The history of Mexico is full of vibrant episodes along its history; beginning with the first indigenous settlers arriving from the north of the continent, continuing with the Colonial period started by the arrival and occupation of the lands that are now part of Mexico by the Spaniard soldiers and missionaries. And stretching until our modern days with all its contradictions and beauties; but with its people always maintaining the peculiar identity that has identified them through the centuries.

Among the many Mexican cities that are vivid testimonies of periods of this history, there is one that has, along with history, a very particular charm and identity.

This city is called Guanajuato and is situated 400 km north of Mexico City, near the geographical center of the Republic. It has a pretty mild climate with a spring-like weather during most of the year.

Guanajuato is not a big city and its origins go back to the settling of the first Spaniard explorers in the XVI century, who found and exploded the huge richness of the hills that surround this peculiar town. This richness of silver and gold of its mines was of such importance to the Spanish Crown that the city was given the title of “Real de Minas” and its fame, along with its gold, traveled all over the world.

The strange topography of the city is one of the main sources of its peculiarities. All of the houses and buildings were built on the skirts of hills and together form a conglomerate that reminds you of a “cubist” painting by Picasso, with all those square houses in different levels, as in an artist canvas, and a maze of alleys barely separating each house from the other.

Guanajuato was not only witness of great richness but also was one of the starting spots of the Insurgent revolution leading to the independence of the country. The first major battle of this struggle for freedom against the Spanish Crown took place in this city, more specifically at the building known has the “Alhondiga de Granaditas”. This is a huge building that used to be a corn and wheat depot and that, considering the situation of the insurrection, was used by the Spaniards and their alleys has a refuge during the battle. At the end Insurgents conquered the “Alhondiga” thanks to the local hero known as “El Pipila”, who burned the main entrance door protecting himself from the bullets fired from above with a stone plate laced to his back.

This along with other vibrant episodes of Mexican history have made of Guanajuato an important historical place to visit by many people around the world, that now can enjoy the tourist vocation of the city with its many hotels and amenities.

Omar Ferro; freelance travel writer and explorer of world’s interesting and beautiful places. Want to learn more about Guanajuato? You can visit: http://takeoff.to/Guanajuato-Mexico