Editing Guanajuato (city) (section)

===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"/>