Guanajuato Mines: A UNESCO-Approved Treasure

The City of Guanajuato, named after the state it resides in, is definitely one of the more overlooked attractions that Mexico has to offer. Located in Central Mexico, tucked away in the mountains it appears to have survived the passage of time and lives on as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its splendid colonial architecture makes even walking through the city a pleasant experience - but of course, this city has a lot more to offer than what can only be admired with the eyes. It has a wide variety of activities that can be enjoyed by everyone - but this article will focus exclusively on the historical mines that surround the city.

Historical Guanajuatan Mines: An Overview
A charming city founded in the days of Spanish colonialism in the Americas, Guanajuato was one of the richest cities in the Spanish Americas by the end of the 17th century. Silver made the city rich in monetary wealth during those times, and it continues to be a rich source of knowledge until today. These silver mines survive mostly intact and are available for touring. Unlike the mines one would expect to find today, these mines are not simply holes in the ground - they are villages. At each of the mine sites, you can expect to find a conglomeration of buildings much like you'd expect at a historical Southern Plantation in the United States: The owner's mansion, the worker's housing, and the stores that served them - Small villages built around the mine. The mines themselves are complex engineering feats of their day - and make for interesting promenades. They are deep and long, cool and damp (but not sticky-moist) and wind through the subterranean. Mines south of the city include Mina Calderones, El Cedro y El Cubo. However, most of the mines are located north of the city: Peregrina , La Luz, Santa Ana, Valenciana, Tepeyac, La Cata, Rayas-Mellado, La Garrapata, Sirena, San Nicolás, Peñafiel, El Nopal and Villalpando among many others - out of which Rayas-Mellado, La Cata, Valenciana and El Nopal are the most impressive and worthy of further detail.

Rayas-Mellado Mine:
The Rayas Mellado Mine, named after Juan Rayas who discovered them in the 1550, was the first mine in Guanajuato. Fourteen-hundred feet long, it is considered one of the longest mines in the world. This mine is located on a highway that runs a scenic path through the mountains. This mine was a rich source of silver, gold, copper and precious gems. Because of this value, this mine was highly protected and from afar, has the appearance of a medieval fort.

Cata Mine:
First exploited in 1558, the La Cata mine has been active in 1558 and has passed several owners - from the Spanish Marquis of Saint Clement. During the first half of the century, the mine was exploited by two British companies and as of the 50s, it is ran by the Santa Fe de Guanajuato Corp. The Cata Mine has, in addition to the main attraction of the actual shaft, a very decorative plaza at its surrounding. On site is the Villaseca Temple, a sanctuary that is frequently defined as a magnificent example of Mexican Baroque architecture.

Valenciana Mine:
The richest mine in the city, the Valenciana mine is still in operation. At the end of the 18th century and near the beginning of the 19th, this mine produced two thirds of all the silver Guanajuato exported, mainly to Spain and Asia. The silver from the Valenciana Mine helped maintain the Spanish Empire and its control of its colonies. The first mines in the region were discovered in 1557 by Diego de Valenciano. A year later, the legendary Mother Vein was discovered, however it was not until 1760 that the mine begun exploitation. As of the end of this century, the mine is 450 meters deep (about 1400 feet) and employs over 10,000 people. The 'general stretch' of the mine, that is open to tourism, still has remains of scarce precious minerals visible at the surface - that are not economically feasible to extract, and it makes an interesting photo shoot. The Valenciana Mine is also surrounded by a beautiful plaza and many tourist gift shops for interesting hand-crafted mementos.

Overall, the mines are an interesting experience. Any traveler on his way to other destinations down the country should consider making a stop at least one of these. Of course, Guanajuato in itself is fully worthy of being a destination in and of itself with something for everyone: Museums for the intellectual, nightclubs for the partier, quality activities for the family and cultural festivals for the adventurer. Entire sites are devoted to travel in Guanajuato, so it goes without saying that one article cannot cover them all, but be sure to visit the sites if you are interested (they are listed as resources on the right).

Javier JR De La Rosa "Guanajuato Mines: A UNESCO-Approved Treasure"
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