Guanajuato is a wonderful colonial city located in the geographic center of Mexico, about three and half-hours from Mexico City and is the capital of the state of the same name.
Guanajuato was founded in 1554 and received the designation as a city in 1741 and is well known for its wealth of fine colonial era Spanish architecture.
Although nestled in the Veeder mountains, over 2,000 meters (6,562 ft) above sea level, Guanajuato is easily accessible on foot. Buildings of various colors climb the side of the mountains surrounding the city center. It is a UNESCO world heritage site and city planners must follow strict guidelines when building and rehabilitating buildings in order to maintain their colonial integrity.
The name "Guanajuato" comes from the Tarascan (P'urhépecha) word, "Quanax-juato", which means "place of frogs".
"The city was originally built over the Guanajuato River, which flowed through tunnels underneath the city. However, after years of raising buildings to accommodate repeated flooding, in the mid-twentieth century, engineers built a dam and redirected the river into underground caverns. The tunnels were lit and paved with cobblestones for automobile traffic, and this underground road network carries the majority of cars driving through the city today. It is one of the most noticeable features of the city.
After central Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico coast, Guanajuato was one of the first areas of Mexico colonized by the Spanish, in the 1520s, for its rich silver deposits. Guanajuato's colonial architecture is very well preserved along with over 35 old churches in its capital alone, and is very European in nature." Source: en.wikipedia.org
Suggested Books, Guides and Maps at Amazon.com:
Colonial Mexico 2 Ed: A Guide to Historic Districts and Towns
Guanajuato State & Guanajuato City Map
Guanajuato State Map by Guia Roji
Guanajuato, Mexico: Your Expat, Study Abroad, and Vacation Survival Manual in the Land of Frogs
The Plain Truth about Living in Mexico: The Expatriate's Guide to Moving, Retiring, or just hanging out
Mummies of Guanajuato
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