Editing Guanajuato (city) (section)

==Landmarks==
{{Main|List of buildings in Guanajuato City}}

===Area around Plaza de la Paz, Basilica and the Legislative Palace===
[[File:과나후아토 시내에 있는 성당 Guanajuato Mexico - panoramio.jpg|left|thumb|Plaza de la Paz and the [[Basílica colegiata de Nuestra Señora de Guanajuato]] (2009)]]
The center of the modern city is Plaza de la Paz (Plaza of Peace), also known as Plaza Mayor (Main Plaza). Since the colonial period, the richest of the city's families built their main homes here, along with government buildings and the parish church, now a [[basilica]]. This plaza is a garden with a sculpture of a woman representing peace; its placement here in the late 19th century caused the official name to change to Plaza de la Paz. Today, the plaza is surrounded by the basilica, other churches, and governmental and commercial buildings, many of which were once mansions.<ref name="descubre"/><ref name="rincones101">Gonzalez, p. 101</ref> Still remaining around the plaza are mansions that belonged to local nobility such as the Counts of Rul, Count of Gálvez, and the Count De los Chico. The Rul house was constructed at the end of the 18th century by architect [[Francisco Eduardo Tresguerras]]. It is noted for its inner courtyard,<ref name="mexdesgto"/> with architectural features from ancient Greece. [[Alexander von Humboldt]] stayed here in 1803. Later, the house became known as Palacio de Otero.<ref name="descubre"/> The Casa Real de Ensaye is a Baroque mansion that, on its façade, bears the first noble coat of arms granted in Guanajuato.<ref name="mexdesgto"/>

The main church of the city is [[Basílica colegiata de Nuestra Señora de Guanajuato|Basílica Colegiata de Nuestra Señora de Guanajuato]] built between 1671 and 1696.<ref name="stampart37">Guanajuato, p. 37</ref> Overall, the church is a sober Mexican Baroque in style but there are popular elements from donations made by the area's miners, and other elements that demonstrate the influence of several of the city's rich mining nobility. The Marquis of San Clemente and Pedro Lascuráin de Retana were the current building's first patrons. Later, the Counts of Valenciana left their influence as well with the donation of a clock for one of the towers and the acquisition of relics related to a saint and martyr named Faustina obtained from the Pope. These relics are in the main altar.<ref name="rincones97">Gonzalez, p. 97</ref> The main portal is made of pink sandstone with “estipite” or inverted truncated pyramidal columns.<ref name="mexdesgto"/> The focus of the main altar is the image of Our Lady of Guanajuato (Nuestra Señora de Guanjuato), who is the patroness of the city. She was donated to the city by [[Carlos I of Spain|Carlos I]] and his son [[Felipe II of Spain|Felipe II]] in 1557.<ref name="descubre"/> In 1696, the church gained minor basilica status and full basilica status in 1957.<ref name="rincones97"/>

The Legislative Palace or state government building was the site of the Aduana or Casas Consistoriales (customs house) in the colonial period. The current building was constructed by Cecilio Luis Long in a European style popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and inaugurated in 1903.The façade has a Neoclassical portal in sandstone of colors typical of the Guanajuato area. It contains the legislative chamber called the Sala de Sessiones, decorated with 19th- and 20th-century paintings and somber furniture.<ref name="descubre"/><ref name="rincones101"/>

===Alhóndiga de Granaditas===
[[File:Explanada de la Alhóndiga de Granaditas durante el FIC 01.JPG|thumb|Historical monument of [[Alhóndiga de Granaditas]] for a night concert during the [[Festival Internacional Cervantino|Cervantino Festival]].]]
Alhóndiga de Granaditas is a very large building covering an entire block. It was originally built to store enough grain to feed the city for a year to protect the population against famines such as those that occurred in 1783, due to crop failure.<ref name="descubre"/> This gave the building its name, which roughly translates to “house of grain.”<ref name="stampart11">Guanajuato, p. 11</ref> The building is two floors, nearly windowless with a very large courtyard in its interior.<ref name="rincones97"/><ref name="leyendasgto16">Leyendas, p. 16</ref> Construction began in 1798 under an architect named Durán y Villaseñor and terminated under José del Mazo.<ref name="mexdesgto"/>

