Guanajuato’s Magical Towns
Dolores Hidalgo
It was incorporated into the Magical Towns program in 2002 and is a historical heritage and cradle of independence.
Dolores Hidalgo has local cuisine, on your visit to this magical town don’t forget to try the chiles de chorro or the mole of the region and for dessert the ice cream with flavors of cheese, nopal, beer, avocado, and tequila, you can also find souvenirs in the beautiful local handicrafts of majolica pottery and pottery, particularly the talavera pottery.
We list some of the attractions that are a must-stop in this magical town.
Attractions:
- Abasolo House
- José Alfredo Jiménez House-Museum
- 3.Visitor’s House
- 4.El Llanito
- Los Arcangeles Vineyard
- Cuna de tierra vineyard
- San Bernardino Vineyard
- Three Roots Vineyard
- Hacienda del Rincón
- Independencia Garden
- Bicentennial Museum
- Hidalgo House Museum
- Independence Museum
- Wine Museum
- Main Square
- Nuestra Señora de los Dolores Parish Church
- Sanctuary of Atotonilco
- Theater of the town
You can enjoy the tourist streetcar and visit some of the places listed.
Mineral de Pozos
This town, better known as a ghost town for being abandoned twice since its foundation, was named Pueblo Magico in 2012. It is an ideal scenery for long walks and photography lovers as it offers beautiful views of the old houses, squares, and alleys.
On your visit to Mineral de Pozos don’t forget to drink colonche, the fermented fruit of a red prickly pear cactus; try escamoles, the delicious ant larvae; and, in season, the tasty maguey worms.
These are some of the attractions you should visit upon your arrival in Mineral de Pozos:
- Artisans of El Venado Azul
- Bicycle among ruins
- Chapel of San Antonio de Padua
- Model School
- Gallery 6
- Jesuit Ovens
- Santa Cruz Church
- Arroyo Seco Botanical Garden
- The Station
- Five Lords Mine
- Tourist Parador
- Ecotourism Park El Peral
- Lavender Ranch
- Beer SPA
Jalpa de Canovas
This Magical Town is part of the Business, Adventure, Haciendas del Bajío, and Cristera Tourist Routes and is also known as “The granary of Mexico” for its fertile lands being one of the main food producers.
On your visit to this charming place do not forget to eat caldo de zorra, enchiladas de cecina, or mole de nuez and for souvenirs look for preserves and jams, polychrome masks, liquors, and wines, they will be an excellent souvenir of your visit to Jalpa de Canovas.
Places you must visit:
- Tour the vineyards of Bodega el Lobo and taste their wines named after some operas.
- Go to Presa Nueva or Presa Santa Efigenia and go kayaking or boating.
- Stay at Hacienda Cañada de Negros and visit the church on one side, dedicated to the Virgen de la Luz.
Yuriria
It has been in the Magical Towns program since 2012.
Yuriria means “Lake of blood” and is of Purepecha origin; it was so named due to the attractive colors of its waters, which with the reflection of the sun form greenish, reddish, and even scarlet tones, similar to blood.
On your visit to Yuriria don’t forget to try the baked fruit bread, chimichangas, or enchiladas mineras, and the atole chickpea, tamarind, or guava that is very well known in this magical town.
Attractions:
- Temple and Former Augustinian Convent of San Pablo: This monumental building, erected in 1550 and finished in 1599, was founded by the Augustinians with the mission of evangelizing the region where Michoacán is located today.
- Yuriria Lagoon: It was the first hydraulic work of magnitude in Latin America. It was formed in the lower part of the basin surrounded by volcanic elevations.
- Convent of San Pedro and San Pablo”.
- Olivero Garcia’s Workshop
- Temple of the Señor de la Luz
- Temple of the Preciosa Sangre de Cristo
Salvatierra
Salvatierra is located in the Huatzindeo Valley, a name of indigenous etymology that means “place of beautiful vegetation”. Known for having been declared the First City of Guanajuato in 1644, Salvatierra is a place that treasures beautiful examples of religious and civil architecture.
It has an excellent architectural heritage with colonial and Porfirian mansions that you cannot miss, so if you are an architecture lover you must visit these temples and sanctuaries in Salvatierra:
- El Templo y Convento del Carmen was built by the prominent architect Fray Andrés de San Miguel.
- El Templo y Convento de las Capuchinas was completed in the 19th century and its former cemetery is today the Plaza Amado Nervo.
- El Santuario Diocesano de Nuestra Señora de la Luz is home to a pilgrim virgin made of corn cane paste.
- El Templo y Convento de San Francisco is from the 18th century and its cloister was restored after the Cristero War.
On your visit to this magical town buy wafers, churros, and eggnog from the Capuchin nuns who still live cloistered.
Tourist attractions
- Bridge of batanes
- Hidalgo Market
- Temple and convent of Capuchinas
Temple and convent of El Carmen
Comonfort
This is one of the recently named magical towns that is distinguished by the preservation of the Otomí gastronomy along with its handicrafts and the dance of the Chichimecas Guamares.
On your visit to Comonfort you can’t forget to bring souvenirs and what is better than its handicrafts, among them are clay comales, ceramic pieces, reeds and molcajetes made of volcanic stone.
One of the not-to-be-missed activities in this magical town is to try the ceremonial tortillas that are stamped with mesquite wood stamps and inked with muscle, which is a purple-colored plant.
Here we list the places you should not miss during your visit.
- Molcajete workshop
- Textile village of Soria
- Parroquia de San Francisco de Asis
- Hill of the Remedios
- Hidalgo market
