Hello, this is Yamaguchi, editor of Atmoph’s landscape stories.
Have you been enjoying the wide variety of World Heritage landscapes displayed on Atmoph Window? In this series, we pick one of those World Heritage sites and dive deeper into its story. It’s been a while since the last edition, but here comes Part 3!
This time, we’re featuring Guanajuato, Mexico. The city’s colorful streets are said to have inspired the film Coco (Remember Me). What kind of stories are hidden within this vibrant scenery? Let’s bring up “Guanajuato” on your Atmoph Window and take a journey beyond the frame.
The Birth of the City: The Discovery of Silver
Guanajuato lies in central Mexico, at an altitude of about 2,000 meters in the hills. The city was founded during the Spanish colonial period, after silver deposits were discovered nearby in 1548.
Workers flocked to the area, and massive amounts of silver were mined and distributed around the world. By the 18th century, Guanajuato was producing about one-quarter of the world’s silver, making it the most important silver mining center of its time.
Thanks to this wealth, magnificent buildings began to spring up across the city. One of them is La Compañía Church, built by the Jesuits in 1765. Its Churrigueresque-style façade, rich with elaborate details, is a striking sight.
Photo: AlejandroLinaresGarcia / CC-BY-SA-4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:OratoriaoSanFelipeGTO1.JPG
This church can actually be seen in the Atmoph view below, on the right-hand side. The façade isn’t visible, since the photo is taken from the side, but you can still feel its presence within the cityscape.
https://atmoph.com/ja/views/pages/city_of_guanajuato_3
The Miner Hero: The Story of Pípila
During colonial times, while the ruling elite grew wealthy from silver, laborers and farmers endured exploitation and poverty. Centuries of frustration and anger first erupted near Guanajuato. In 1810, Father Miguel Hidalgo led an uprising in the town of Dolores.
Hidalgo’s insurgent army marched to Guanajuato, gathering support along the way. When Hidalgo demanded the surrender of the city, the ruling powers barricaded themselves inside the granary and refused.
As the rebels struggled to break through, a silver miner named Pípila shielded himself with a stone slab, approached under gunfire, and set the granary doors ablaze with a torch. The stronghold fell, and the city was captured by the insurgents.
This victory sparked further uprisings across Mexico, eventually leading to independence 11 years later. Pípila, remembered as the hero who brought the insurgents their first victory, was honored with a massive statue erected on a hilltop in 1953. You can even spot this statue in Atmoph’s panoramic view, overlooking the city.
Guanajuato’s Iconic Colorful Streets
https://atmoph.com/ja/views/pages/city_of_guanajuato
The hill where Pípila’s statue stands is now a famous lookout point. From here, you can see a sea of vividly painted houses covering the slopes.
In the center foreground, the bright yellow building is the Basilica of Our Lady of Guanajuato, built in 1696. It’s one of the city’s iconic landmarks and appears in several Atmoph Window views. Try spotting it from different angles and times of day to enjoy its many faces.
The striking yellow and red of the basilica are only part of the charm—Guanajuato is full of colorful houses in pink, blue, and more. While some historic buildings were built with naturally pink sandstone, the trend of painting houses in bright colors began in the late 19th century. With cheap paint becoming available, residents painted their homes both to make them easier to identify and to reflect sunlight to keep interiors cooler.
Today, the cobblestone alleys lined with vividly painted façades make every corner of the city picture-perfect, inviting visitors to wander and discover their own favorite spots.
The Secret Beneath the City
One of the reasons Guanajuato’s historic streetscapes have been preserved lies underground.
Built along steep valleys, the city used to suffer devastating floods during the rainy season. To prevent this, people raised the foundations of buildings, which deepened the riverbeds and allowed them to handle more water. Eventually, structures even extended over the river, creating underground water channels.
By the mid-20th century, deeper tunnels diverted the river, and the old riverbeds were converted into roads. With further tunnels added over time, the city now has more than 9 km of underground roadways.
Photo: Comisión Mexicana de Filmaciones / CC-BY-SA-2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:T%C3%BAnel_La_Galere%C3%B1a,_Zona_Centro,_Guanajuato-_La_Galere%C3%B1a_Tunnel,_Center_Zone,_Guanajuato_%2824232942005%29.jpg
Because of this underground network, Guanajuato avoided the need for wide surface roads, preserving its narrow, winding alleys. This pedestrian-friendly layout makes the city perfect for strolling, while its stone walls and arched ceilings also make the underground passages a fascinating attraction.
Beyond Guanajuato, other Mexican silver towns such as Zacatecas, along with the silver trade routes and flourishing towns along the way, are also inscribed as World Heritage sites—proof of the immense impact valuable minerals have had on human history.
That wraps up this edition, but there are countless more stories to uncover. Stay tuned for the next chapter in our World Heritage series!