The Alhóndiga only served its original function for eight months after it was built.<ref name="iniciaen"/><ref name="rincones9697">Gonzalez, pp. 96–97</ref> The main reason for its importance today is that it was the site of the [[Capture of Alhóndiga de Granaditas|first battle]] of the Mexican War of Independence between insurgents and royalist troops on September 28, 1810.<ref name="encmuc"/> When Miguel Hidalgo, Ignacio Allende and the insurgent army approached the city, royalist troops under Lieutenant Riaño and the city's elite took refuge in the building,<ref name="descubre"/> along with millions of pesos of silver and other loot.<ref name="leyendasgto16"/> The insurgents quickly surrounded the building, but the building proved difficult to penetrate due to the lack of openings and royalist gunfire.<ref name="leyendasgto16"/>

The battle remained a stalemate until a miner from San Miguel de Allende devised a way to approach the building's main entrance. This miner, whose name was Juan José de los Reyes Martínez, is better known as [[El Pípila]], who had joined the insurgent army as it passed through his hometown.<ref name="leyendasgto16" /> El Pípila strapped a large flat stone over his back and, carrying a flask of tar and a torch, crawled towards the main entrance. The stone protected him from the bullets fired at him. When he reached the heavy wooden door of the entrance, he smeared it with tar and lit it. This allowed insurgents to then take the building.<ref name="leyendasgto16" />

After the battle it was used as barracks, a tenement and tobacco warehouse.<ref name="rincones9697" /> From 1864 to 1949, it was used as the state penitentiary.<ref name="stampart11" /> In 1949 the building was converted into the Museo Regional de Guanajuato, documenting the history of the area and its role in Mexican national history from the pre-Hispanic period to the present divided among fourteen halls on the upper floor.<ref name="descubre" /><ref name="stampart11" /><ref name="rincones9697" /> On the ground floor there are large mascarons of [[José Mariano Jiménez]], [[Vicente Guerrero]], Ignacio Allende and [[Ignacio Aldama]]. The main hall has mascarons of Miguel Hidalgo and [[José María Morelos y Pavón]] who “guard” the national coat of arms. In front of this is an eternal flame that is renewed each September 28. The walls of the main stairwell contain mural work by [[José Chávez Morado]] that alludes to Independence.<ref name="descubre" /> It houses a large collection of ceramics from western parts of Mesoamerica, especially from [[Chupícuaro (archeological site)|Chupícuaro]]. It contains works by Guanajuato artist [[Hermeneguildo Bustos]] and photographer [[Romualdo García]].<ref name="rincones9697" /> There are displays related to the building itself, to its construction, its original function as a granary and its role in one of the first battles of the War of Independence.<ref name="iniciaen" /><ref name="reestructeran">{{cite news |title= Reestructuran la Alhóndiga de Granaditas |agency=Agencia el Universal |newspaper=El Universal |location=Mexico City |page=1 |date=October 14, 2010 |language=es |trans-title=Reconstruct the Alhondiga de Granaditas}}</ref> The large courtyard within the Alhóndiga is a traditional place to celebrate Mexico's Independence Day with the reenactment of Miguel Hidalgo's “El Grito de Dolores.” It is one of the sites for a number of the events of the Festival Cervantino.<ref name="rincones97" /> The museum was restored in 2010 for the [[Bicentennial of Mexico|Bicentennial]] by the [[INAH]] at a cost of 5.7 million pesos as part of similar museums in Dolores Hidalgo and San Miguel de Allende to form the Ruta de Independencia (Independence Route).<ref name="iniciaen" /><ref name="reestructeran" /> The work was the first renovation of the building in 20 years.<ref name="reabre">{{cite news |title= Reabre Alhóndiga de Granaditas |newspaper=Reforma |location=Mexico City |page=29 |date=October 12, 2010 |language=es |trans-title=Reopen Alhondiga de Granaditas}}</ref>

===University of Guanajuato===
[[File:Edificio Central de la Universidad de Guanajuato - Día.jpg|thumb|[[Universidad de Guanajuato|University of Guanajuato]]]]
The [[University of Guanajuato]] began as a Jesuit school for children in the first half of the 18th century. The establishment of this school was sponsored by Josefa Teresa de Busto y Moya, sister of the Marquis of San Clemente, who obtained permission for the school from the [[Spanish Crown]] in 1732 and established the institution in her home. She donated a fifth of her fortune toward it and worked to obtain donations from other wealthy families in the city.<ref name="rincones102">Gonzalez, p. 102</ref> However, credit for the establishment of the school is most often given to Jesuits.<ref name="mexdesgto"/><ref name="stampart14">Guanajuato, p. 14</ref> Over time, the school grew and began to offer high school and professional level studies. It held several names over its history, from Real Colegio de la Purísima Concepción (1767), Colegio del Estado (1828), Colegio Nacional de Guanajuato (1867), with its current name adopted in 1945.<ref name="rincones102"/> The Colegio del Estado name was prompted by the fact that the institution became the property of the state in 1828. In 1945, it gained university status.<ref name="stampart14"/>

