Sights and landmarks in Guanajuato

Sights and landmarks in Guanajuato

1. See

   Alfredo Dugès Natural History Museum

   Museo Alfredo Dugès

   Small but interesting collection of animal and human specimens. Many stuffed animals and some grisly body parts in jars of formaldehyde.

   10ː00 - 18ː30 (until 14ː00 on Tue)

2. See

   Alhóndiga de Granaditas

   Regional Museum of Guanajuato

   This building is where the independence revolutionaries burned the Spanish troops, and now houses a museum devoted to the history of the region, as well as an important photographic library.

   Tue-Sat 10:00-14:00, 16:00-18:00; Sun 10:00-15:00·A fee for adults, free for students/teachers/seniors/children under 13

3. See

   Basilica of Our Lady of Guanajuato

   Basílica Colegiata de Nuestra Señora de Guanajuato

   Built from 1671 to 1696. Inside this church there is a 1000-year-old statue donated by Spanish King Charles I who tried to protect it from the Arab invasion in Spain.

4. See

   Callejon del Beso

   Alley of the Kiss

   Two balconies separated by only 69 centimeters is home of an old love legend. For a few pennies some children will tell you the story.

5. See

   Casa Museo Gene Byron

   From 1962 to 1987 this was the home of Canadian artist Gene Byron.

   Mon-Sat 10:00-15:00, last admission 14:30·M$30, free on Mondays

6. See

   Casa de Tía Aura

   Sort of house of horrors that's sweet in its corniness. Inside this house a woman was buried alive inside the walls. The tour is conducted (appropriately enough) in Spanish and will be difficult to understand for those not fairly fluent, though the sights are self-explanatory and the gasps and screams comprehensible in any language.

   Daily 11:00-18:00·M$35

7. See

   Church of San Cayetano Confesor

   Templo de la Valenciana / Templo de San Cayetano Confesor

   Built from 1765-1788 with funding from the rich silver mines, this is considered to be one of the best examples of Mexican Churrigueresque architecture. Particularly noteworthy are the finely-carved, elaborate altars covered in gold leaf.

   Tue-Sun 06:30-18:00

8. See

   Church of San Diego

   Iglesia de San Diego

   This is the only surviving building from the original 17th-century convent, with a splendid rococo exterior.

   Daily 08:00-20:00

9. See

   Don Quixote Iconographic Museum

   Museo Iconografico del Quijote

   Small, but very well done. Art exhibits focused on Don Quixote.

   Tue-Sat 09:30-18:45, Sun 12:00-18:45·M$30, free on Tuesdays

10. See

    El Pípila

    A 28-m-tall statue of an independence hero. Juan Jose Martinez, or also known as El Pípila, was a legendary hero who wore a stone slab on his back to protect himself while burning the Spanish troops holed up in the Alhóndiga, or granary, in September 1810. The view is beautiful, particularly at night.

    Free

11. See

    Escuela Normal Superior Oficial de Guanajuato

    Teacher's school. The building also houses an English language lending library open Tuesday and Thursday.

    Mon-Sat 08ː00 - 21ː00 (closed Sun)

12. See

    Ex-convent Museum Dieguino

    Museo Dieguino

    The underground excavated remains of the original 17th-century cloister, of which the Templo de San Diego is the surviving remnant today. Occasionally photography and art exhibits are also hosted in this space.

    Tue-Sat 10:00-18:30, Sun 10:00-14:30

13. See

    House of Legends

    Casa de las Leyendas

    Exhibits about local myths, legends, and folklore with stories behind local oddities, like the infamous mummies, as told through animotronics.

    Daily 11:00-18:00

14. See

    Jardín de la Unión

    This space was built as the atrium for a 17th-century convent, of which the Templo de San Diego is the sole surviving building. It now functions as the central plaza, and always has a lot of things going on, day and night. There are a number of restaurants surrounding the garden, and in the afternoons and evening there free concerts are often given from the central gazebo.

15. See

    Mina de Valenciana

    The richest mine in Guanajuato still in operation today. It supplied enough silver to sponsor the Spanish Empire and its colonies.

