía Church

Next to the university is the Templo de la Compañía de Jesús (Temple of the Society of Jesus), also known as "La Compañía." It was built in 1746. It has a front with narrow columns in Churrigueresque style. Its huge, three-level dome was added in the 1800s. Inside, there is a collection of 180 paintings. Some are displayed, and others are in a special art gallery. The main altar and paintings are by Miguel Cabrera.

Plaza de Baratillo is the oldest plaza, dating from 1726. Its name comes from a weekly market that sold cheap goods. In the center is a fountain from Florence, Italy. It used to provide drinking water.

Another important area is the San Roque plaza and church. A stone cross here shows it was once a cemetery. Since the 1950s, this plaza has been used for short plays called Entremeses Cervantinos. These plays led to the Festival Cervantino. San Roque Church is from 1726. It has a simple Baroque front and a collection of colonial paintings.

Other important churches include the 18th-century Temple of Guadalupe and El Pardo Church. San Francisco Church on Sopeña Street faces a plaza of the same name. It has a Baroque front of pink stone. Belén Church was built in the 1700s by the Count of Valenciana. It is across from Hidalgo Market. El Mellado Church was part of La Merced Monastery. Its cloister is in ruins, but the church remains.

Jardín Reforma or Reforma Square was originally a market. It was built in 1861. In 1923, it became a garden with a fountain and trees. Plaza del Quijote honors the 400th anniversary of Don Quixote of La Mancha.

Other Notable Buildings and Museums

Teatro Juárez

The Juárez Theater is across from San Diego Church. It is one of the main venues for the Cervantino Festival. It is considered one of the most beautiful theaters in Mexico. It was built from 1872 to 1903 in a Neoclassical style. Its front has nine sculptures of the Muses from Greek mythology.

The theater's inside is richly decorated. The lobby has columns and garlands. The auditorium has an Arabesque design. The theater was opened in 1903 by President Porfirio Díaz. It is the only theater in Mexico that still has its original furniture.

Next to Juárez Theater, there is a cable car. It goes up to the Pípila Monument on San Miguel Hill. The monument is a giant statue of El Pípila holding a torch. From here, you can see a panoramic view of almost the entire city.

Teatro Principal (Main Theater) was the city's first theater. It was built in a Neoclassical style. It closed often due to social changes. After the Mexican Revolution, it became a movie theater. It later burned down and closed for 30 years. Today, it is rebuilt and run by the University of Guanajuato. It is a main venue for the Cervantino Festival.

Cervantes Theater was originally a movie house. It was turned into a stage theater. It is used for puppet shows, dance, and conferences.

Hidalgo Market

Hidalgo Market was built in 1910. It was opened by President Porfirio Díaz to celebrate Mexico's Centennial of Independence. The roof has a dome with a clock tower. The market's inside is a huge metal structure. It sells local candies like “charamuscas,” shaped like cowboys or mummies. The upper floor has many craft and souvenir shops. The ground floor sells everyday items and food.

Museo del Pueblo de Guanajuato shows the city's best artwork. It has a collection of religious art from the 1600s to 1800s. It also has works by Olga Costa and José Chávez Morado. This includes three murals by Chávez Morado.

Santa Cecilia Castle

Diego Rivera Museum is the house where the famous painter was born. The first floor shows furniture from the late 1800s. The upper floors have a large collection of Rivera's early paintings. It also hosts art workshops and cultural events.

Casa de Gobierno is on Luis González Obregón Street. Benito Juárez made Guanajuato the temporary capital of Mexico here. Next to it is Real Caja de Guanajuato, from 1665. It was where Mexico's first leaders were named after independence.

Museo Iconográfico del Quijote is on Manuel Doblado Street. It opened in 1987 to honor Don Quixote. The museum has many visual artworks of the character. Some are by famous artists like Salvador Dalí.

Casa Museo Gene Byron

Museo de Arte Olga Costa y José Chávez Morado is in the Pastita neighborhood. It is in the former Guadalupe Hacienda. This was the home of the two artists. They donated their home and art collection to the city.

Casa Museo Gene Byron, in Marfil, was the Santa Ana Hacienda. It belonged to Canadian artist Gene Byron. She and her husband moved to Guanajuato in 1958. Today, the grounds are a cultural center. It hosts art exhibitions, plays, and concerts.

Guanajuato Municipality Overview

The city of Guanajuato is the local government for over 373 communities. These communities cover an area of 1,014 square kilometers (392 square miles). The total population of the municipality is 194,500 people. This municipality is in the northeast of the state. It borders other municipalities like San Felipe and Dolores Hidalgo.