Today the institution serves approximately 30,000 students at the high school, bachelor's and graduate levels. In addition to the main campus in the city, there are nine others in other parts of Guanajuato state. The university hosts a number of the events of the Festival Cervantino, with its famous stairway acting as seating.<ref name="rincones102"/> The best known facility of the institution is the main building in Guanajuato city, which was built in [[Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassical]] style in green stone. It houses the dean's office, administrative offices and a number of the institution's departments.<ref name="stampart14"/> The main building is recognized by its long staircase with 113 steps, which empties onto the Callejón del Estudiante. Under the main roof is a 16th-century chapel that was sponsored by [[Vasco de Quiroga]] for indigenous mine workers. It's called the ''Templo de los Hospitales'' (Temple of the Hospitals). It received the image of the Virgin of the Rosary, now called the Nuestra Señora de Guanajuato.<ref name="descubre"/><ref name="rincones103"/>

The Museo de Historia Natural [[Alfredo Dugès]] is on the ground floor of the University of Guanajuato's main building. It contains a national-level collection of fossils, plants and animals. The importance of this collection comes from its state of conservation and its age. The collection was gathered by Alfredo Dugés and donated to the university.<ref name="rincones102"/>

===Other plazas and churches===
The city is dotted with a large number of small plazas or squares that were built along with the churches that usually gave them their names.<ref name="mexdesgto"/> One of the best-known plazas or open spaces is ''Jardín de la Unión'', on the south side of San Diego Church. The garden is filled with carefully pruned Indian laurels and, in addition to the church, is surrounded by small cafes, restaurants, and Juárez Theater. It occupies a triangular space that originally was the church atrium. In 1883, wrought iron benches and a kiosk were installed. Today, concerts are held in this kiosk on occasion.<ref name="descubre"/><ref name="stampart17">Guanajuato, p. 17</ref> It is popular with wandering student musicians performing callejoneadas and functions as the atrium of San Diego Church.<ref name="rincones97"/> This church has a Churrigueresque façade. The interior has paintings from the 18th century, Neoclassical altarpieces and a crucifix called Cristo de Burgos, which was donated to the church by the Count of Valenciana.<ref name="descubre"/> The current church was built between 1780 and 1784 by the Count of Valenciana after the original was destroyed by a flood. In the 19th century, its original gilded altarpieces were replaced with the current Neoclassical ones.<ref name="mexdesgto"/><ref name="stampart20">Guanajuato, p. 20</ref> The monastery, which was also destroyed, was never rebuilt, but the site is now home to San Diego Museum. It was created to rescue and display the cultural inheritance of the city, describing its development and changes from its beginnings to the present day.<ref name="rincones99">Gonzalez, p. 99</ref> It also contains a computer simulation of what the original monastery looked like.<ref name="descubre"/>
[[File:OratoriaoSanFelipeGTO1.JPG|thumb|La Compañía Church]]
Located next to the university, the Templo de la Compañía de Jesús (Temple of the Society of Jesus), or Oratorio de San Felipe (commonly known as "La Compañía"), was built in 1746 by José Joaquín Sardaneta y Legazpi.<ref name="mexdesgto"/> It was completed in 1767, the same year that the Jesuits were expelled from New Spain. The new church remained abandoned until 1804, when the order was allowed to return and reclaim it. The order then worked to renovate the church, replacing Baroque elements with Neoclassical ones, which were then in fashion.<ref name="rincones9798">Gonzalez, pp. 97–98</ref> It has a façade with narrow estipite columns in Churrigueresque style, but its more famous aspect is a colossal cupola with three levels, which was added in the 19th century by architect Vicente Heredia.<ref name="mexdesgto"/><ref name="descubre"/> Inside, a collection of 180 paintings were recently studied and restored. Some of these paintings are displayed in the church complex, while the rest are kept in a [[pinacotheca]] created for the purpose.<ref name="rincones9798"/> The main altar and the paintings are by [[Miguel Cabrera (painter)|Miguel Cabrera]].<ref name="descubre"/>