16. See

    Mineralogy Museum Eduardo Villaseñor Söhl

    Museo de Mineralogía Eduardo Villaseñor Söhle

    One of the richest collection of minerals in the world. Ex-hacienda de San Matias.

17. See

    Museo Casa Diego Rivera

    The birthplace of Diego Rivera, a well-preserved traditional Mexican residence. Be sure to check out the collections of his simple, socialist-inspired works.

    Tue-Sat 10:00-19:00, Sun 10:00-15:00·M$25 (adults), M$10 (students)

18. See

    Museo Casa del Purgatorio

    Small museum about the Spanish Inquisition, displays feature a number of macabre torture devices.

    M$35

19. See

    Museum of the Holy Inquisition

    Hacienda del Cochero Galeras de la Inquisición

    Features dungeons and torture instruments. Tour guides are required;;they dress as monks.

    Daily 10:00-19:00·M$50, M$20 children

20. See

    Museum of the Mummies

    Museo de las Momias

    A must if you're in Guanajuato. In 1910, due to the overcrowding of the local graveyard, the authorities were forced to exhume several bodies and when they did that they found the bodies had turned into mummies rather than fully decomposing. After that they founded this really strange and unique museum.

    Mon-Thu 09:00-18:00, Fri-Sun 09:00-18:30·M$85 (adults)

21. See

    Museum of the Town of Guanajuato

    Museo del Pueblo de Guanajuato

    Three floor museum with many historical artifacts and artworks about the city of Guanajuato.

    Tue-Sat 10:00-19:00, Sun 10:00-15:00·M$25 (adults), M$10 (students)

22. See

    Palacio Legislativo

    Congreso del Estado de Guanajuato

    It was built as the city hall in 1903 and inaugurated by President Porfirio Díaz.

23. See

    Plaza de la Paz

    Beautiful town square in front of the Basilica. Cafes in the area, good people watching spot.

24. See

    Plaza del Baratillo

    Small, secluded, colorful plaza around a central fountain with narrow callejons leading off it.

25. See

    Presa de la Olla

    Dam of La Olla

    Built in 1749 to supply fresh water to the town. In this place you can rent a little boat. There's also a park and a great statue of Miguel Hidalgo casted in Italy also inaugurated by President Porfirio Díaz in the early 1900s. This area is very tranquil and quiet to have a break.

26. See

    Teatro Juárez

    The architecture of this theater is part Neoclassical and part Moorish, making it a really beautiful building. Inaugurated in 1903 by President Porfirio Díaz.

27. See

    Teatro Principal

    An 18th-century neoclassical theatre that used to host vaudville-style comedies. Used as a cinema in the early 20th century, renovated and reinaugurated in 1955. Now operated by the University of Guanajuato and used as a venue for dance performances and for the Festival Cervantino.

28. See

    Templo de San Roque

    Built in 1726, this was a Jesuit school in the latter half of the 18th century.

    Opening hrs vary

29. See

    Universidad de Guanajuato

    There is a 3-4 story series of steps that lead up to an auditorium, offering good views over the colonial city.

30. See

    Church of the Company of Jesus

    Templo de la Compañía de Jesús / Oratorio San Felipe Neri

    Built between 1747 and 1765.

    Daily 08:00-20:00

31. See

    Marian Gallery Collegiate Basilica of Our Lady of Guanajuato

    Galeria Mariana

    Ponciano Aguilar 7

32. See

    Mina de Cata

    Cata Mine

    >

33. See

    Mina de San Juan de Rayas

    The first mine of Guanajuato, discovered in 1550.

34. See

    Mina el Nopal

    Panorámica San Javier s/n, San Javier

35. See

    Plaza de San Fernando

    Lively town square with sidewalk cafes and bars.

36. See

    Saint Francis of Assisi Church

    Templo de San Francisco

    A former Franciscan convent, built between 1792-1828.

    Daily 07:00-20:30

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Guanajuato (CC BY-SA 4.0).