The city of Salvatierra is one of the colonial jewels of Guanajuato and Mexico and this is your complete tourist guide.
1. Where is Salvatierra?
Salvatierra is the head of the Guanajuato municipality of the same name, located in the south of the state, and it was the first conglomerate of Guanajuato that held the title of city. Since colonial times, beautiful houses, churches, squares and bridges have been built in the town, forming an architectural heritage that earned it recognition as Magic Town in 2012. The Guanajuato city closest to Salvatierra is Celaya, from where you only have to travel 40 km. heading south on the Mexico 51 highway. Querétaro is 84 km., Guanajuato 144 km., León 168 km. and Mexico City at 283 km.
2. How did the town originate?
Salvatierra was made up almost exclusively by Spanish families and on April 1, 1644, it reached the rank of city through Viceroy García Sarmiento de Sotomayor, executing an order of King Felipe IV. The first name of the community was San Andrés de Salvatierra. From the second half of the seventeenth century, the Augustinians, Dominicans, Franciscans and Carmelites began to erect churches and convents and the landowners to build the estates that would give prosperity to the city. The Marquis of Salvatierra was founded in 1707 and the Sixth Marquis, Miguel Gerónimo López de Peralta, would first be one of the signatories of the Act of Independence of Mexico and then captain of the Imperial Guard of the first emperor of Mexico, Agustín de Iturbide.
3. What kind of weather awaits me in Salvatierra?
Salvatierra enjoys a temperate climate by virtue of its altitude of almost 1,800 meters above sea level. The average annual temperature in the city is 18.5 ° C. The warmest season begins in April, when the thermometer rises above 20 ° C and increases to around 22 ° C in the months following. Between October and November, the temperature begins to drop until it reaches its coolest levels in December and January, when it moves between 14 and 15 ° C. Occasionally there may be a time of heat, but almost never above 32 ° C While in extreme cold, the temperature can drop to 6 ° C. In Salvatierra 727 mm of rain fall annually and the season with the most rainfall is from June to September.
4. What are the main attractions of Salvatierra?
Salvatierra is a paradise for architecture lovers, both civil and religious. Calle Hidalgo (old Calle Real) and others in the historic center are flanked by beautiful mansions, generally on one floor, with wide doorways that allowed carriages to enter. They were built by wealthy local landowners and merchants from the town's founding until the 20th century. Next to the civil buildings, the temples and former convents stand out, which due to their height, strength and beauty, dominate the architectural landscape of the Magic Town. For nature lovers, El Sabinal Ecopark, located on the bank of the river that crosses the town, offers a space for rest and tranquility.
5. What are the most important religious buildings?
The conventual temple of Carmen, in Churrigueresque baroque style, is considered the most sumptuous in the city. The parish church of Nuestra Señora de la Luz, located in front of the main garden, is dedicated to the patron saint of the city and is in the Baroque style, with two majestic towers. The former convent of the Capuchinas was dedicated to female monastic life and is distinguished by its clean stonework.
The temple of San Francisco is an elegant building that has three altars inside, with the main one dedicated to Saint Bonaventure. Next to the temple is the Museum of Father José Joaquín Pérez Budar, a schismatic priest from Oaxaca who was martyred in 1931 during the Cristero War. The temple of Señor del Socorro venerates a figure of Christ that was surprisingly found carved within the bark of a tree.
6. What stands out in civil architecture?
El Jardín Principal is a large plaza, the largest in Guanajuato, with lush trees and beautiful hedges and lawns, and a hexagonal kiosk in the center. It is the main meeting place in Salvatierra and we recommend you take a walk while you eat a snow or a snack. The property now called the Marquisate of Salvatierra was the immense country house that the Marquises of Salvatierra had in the town. The Municipal Palace, in front of the Main Garden, is a 19th century building built on the site where the Casa del Mayorazgo of the Marquis of Salvatierra was located.
7. Are there other places of interest?
The Portal de la Columna is a 17th-century structure distinguished by its 28 monolithic columns and 33 semicircular arches. It was built by the Discalced Carmelites and its name is not due to its strong columns, but to a niche with a painting of the Lord of the Column that was there and that is now in the sanctuary of Our Lady of Light. The imposing Mercado Hidalgo dates from the Porfiriato and, like many buildings of the time, has a clock. This market has 130 stalls inside and continues to operate. Other civil structures that stand out in Salvatierra and that you cannot miss are the Batanes Bridge, the Fountain of Dogs and the Municipal Historical Archive and Museum of the City.
8. How is the cuisine and crafts of Salvatierra?
Salvatierra artisans make delicate embroidered tablecloths and napkins, as well as frayed and papier-mâché figures. They also skillfully work pottery, turning the clay into beautiful little jars, jugs and other pieces of practical and ornamental use. As for the most typical dishes, in Salvatierra they are fond of tacos al pastor, which have the local name of tacos de trompo. They also enjoy pork carnitas, peanut tamales, wheat gorditas, and puchas made with mezcal.
9. What are the best hotels and restaurants?
In Salvatierra there is a group of hotels, most of them located in colonial houses, comfortable and ideal for getting to know the town on foot. San José (12 rooms) and San Andrés (14) are 2 small lodgings and the guests receive a very close treatment. Ibio (24) and Misión San Pablo (36) are slightly larger, but always within the range of small hotels. Many people who go to Salvatierra stay in Celaya, which is 40 km away. At lunchtime, you can go to La Veranda, which has live music at night; or La Bella Época, a nice Mexican food restaurant. There is also Bistro 84, El Sazón Mexicano and Café El Quijote.
10. What are the main festivals in the city?
The Good Season festival dates back to the ancient times of the town and is celebrated on the second Sunday of November in the neighborhood of San Juan, when the streets are beautifully decorated with garlands, fruits, vegetables and flowers, and the "dawn »A musical competition between wind groups in which people dance until they are exhausted. The patron saint celebrations in honor of Our Lady of Light are in May and the Candelaria fair takes place for 10 days around February 2, with bullfights, jaripeo, war of musical bands, street theater and other attractions. The Marquesada Festival is between the end of September and the beginning of October, with bullfighting, musical and cultural events.
We hope this guide has encouraged you to go meet Salvatierra. We would love to share your impressions, which you can leave us in a short note. Until next time.
