Guanajuato’s Plaza de la Paz, colonnial jewel of the nation

In picturesque Peace Square (Plaza de la Paz), the sandstone colored Baroque Basílica Colegiata de Nuestro Señora de Guanajuato is well worth a visit.

Built in the 17th century and much altered thereafter, this attractive building houses one of Mexico’s most important relics, the much revered seventh-century statue of the Virgin of Guanajuato, a carved wooden figure on a silver base presented to the city by King Philip II of Spain in 1557.

By far the largest building in Guanajuato, the church owes much of its splendor to area miners who sponsored its construction, a relationship that is marked to this day during annual miners’ parades and offerings to the church’s patron saint.

In addition to its famous statue, other highlights include its pretty church tower, numerous relics in the main altar presented by the Pope, as well as a number of important paintings by leading Mexican artists.

Another old church worth seeing is Templo de Belén, built in 1773 and notable for its Churrigueresque façade.