In central Mexico’s Guanajuato, a kaleidoscope of Neoclassical and Baroque buildings stacked atop one another comprises the city’s historic core. The disorderly townscape, uncharacteristic of organized Spanish colonial settlements, was brought about by the rapid influx of people that started after the 1548 discovery of silver deposits in nearby mountains. By the 18th century, Guanajuato became the epicenter of the world’s silver industry. Due to its essential role in global economic history, Guanajuato’s mining and silversmithing industries are still renowned today. The town itself remains well preserved. Its “subterranean streets” keep a majority of automobile traffic underground, while pedestrians move freely about town.
—Prepared by the World Tribune staff
March 8, 2024, World Tribune, p. 12
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