Zacatecas

The elegant, colonial city of Zacatecas is set on Mexico's high, dry, central plateau which is splattered with cacti. This diverting destination has phenomenal architecture, built on the rich proceeds of its silver mines, outstanding museums and an action-packed history. Silver was mined here by the pre-Hispanic Chichimecs. The Spaniards worked the mines heavily to produce 20 percent of all New Spain's silver in the 18th century. Tour the now-defunct El Edén mine for its funky nightclub. An unusal way to appreciate the city's roofline is to ride the cable car that runs between two hilltops, the Cerro de la Bufa and Cerro del Grillo. ...

The elegant, colonial city of Zacatecas is set on Mexico's high, dry, central plateau which is splattered with cacti. This diverting destination has phenomenal architecture, built on the rich proceeds of its silver mines, outstanding museums and an action-packed history. Silver was mined here by the pre-Hispanic Chichimecs. The Spaniards worked the mines heavily to produce 20 percent of all New Spain's silver in the 18th century. Tour the now-defunct El Edén mine for its funky nightclub. An unusal way to appreciate the city's roofline is to ride the cable car that runs between two hilltops, the Cerro de la Bufa and Cerro del Grillo. Zacatecas is easily enjoyed by strolling its lovely plazas and admiring its historic buildings, especially the 18th-century, pink-stone, baroque cathedral featuring carved façades. The former market, Mercado González Ortega, is now a shopping center with chilled bars and restaurants. The Museo Pedro Coronel, on Plazuela de Santo Domingo, has a marvelous collection of art by Picasso, Chagall, Miró' and Goya, Mexican artifacts, and a worldwide collection of masks.

About the Expert

John Noble is a coauthor of Lonely Planet's Spain, Andalucia, and Mexico as well as many other LP titles from Indonesia to Belize to Brazil.