Colonial Silver Cities
Mexico’s Colonial Silver Cities are home to some of the best-preserved architecture from the time period and some of the best places to find beautiful works of authentic Mexican art to view and purchase. There are also a number of lesser-known but significant historical sites in the area, from Diego Rivera’s birthplace and the museum of Don Quixote in Guanajuato to the Government Palace and the state art cooperative in Queretaro. In all of the Silver Cities, but in Guanajuato (a UNESCO World Heritage City) in particular, you’ll be amazed at how the rich tapestry of modern Mexican life has woven its way in and through the magnificent remnants of the former wealth of the Spanish silver industry. This area benefited from the monumental wealth of the jewel and precious metal trades, resulting in towering colonial establishments with ornate European architecture. Visitors can even tour some of the mining sites, such as the Mina Ojuela. Also left behind in the wake of the silver industry are a number of ghost towns, like Pozos and Real de Catorce, which have a unique atmosphere all their own, and other areas dedicated to supporting the mining industry in different ways – Leon, for instance, is the best place in Central Mexico to go for traditional leather works, a link to the town’s past role as the center of the ranching region that supplied the Silver Cities with their meat.
Top Destinations in Colonial Silver Cities
