Guanajuato

Guanajuato, a UNESCO World Heritage colonial city in Mexico's Bajío region, is one of the most visually spectacular cities in Mexico — a city of coloured houses tumbling down steep hillsides into a deep ravine, connected by a unique underground road system running through former river channels, with a rich silver mining history and one of the world's most celebrated arts festivals. The Callejón del Beso (Alley of the Kiss) — a lane so narrow that balconies on opposite sides are close enough to touch — is the city's most romantic spot. The Alhóndiga de Granaditas, a former granary that was the site of a brutal battle in Mexico's War of Independence (1810), is now an excellent history museum. The Diego Rivera Birthplace Museum and the extraordinary Mummy Museum (preserving naturally mummified bodies from the city's cemeteries) are unique attractions. The view from the Pípila monument above the city is magnificent. The Festival Internacional Cervantino, held every October, is one of Latin America's most important performing arts festivals — theatre, dance, music and circus from around the world transform the city for three weeks. The Teatro Juárez, a Baroque and Neoclassical opera house, is magnificent. The surrounding countryside — Dolores Hidalgo, Pozos, San Miguel de Allende (45 minutes) — is excellent for regional exploration. Guanajuato's intimate scale, its bohemian students and its extraordinary visual character make it one of Mexico's best destinations.