Since moving to Puerto Vallarta, México 2 years ago my wife and I had heard about Guanajuato city being one of the most beautiful in México and a haven for expats and visitors. After this visit we can truthfully write that the rumors are well founded.
Guanajuato is a colonial-era city in central México and is the capital of the state of Guanajuato. It is in a narrow valley, which makes its streets narrow and winding. Most are alleys that cars cannot pass through, and some are long sets of stairs up the mountainsides. Many of the city’s thoroughfares are partially or fully underground. The historic center has numerous small plazas and colonial-era mansions, churches and civil constructions built using pink or green sandstone. Guanajuato was the richest city in colonial México and accounted for two-thirds of the world’s silver production until the mines ran out in the 1920s.
The city is home to the Mummy Museum, which contains naturally mummified bodies that were found in the municipal cemetery between the mid 19th and 20th centuries. It is also home to the Festival Internacional Cervantino, which invites artists and performers from all over the world as well as Mexico. Guanajuato was the site of the first battle of the Mexican War of Independence in 1810. The city was named a World Heritage Site in 1988.
The riches of the city allowed the residents to build beautiful homes and churches. The city feels as if it was taken from 18th and 19th century Europe and set down in México, 2 of the churches are considered among the most beautiful examples of Baroque architecture in Central and South America and the Juárez theatre, fashioned after “The Alhambra” of southern Spain, is one of the most beautiful theaters in the world.
The Good: The hotel is in the heart of the historic center. The colonial-era styled hotel blends with the city’s decor and is clean and tidy. The beds are comfortable and the showers are strong and hot. Although the breakfast choices are somewhat limited the food is well prepared and tasty. The staff was extremely helpful (especially in parking/retrieving my car that was parked some distance away).
The Bad: Our room (Noche Buena - the rooms have names not #s) was directly across from the church with its loud bells. Although I found it charming others might need to book a central room to mediate the sound of the bells. The lobby is Spartan with only three uncomfortable chairs and the adjoining bar was unmanned and unstocked. No elevator which was was slightly difficult for my elderly friends. No smoking area provided inside the hotel so that one of my friends had to stand on the sidewalk. Lastly the hotel is called “Casa de Agua”, the glass floor with its running water beneath was empty and dry. Perhaps they should change the name to “Casa de no Auga”.
The Ugly: No ugly.
I rated the hotel as 3-stars due to the Spartan lobby and no comfortable area to sit.
To rate higher the hotel would need a facelift as it appears dated. Matching hotel uniforms for the staff rather than civilian clothes would be necessary, a wider selection of food items in the restaurant and a fully-stocked/manned bar.
All-in-all the hotel was a pleasant experience in a beautiful city.