Nestled in the desert area of Gran Tunal, south of Zacatecas, the town of Pinos awaits you with its mining past, its former estates and its beautiful gardens and buildings. Here we present the complete guide to the Magic Town Zacateco for you to fully enjoy.
1. Where is Pinos and how do I get there?
Pinos is a town located in the center of the southeastern boot of the state of Zacatecas, at almost 2,500 meters above sea level. It is the head of the municipality of the same name, which is bordering the states of Jalisco, Guanajuato and San Luis Potosí. The Zacatecan people were part of the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, which is a Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and due to its history, mining past and architectural heritage, it was included in the system of Magical Towns of Máxico. To go from the city of Zacatecas to Pinos you have to travel 145 km. heading southeast towards San Luis Potosí. Other cities near Pinos are the capital of Potosí, which is 103 km away, León and Guanajuato (160 and 202 km away) and Guadalajara (312 km away). Mexico City is located 531 km. of the Magic Town.
2. What are your main historical references to Pinos?
The Spanish did not want to save words with the name they decided to give the town when they founded it in 1594: Real de Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción de Cuzco and Discovery of Mines that they call Sierra de Pinos. The allusion to the pines is due to the coniferous tree, whose forests were decimated to provide the energy required in the smelting of gold and silver. Pinos was an important station on the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, the trade route of almost 2,600 km. that linked Mexico City with Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States. The municipality of Pinos was created in 1824.
3. How is the climate of Pinos?
In the middle of the desert and at an altitude of 2,460 meters above sea level, Pinos enjoys a cool and dry climate. It only rains 480 mm a year, concentrated between June and September. Between November and March the rains in Pinos are strange phenomena. The annual average temperature is 15.3 ° C; without extreme variations between seasons. In the warmest months, which are May and June, the thermometers average 19 ° C, while in the coldest period, from December to January, they drop to 12 ° C. The extremes of heat are normally around 28 ° C, while in frost, the thermometers approach 3 ° C.
4. What is there to see in Pinos?
As a station on the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro and thanks to the wealth of its mines, in the town of Pinos houses and religious buildings were built in its historic center, which today are attractive to visitors. Among these buildings, the former convent of San Francisco, the Church of San Matías and the Capilla de Tlaxcalilla stand out. This chapel, located where the Tlaxcala neighborhood used to be, is distinguished by its Churrigueresque altarpiece and its viceroyalty oils. The Community Museum and the Museum of Sacred Art keep valuable pieces of the prehistory and history of Pinos and in the former haciendas of the town there are vestiges of the mining period and other interesting things, such as a traditional mezcal factory.
5. What is the historic center like?
When you arrive in Pinos you will be pleasantly surprised by its cozy historic center. In front of the Plaza de Armas are two religious buildings: the Parroquia de San Matías and the temple and former convent of San Francisco. Our Father Jesus is venerated in the San Francisco temple, one of the most revered images in the municipality of Pinos. In the courtyard of the convent, do not miss seeing some paintings that were made in the seventeenth century by indigenous artists on the arches and columns. These frescoes were recently restored, using the same pigments that were used 300 years ago. Stop in the Garden of Flowers to admire the Porfirian portals.
6. What can I see in museums?
In the IV Centenario Community Museum you can learn about Pinos since prehistoric times, as it houses some fossils and archaeological samples from the times when the settlement began in pre-Hispanic times. You can also admire pieces of art, learn about documents and see photographs that will take you back to the legendary past of the Pueblo Mágico. In the Museum of Sacred Art, located next to the unfinished temple of San Matías, you will find a collection of 17th century paintings by artists Miguel Cabrera, Gabriel de Ovalle and Francisco Martínez. This museum also keeps a unique sacred piece, the Christ of the Floating Heart, a wooden carving inlaid with human bones and a hole through which a heart that seems to float can be seen.
7. What are the main former haciendas?
Near the town of Pinos is the former farm La Pendencia, an important producer of mezcal that manufactures the drink on a 17th century farm that was previously dedicated to agricultural production. Taking the tour you will get to know the preparation of mezcal in the traditional way, seeing how the agave pineapples are introduced into the stone ovens to be cooked and then crushed by the old bakeries. Of course, you can't stop tasting the house liquor and buying a bottle or two to go. Traces of Pinos' mining past are still preserved in some estates in the La Cuadrilla neighborhood, such as La Candelaria, La Purísima and San Ramón.
8. How is the crafts and gastronomy of Pinos?
In Pinos there is an old tradition of working with clay and the town potters continue to make pieces for practical use at home and in the garden or as decorative elements. Among these are the well-known jarritos de Pinos, as well as pots, flowerpots and many other pieces. In terms of culinary art, the inhabitants of Pinos are very fond of oven gorditas and some local cooks have already achieved fame outside the town for the texture and flavor they convey to this Mexican delicacy. They also have the well-known tuna cheese, a sweet with a misleading name that does not contain milk, but rather prickly pear juice. Pinos is a mezcal town and the traditional drink is made in several local farms.
9. What are the most recommended hotels and restaurants?
In Pinos there are some simple lodgings in which you will feel comfortable to settle in and go out to know the Magic Town. The most recommended are Mesón del Conde, Don Julián, Posada San Francisco and Real Santa Cecilia, all a few blocks from the Main Square. To eat, in Pinos you have the El Naranjo Restaurant, which serves regular food; Colonial Corner, with traditional food; and Mariscos Lizbeth. A good place to taste local food is the Municipal Market.
10. What are the main parties?
During the second fortnight of February the Regional Fair is held, in honor of the town's patron saint, San Matías. There are bullfights, cockfights, horse races, musical concerts and traditional wind music, fireworks, cultural events and sports competitions. The Lantern Festival, which is celebrated on December 8, was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of the state of Zacatecas. This festival in honor of the Immaculate Conception takes place in the Tlaxcala neighborhood and the streets are illuminated with colored lanterns, which provide a spectacular setting for the pilgrimages and other activities.
Ready to pack your duffel and go meet Pinos? Send us a short note about what you liked the most. Any comments on this guide are also very welcome. See you soon.
