Virtuoso Insights - February/March 2009 - (Page 28) Guanajuato was once Mexico’s richest gold and silver mining center; today, its elegant houses and plazas stand as the legacy of the wealth produced here, and also as a testament to the artistic and architectural heights of the Spanish empire. In Valenciana, a short drive into the hills above the city, you can venture down a former silver mine and visit the majestic church of the same name. Numerous stores nearby and in the city center sell fine silverware, the perfect souvenir from the most beautiful of Mexico’s “silver cities.” For more insight into the past, visit the Alhóndiga de Granaditas (Mendizábal 6). This former grain warehouse turned prison was the scene of a fierce battle that began the country’s emancipation from Colonial rule, and now houses a museum of the region’s history. On an adjacent street lies the house where painter Diego Rivera was born in 1886 (Positos 47) with several rooms displaying his works, yet another link to the city’s — and the country’s — artistry that has garnered worldwide fame. Doing iT ViSiTing San Miguel and guanajuaTo See Join local experts SAT Mexico on a priceless Colonial Treasures tour, taking in the best of San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato, along with a number of other prized gems in the nation’s crown. Visit Morelia, with its elegant arcades; the picturesque lakeside town of Pátzcuaro; Guadalajara, home of mariachi musicians and tequila; the 16th-century convent town of Tepotzotlán; bustling Mexico City; and beyond. Nine-day tour includes accommodations; private transportation; entrance fees; Englishspeaking guides; and more. Valid until November 30, 2009. From $3,641 per person (based on groups of four or five). Clockwise from left: Mexican masterpiece: San Miguel’s warm and richly colored canvas; an elegant courtyard at Casa de Sierra Nevada; and the hotel’s soothing oasis lights up the night. STay Located in the heart of historic San Miguel de Allende and former residence of the town’s archbishop, the intimate Casa de Sierra Nevada offers the ideal base from which to explore both towns. Stroll through plant-filled courtyards and al fresco corridors; learn to cook with masters of Mexican cuisine at the hotel’s renowned cooking school, Sazón; and take advantage of guided excursions that include Home & Garden tours in San Miguel and delightful day trips to Guanajuato. Enjoy a room upgrade on arrival, if available; full breakfast daily; late checkout, if available; and a special Sierra Nevada snack served with two margaritas. From MXN2,680 (approx. US$205) per room, per night. 28 Virtuoso insights
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.