Guanajuato

Capital - Other Cities and Attractions - Festivals

Location: central area of Mexico
Area: 30:596 km 2
Population: 4:663,032 inhabitants

Guanajuato is located in the heart of the so called Bajio (low land) which is in the heart of the Altiplano, the plateau between the Sierra Madre Occidental to the west and the Sierra Madre Oriental to the east. The name, Guanajuato, comes from Qanax'uato, a Tarascan Indian phrase meaning "place of the frogs."

Considered by many to be most beautiful colonial state in the Americas, owes its fame and fortune to rich veins of silver and gold discovered by the Spanish many years ago. During prehispanic times, the region was originally inhabited by the nomadic Chichimeca tribe. The first incursions by the Spanish occurred in 1541 and the territory was formally founded in 1570.

By 1741 King Phillip V of Spain had officially designated Guanajuato a city. During the tenure of President Benito Juarez, the city was provitional capital of the country. In 1903 President General Porfirio Diaz, inaugurated the Legislative Palace, the Juarez Theater, The Peace Monument, Hidalgo Monument and the Esperanza Reservoir.

In 1945 the state college became the University of Guanajuato, Mexico's foremost public university. In 1953, University theater groups began to perform Cervantes plays which, in 1972 led to the creation of Latin America's premier arts festival, the International Cervantes Festival.

The city's indescribable mystery and beauty have the power to enchant any visitor with tales of other times. The hotels and restaurants of Guanajuato are comfortable and modern, always trying to provide all the conveniences of home.