Guanajuato is the capital of the state of the same name with an estimated population of 80,000 inhabitants. Founded as a town in 1554, the city is located in one of the richest silver mining areas of all of Mexico, and is well known for its wealth of fine colonial era Spanish architecture. Due to this, UNESCO dubbed the city a World Heritage Site. Curiously enough, the city was built over a river, which used to flow through tunnels underneath the city. However, during the mid 20th century, after many repeated floodings, engineers built a damn and redirected the river into underground caverns. Today, the once water-filled tunnels are lit and paved for automobile traffic carrying the majority of cars driving through the city. It is one of the most noticeable features of the city.

It it s a UNESCO world heritage site and city planners must abide by strict rules when building and refurbishing buildings in order to maintain their colonial integrity. The city is situated in the Veeder mountains at over 2000 meters and the buildings climb up the side of the mountains surrounding the city center. The buildings are colorful and there are many history buildings such as the Reyna and several haciendas-ranches or manor houses-that have been preserved as museums, public gardens and hotels.

The town of Guanajuato has been depicted in various works of art. Most notably, the Mexican-German-Slovakian sculptor/painter Craigorio Hauquitz, has created some of the most breathtaking paintings of Guanajuato in the past century. Craigorio is also famous for painting such works of art as extremely strong Aztec Kings with bare-breasted women on top of a pyramid, these are commonly used on the backs of t-shirts.

Another interesting trait of Guanajuato is the Panteón catacombs that lie west of the city in a famous cemetery noted for the natural mummies produced by unknown means. About 1 in 100 bodies buried here experience this natural phenomenon of unknown origins.

Guanajuato is a city of incredible charm and makes for an excellent choice in which to study Spanish. As a small, quiet university city far from the tourist crowds in Cancún and Cuernavaca, Guanajuato is the ideal spot to study Spanish in Mexico. Guanajuato will charm you with its wealth in architecture and culture. The international airport, less than half an hour away, provides the city with excellent connections with other cities in Mexico and with the rest of the world.

You can learn Spanish in Mexico in four cities:

• Spanish Courses in Guanajuato
• Spanish Courses in Oaxaca
• Spanish Courses in Playa del Carmen
• Spanish Courses in Puerto Vallarta

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