Dating from 1726, the oldest plaza still in existence is Plaza de Baratillo. The name comes from a weekly market, once held on Sundays. This market specialized in low prices (baratillo means “very cheap”). In the center is a fountain brought from Florence, Italy. This fountain once provided area residents with potable water from the Olla Dam. Today, it is purely ornamental.<ref name="stampart35">Guanajuato, p. 35</ref>

Another important area of the historic center is the [[Plaza de San Roque, Guanajuato City|San Roque plaza]] and church. There is a stone cross, which indicates the ground was once used as a cemetery.<ref name="rincones99" /> Starting in the 1950s, this plaza was used for short one-act plays called ''Entremeses Cervantinos'', which later developed into the Festival Cervantino. The plaza is still used for these plays as well as events associated with the annual event.<ref name="rincones99" /><ref name="stampart39">Guanajuato, p. 39</ref> San Roque Church dates from 1726. It has a sober Baroque façade and contains an important collection of colonial era paintings.<ref name="rincones99" />

Other important churches include the Temple of Guadalupe from the 18th century in sober Baroque, and El Pardo Church from the 18th century with a façade covered with sculpted plants.<ref name="mexdesgto"/> San Francisco Church on Sopeña Street faces a plaza with the same name.<ref name="mexdesgto"/> It has a Baroque façade of pink stone with a green tint, a staircase with wrought iron railings and a small fountain.<ref name="stampart37"/><ref name="rincones99"/> Belén Church was built in the 18th century by the Count of Valenciana with a modest façade. It is across from Hidalgo Market and on the street leading to Alhóndiga de Granaditas.<ref name="mexdesgto"/><ref name="rincones99"/> El Mellado Church was part of La Merced Monastery. The cloister area is now in ruins but the church remains and is dedicated to the veneration of Our Lady of Mercy. The original Baroque altarpieces were replaced with Neoclassical ones in the 19th century.<ref name="stampart37"/>

Jardín Reforma or Reforma Square was originally a market, built in 1861. When Hidalgo Market opened, most vendors moved out. In 1923, the site was renovated into a garden with a central fountain and Indian laurel, eucalyptus and cypress trees.<ref name="stampart9">Guanajuato, p. 9</ref> Jardín Reforma has an arched entryway with a series of thin columns.<ref name="rincones101"/>

Plaza del Quijote is at the old San Antonio bridge and to the side of San Diego Church. The plaza was created to honor the 400th anniversary of the first edition of ''Don Quixote of La Mancha'' in 1605.<ref name="descubre"/>

===Other civil constructions===
[[File:Centro Histórico, Guanajuato (33195994825).jpg|thumb|[[Teatro Juárez]]]]
The [[Teatro Juárez|Juárez Theater]] ([[Teatro Juárez]]) is located across from the San Diego Church in the city's downtown. It is one of the main venues of the Cervantino Festival.<ref name="rincones100">Gonzalez, p. 100</ref> It is considered one of the most beautiful theaters in the country, according to [[Mexico Desconocido]].<ref name="mexdesgto"/> It was built from 1872 to 1903 and is in Neoclassical style with a façade containing nine sculptures depicting the Muses of Greek mythology.<ref name="descubre"/>

The south façade has a lintel with the word “Tragedia” on it and on the north façade, the matching lintel reads “Comedia.” The interior has an eclectic design richly decorated. The vestibule or foyer (also called the Smoking Room) has columns and garlands. The auditorium is Mauresque with Arabesque detail throughout. The curtain contains an image of Constantinople.<ref name="stampart22">Guanajuato, p. 22</ref> The theater was built from 1872 to 1903 by [[Antonio Rivas Mercado]], who designed the [[Angel of Independence]] monument in Mexico City, and was inaugurated with the opera [[Aida]] by [[Giuseppe Verdi]] with President [[Porfirio Díaz]] in attendance.<ref name="descubre" /> It is the only theater in the country that has conserved its original furnishings.<ref name="stampart22" />

On the side of Juárez Theater, there is Rincón del Arte. Next to this is a [[Aerial lift|cable car]] that rises up to the Pípila Monument on San Miguel Hill.<ref name="descubre" /> The monument honors the insurgent who managed to torch the main entrance of Alhóndiga de Granaditas. The monument consists of a giant statue of El Pípila raising a torch over his head. Around the monument, there is an esplanade and overlook which permits a panoramic view of nearly the entire city.<ref name="descubre" /><ref name="rincones102" />

