Mexico: State
of Guanajuato: Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende (February 2024) 
This page shows photos I took in
February 2024 during a short trip to the city of Guanajuato (the capital of the
state of Guanajuato) and the region of San Miguel de Allende. I visited the
state of Guanajuato several times in the early 2000s, mostly for work. Photos I
took then can be seen in a different webpage (link)
I created several years ago, which also contains photos taken in the states of
Zacatecas, Queretaro, Jalisco, Colima, and Michoacan. On this 2024 trip I also traveled
to the states of Guanajuato and Oaxaca. I put photos of these two trips in
these two sites: jalisco-2024
and oaxaca-2024.
City of Guanajuato
Views over the city:
Guanajuato is an old mining town (silver
and gold) built for the most part in a steep canyon. It is famous for its
colorful houses. These are views over the city from three different locations.
Streets, alleys, and stair passages:
There are few streets reachable by car.
Most houses are accessed by narrow alleys, stairways, or a combination of both.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underground tunnels:
Most of the automobile traffic in the city
occurs in underground tunnels. These tunnels were originally built to divert
the Rio Guanajuato and prevent flooding of the mining town. Since then, they
have been adapted to accommodate automobile traffic.
Mercado Hidalgo:
It is the main traditional market in
town.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[Guacamayas are kinds of
sandwiches filled with crunchy pork rinds (made from pork skin) and avocado.
They are seasoned with spicy pico de gallo and lemon. They are named after the Mayan name for a
macaw.]
Teatro Juarez:
Built in the late 19th century, this
theater is located at the center of the city.
Facade of the theater with its
impressive columns topped by muses of the Greek mythology.
Left: In the evening people gather on the
stairs below the columns, often to listen to music. Right: Musicians rehearsing
for a serenade in front of the theater.
|
|
|
Views of the lavish interior.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Guanajuato:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Templo de la Compania
de Jesus:
|
|
|
Templo de San Diego:
|
|
|
Templo de San Cayetano de Valenciana:
This magnificent church is located high
above the city center near the silver mine of La Valenciana. It houses one of
the most beautiful retables in Mexico.
|
|
|
|
Santa Paula Panteon:
This large cemetery built on a hill
overlooking the city is home to many columbarium walls ornated with colorful
flowers surrounding peaceful courtyards.
San Miguel de Allende and around
On this trip I spent very little time in
San Miguel. In the continuation of a trip I did in December 2022 in the state
of Queretaro (link),
my main goal was to visit Indian (Otomi-Chichimeca)
chapels west and northwest of San Miguel.
San Miguel de Allende:
Calle Aldama, arguably one of the most
beautiful streets in town.
Doors in the old center.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel, built in the
late 19th century. (The picture on the left was taken from Calle Aldama.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mojigangas seen in the street of San Miguel. These
giant puppets made of papier-mache are often used in
celebrations (such as parades and weddings). They symbolize joy and often mimic
iconic figures or existing people.
|
|
|
|
|
Indian chapels west and northwest of San Miguel:
|
|
Finding these
chapels is somewhat difficult. So, I used the services of Jesus Rodriguez, an
independent guide and a native of San Miguel. For a full day Jesus drove me
to the various places, often through bad back roads. At the end of the day,
he also drove me to the Sanctuary of
Atotonilco, not one of the chapels, but still an interesting place in the
area. He speaks excellent English. He can be contacted at romotur@gmail.com. His website is https://romotur.mx/. |
Capilla de Casqueros
de San Miguel Viejo.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[Center: One of the Station of the Cross carved in
the wall surrounding the atrium of the chapel (all the 14 Stations are
similar). Right: Stone calvary outside the atrium of the chapel.]
Capilla del Senor del Hulmidad, in the village of La Cruz del Palmar.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[Murals promoting indigenous culture near the
chapel.]
Calvary de La Cruz del Palmar.
|
|
|
[Note the finely carved stone cross toping the
calvary.]
[View from the calvary toward San Miguel de Allende.
The grove in the forefront hides the remains of an ancient pyramid, where local
people assemble on every May 3rd to pray for a good rainy season. ]
[Cemetery at the base of the hill where the calvary
stands.]
Capilla del Senior San Mateo de Bandita.
|
|
|
Dam de Santa Rosa, near village of
Bandita, built in the 19th century (no longer used).
Chapel near the dam. It is tiny, but
nevertheless illuminated inside.
|
|
|
Capilla del Senior Santiago near the
village of Bandita. Its exterior is plain, but its interior is beautiful.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[Left: Wooden crosses previously owned by dead
people. Now, they symbolize their souls.]
[Stoup at the entrance of the chapel.]
Sanctuary of Atotonilco.
Built in the 18th century, it looks like a fortress. But inside it contains
intricate Mexican Baroque murals painted on the walls and ceilings of the main
nave and a lateral chapel. On each week, it attracts thousands of pilgrims and
other visitors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[Center and right: Lateral chapel.]
One of the many food stands in a street outside
the sanctuary.