Most of the area is covered by the Sierra of Guanajuato mountains. Important peaks include Santa Rosa and Bufa Picacho, near the city. These peaks are about 2,400 meters (7,874 feet) above sea level. The area has many small streams and rivers winding around the steep mountains.

The ecosystems vary. Some areas have low rainforests that lose leaves in the dry season. Others have trees no taller than 15 meters (49 feet), grasslands, and temperate forests. Small mammals like skunks, rabbits, and badgers are common. Coyotes and deer are found in isolated areas. Reptiles like rattlesnakes and lizards also live here.

According to INEGI, only 330 people in the municipality speak Nahuatl, an indigenous language. Most residents are Catholic. A small number follow Protestant or Evangelical Christian faiths.

Less than 50% of the municipality's population works. However, very few of those who work are unemployed. Commerce and services employ the most people. Construction and mining follow. Farming is very limited due to the rough land. But some crops like sorghum and peanuts are grown. Livestock, such as cattle and sheep, are raised on a small scale.

Mining was the reason the city was founded. But today, mineral extraction is minimal. Gold and silver ores are almost gone. Kaolin and lead are still mined. Major mining companies include Las Torres and Santa Fe de Guanajuato.

Today, tourism and commerce are the most important parts of the economy. The city's rich culture, art, and old buildings attract visitors. For people in rural areas, the city is where they buy supplies. This includes food, car parts, and banking services.

Cerro de la Bufa is a hill very close to Guanajuato city. It has many stories. At sunset, a rock formation looks like a bearded man's face. People say it is the face of Christ. There are two caves dedicated to Ignatius of Loyola. Each July 31, people make a pilgrimage to one of the caves.

Cerro de la Bufa also has a legend about an enchanted princess. On feast days, a woman would appear to a man on the mountain road. She would ask him to carry her to the Basilica in the city. If he did, Guanajuato would become rich again. But he would hear scary noises. If he gave up, the woman would turn into a snake and kill him. No one has ever carried the woman to the Basilica.

Cristo Rey del Cubilete

Presa de la Olla is a dam built in the mid-1700s. It supplied the city with drinking water. The area became a popular gathering spot. It hosts the Feast of San Juan every June 24. This event started in colonial times. Today, it lasts for two weeks in June. It includes a beauty contest and dances. The dam is used for water sports. There is also a park called Florencio Antillon Garden nearby.

The Christ the King Monument was built on Cubilete Mountain in 1923. The sculpture is 20 meters (66 feet) tall. It shows Christ with his arms extended. Two angels hold a crown of thorns and a royal crown. The sculpture weighs 250 metric tons (276 short tons). From the plaza, you can see the entire Bajio Valley.

Sister Cities of Guanajuato

Guanajuato City has many sister city agreements. This is a large number for a city of its size in Mexico. The most well-known relationship is with Ashland in the United States. Other sister cities include:

• Puebla, Mexico
• San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
• Zacatecas, Mexico
• Morgantown, West Virginia, United States
• South Bend, Indiana, United States
• Alcalá de Henares, Spain
• Santa Fe, Spain
• San Fernando, Spain
• Toledo, Spain
• Segovia, Spain
• Seville, Spain
• Alcázar de San Juan, Spain
• Spoleto, Italy
• Avignon, France
• Umeå, Sweden
• Dolores Hidalgo, Mexico
• Oaxaca, Mexico
• Mexico City, Mexico
• Morelia, Mexico
• Campeche City, Mexico
• Querétaro City, Mexico
• Tlacotalpan, Mexico
• Acapulco, Mexico
• Tepatitlán de Morelos, Mexico
• Old Havana, Cuba
• Cuenca, Ecuador
• Arequipa, Peru
• Quebec City, Canada
• Valparaíso, Chile
• Salinas, United States

Famous People from Guanajuato

• Alfredo Dugès, a Mexican naturalist.
• Emma Godoy [es], an academic and writer.
• Jorge Ibargüengoitia, a journalist and writer.
• Jorge Negrete, a Mexican singer from the "Golden Age" of Mexican cinema.
• Diego Rivera, a famous Mexican muralist.
• José Alfredo Jiménez, a Mexican singer-songwriter.
• Enrique Ruelas Espinosa [es], a poet, writer, and theater director.
• Agustin Lanuza, a poet and writer.
• Enrique Romero Courtade, a former Regent of the Central Department (Mexico City) and diplomat.

Images for kids

• 

  The city's Spanish colonial past is well evidenced in its splendid architecture.

• 

  Monument to the Pípila, legendary hero of the Mexican War of Independence.

• 

  Guanajuato in the 19th century

See also

In Spanish: Guanajuato (Guanajuato) para niños