Taxco is one of Mexico’s most beautifully-preserved colonial
cities in addition to being the center of the country’s silver
industry. The city’s whitewashed buildings with red tile roofs
are nestled across a hillside with narrow cobblestone streets, cozy
plazas and a cosmopolitan atmosphere despite its small size. Taxco
is two hours by car from Mexico City, reached via a pleasant road
featuring spectacular mountains and fields.
The discovery of rich silver mines brought fortune seekers and
great wealth to Taxco. Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes discovered
Taxco as he and his men combed Mexico in search of silver. However,
despite the wealth of silver, its riches were not fully exploited
until two centuries later with the arrival of Joseph de la Borda,
a Frenchman of Spanish descent.
Taxco’s colorful main plaza – Borda Plaza – is
the hub for day and night activities and features the Santa Prisca
Church with its pink façade and filigree spires, beautiful
silver shops and top-floor restaurants with flower-decked balconies
overlooking the action below. Smaller squares surrounding the Plaza
de Borda are also worth a visit for their magnificent colonial buildings
and ambiance.
Several museums and antique buildings adorn the area. The Spratling
Museum, for example, exhibits an interesting collection of prehispanic
archaeological relics found in the region, while the beautiful 17th-century
Casa Humboldt houses the Museum of Viceregal Art, displaying liturgical
objects from Santa Prisca. Casa Humboldt formerly served as a hospital,
the city’s first movie theater and as a fine hotel before
becoming a museum.
For a safari-type expedition, Zoofari, located 30 minutes north
of the city, offers the opportunity to experience close encounters
with elephants, zebras, elks, llamas, ostriches and other free-roaming
animals. Nearby are the Cacahuamilpa Caverns with their impressive
stalactite and stalagmite formations.
Shopping in Taxco is focused on silver objects. Shops in Plaza
Borda and along the main highway offer retail, wholesale and custom-made
items. Pineda´s Taxco and Sebastian, located in the main plaza;
and Elena de los Ballesteros, located near Pineda´s, are some
of the best shops in the area.
Several restaurants in the main plaza offer both local and regional
specialties and are a great option for a pleasant evening. Paco,
for example, is a wonderful restaurant with a great ambiance, perfect
for good food, a drink and people-watching. La Hacienda and Pozoleria
Tia Calle are also great options for both lunch and dinner.
