Guanajuato

Guanajuato is a small, colourful mountain capital in central Mexico and the seat of the state that shares its name. Built across a narrow valley and along hillsides, it is famous for its colonial architecture, winding alleyways, underground road tunnels and long silver-mining heritage.

Founded as a silver-mining settlement in the 1540s, Guanajuato became one of the world's richest mining centres during the 18th century. Its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with landmarks such as the Juárez Theatre, the Alhóndiga de Granaditas, the Basilica of Our Lady of Guanajuato and the baroque La Valenciana church.

Much of the city's life is concentrated around the Jardín de la Unión, Plaza de la Paz and the pedestrian-friendly historic centre, while steep lanes such as the Callejón del Beso add to its distinctive character. Visitors explore the Diego Rivera House Museum, the unusual Mummies of Guanajuato collection, the Mercado Hidalgo and the Pipila monument overlooking the city.

Guanajuato is closely linked to the University of Guanajuato and to the Cervantino International Festival, one of Latin America's major arts festivals. Silver, leather and tourism are important to the local economy, and the city's cafés, cantinas and regional dishes such as enchiladas mineras reflect its mining-town roots.

For leisure travellers it offers history, culture and a lively festival calendar, while business visitors come for government, education, mining and creative industries. Its compact historic core is easy to explore on foot, with nearby cities such as León and San Miguel de Allende within reach.