Teatro Principal (Main Theater) was built at the city's height when the wealth of the mines attracted entertainers. It was the first theater in the city, built in Neoclassical style and one of the few places where people of different social strata could enter. The theater closed periodically during its early history due to sociopolitical upheavals. After the Mexican Revolution, it was converted into a movie theater. Shortly after this, it suffered a fire and closed for 30 years. Today, it is reconstructed and run by the University of Guanajuato as one of the main venues of the Cervantino Festival.<ref name="rincones100" />

Unlike other theaters in the city, which were stage theaters converted into movie houses at one point or another, Cervantes Theater was a movie house that was converted into a stage theater. It is used for puppet shows, dance recitals, experimental theater and conferences.<ref name="rincones101" />
[[File:EntranceHidalgoMkt.JPG|thumb|Hidalgo Market]]
Hidalgo Market was built by Ernesto Brunel in 1910 over what was the site of the old Gavira bullring. It was inaugurated by President Porfirio Díaz to celebrate Mexico's Centennial of Independence. The roof has a cupola with a clock tower. The clock has four faces.<ref name="descubre"/> The interior of the market is a giant metallic nave.<ref name="rincones101"/> The market sells typical candies of the region such as “charamuscas,” which are often shaped as a charro or mummy and wrapped in wax paper. The upper floor of the market contains a large number of crafts and souvenir shops containing products such as baskets, knit items, ceramics, leathercrafts and more.<ref name="descubre"/> The ground floor has many everyday items such as fresh and packaged food, household goods, wickerwork and hardware.<ref name="stampart8">Guanajuato, p. 8</ref>

Museo del Pueblo de Guanajuato was created to exhibit the best of the artwork of the city. It contains an important collection of religious art from the 17th to 19th centuries. It contains collections of works by [[Olga Costa]] and [[José Chávez Morado]].<ref name="rincones99"/> This includes three murals by Chávez Morado set up as altars. These murals depict the end of the colonial period and the War of Independence.<ref name="descubre"/>
[[File:CastillaSantaCecelia2.JPG|thumb|Santa Cecilia Castle]]
Diego Rivera Museum was the house where the painter was born and spent his early childhood. The first floor is dedicated to furniture and other items from the late 19th century. The floors above contain a large collection of paintings, about 100 of which are Rivera's early and little known works. It has workshops for arts, literary events, film showings and other cultural activities.<ref name="descubre"/><ref name="rincones100"/>

Very near Jardín Unión, on Luis González Obregón Street is Casa de Gobierno, where Benito Juárez made the city the temporary capital of Mexico. Next to Casa de Gobierno is Real Caja de Guanajuato, which dates from 1665. It was the scene of the naming of the first authorities of a Mexico declared liberated from Spanish rule. Later it was used as a women's prison and teachers’ college.<ref name="descubre"/>

Museo Iconográfico del Quijote is on Manuel Doblado Street. It was created in 1987 to honor Don Quixote. The museum contains visual representations of the character, including some created by notable artists such as [[Pedro Coronel]], [[José Guadalupe Posada]] and [[Salvador Dalí]].<ref name="rincones99"/>

[[File:Casa Museo Gene Byron.jpg|thumb|Casa Museo Gene Byron]]
Museo de Arte Olga Costa y José Chávez Morado is in Pastita neighborhood, installed in a building in the former Guadalupe Hacienda. This was the home of the two artists, who donated the structure and their personal art collection to the city after their deaths. The collection contains their own works as well as works by a number of other artists.<ref name="rincones104"/>

Casa Museo Gene Byron,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.museogenebyron.org/|title=Casa Museo Gene Byron|website=Museogenebyron.org|access-date=9 July 2018}}</ref> in the suburb of Marfil, was the former Santa Ana Hacienda and belonged to Canadian artist Gene Byron. Byron began studying Mexican muralists in 1941, but her work was also influenced by contemporary Spanish artists. She and her husband settled in Guanajuato in 1958, and took over this ex-hacienda in 1962. Today the grounds are a cultural center that hosts art exhibitions, theatrical productions, concerts, and book presentations.<ref name="rincones104"/>

[[Estadio José Aguilar y Maya]] is a [[Baseball]] Stadium in the City.