Northern Mexico
State: Zacatecas > Zacatecas (Capital City)
Location: Zacatecas State, north
central Mexico
Distance from Mexico City: 392 miles north
Population: 300,000
Closest major airport: Leobardo C. Ruiz Intl. aka
Zacatecas Intl. (ZCL)
Time Zone: Central Standard Time
Zacatecas is one of Mexico’s three main colonial
cities. It currently has 300,000 inhabitants and is located in the
northern part of Mexico, 8,200 feet above sea level, between the
beautiful hills of El Cerro and La Bufa. Following the discovery
of silver deposits, the city of Zacatecas was founded and soon declared
a World Heritage site, with stunning religious and civil buildings
built by the church.
Zacatecas is a place where centuries of history
meet modern-day elegance. It offers everything from fascinating
museums and cobblestone streets to villages where traditional silversmiths
still live and work. The mine located at Cerro del Grillo is a great
place to visit for a historic introduction to the city’s former
silver industry. It features a gallery with guided tours showcasing
how miners worked during the Colonial era and how techniques kept
changing until the mine shutdown in 1964. At night, the mine serves
as one of the cities most popular state-of-the-art discotheques.
The city’s splendid architecture alone is
worth a visit. The Cathedral with its pink stone facade, as well
as the former convent of San Francisco and the baroque church of
Santo Domingo are some of the most architecturally stunning buildings
in the region. Renowned museums also surround the city, including
the Rafael Coronel, the Viceregal Museum of Guadalupe, exhibiting
sculptures and paintings from the Greek and Picasso eras, and the
Zacatecas museum, featuring masks from every region.
Given its devout history, Zacatecas also has a profoundly
religious nature, traditionally expressed during Holy Week in a
massive procession with candles that ends in the Cathedrals. Today,
the high-spirited and folkloric celebration has grown to a series
of popular and artistic cultural activities held in its gardens,
theaters, museums and even in former bullrings, where paintings
are auctioned.
Other activities unique to Zacatecas range from
visiting archaeological sites like La Quemada, discovered in 300
AD, to shopping for traditional Zacatecas handicrafts like silver
and leatherwork. Participating in its vibrant celebrations and tasting
its eccentric cuisine are also local favorites. The customary Zacatecas
menu includes anything from asado de boda and chiles rellenos to
enchiladas and the famous molcajate. Several places throughout the
city, like El Malacate, Casa de Sueños and Cactus are perfect
for drinks, dancing or listening to music.
The Zacatecas culture thrives on Mexican cowboys,
silver pieces and leatherwork and is home to some of the most important
museums in the country, a perfect destination for travelers interested
in exploring a genuine colonial jewel.
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