Pachuca de Soto Attractions
How to get there
From Mexico City by rail about 2.5 hours; by bus about 1.5 hours; by car 86km/53mi on the MEX 85.
Pachuca, the capital of the state of Hidalgo, is surrounded on three sides by mountains and forms the centre of one of Mexico's oldest and richest mining areas. The town, with its steep, crooked alleyways, small squares and beige-painted houses, does not offer many sights. However, the surrounding area enjoys richly varied scenery and towns and villages with interesting early colonial art.
History
The Aztecs are supposed to have founded the settlement of Patlachiucán in about 1490 to mine for the gold and silver located here just below the earth's surface. Pachuca (Náhuatl: "Pachoa"= narrow place") was established in 1527 by the Spanish conquistador Francisco Téllez. Its first upswing occurred in 1555 when Bartolomé de Medina devised the process of amalgamation, that is separating metals from ores by treating them with mercury. In the mid-18th c. new developments, mainly through the enterprise of Pedro Romero de Terreros, later the Count of Regla, took ore exploitation to a new high point. The considerable number of colonial buildings in the town were also constructed at this time, mainly with his assistance. In 1869 Pachuca became the capital of the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
From Mexico City by rail about 2.5 hours; by bus about 1.5 hours; by car 86km/53mi on the MEX 85.
Pachuca, the capital of the state of Hidalgo, is surrounded on three sides by mountains and forms the centre of one of Mexico's oldest and richest mining areas. The town, with its steep, crooked alleyways, small squares and beige-painted houses, does not offer many sights. However, the surrounding area enjoys richly varied scenery and towns and villages with interesting early colonial art.
History
The Aztecs are supposed to have founded the settlement of Patlachiucán in about 1490 to mine for the gold and silver located here just below the earth's surface. Pachuca (Náhuatl: "Pachoa"= narrow place") was established in 1527 by the Spanish conquistador Francisco Téllez. Its first upswing occurred in 1555 when Bartolomé de Medina devised the process of amalgamation, that is separating metals from ores by treating them with mercury. In the mid-18th c. new developments, mainly through the enterprise of Pedro Romero de Terreros, later the Count of Regla, took ore exploitation to a new high point. The considerable number of colonial buildings in the town were also constructed at this time, mainly with his assistance. In 1869 Pachuca became the capital of the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
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Metztitlan, Mexico
(Near Pachuca de Soto)
Metztitlán was once the capital of Otomí. One of the town's main attractions is the Augustinian convent.
Santa Maria Xoxoteco
From Metzquititlán a secondary road leads to San Nicolás. After 2.5km/1.6mi a path turns off left across a small river and through fields to Santa María Xoxoteco. In 1974 extremely impressive 16th c. frescos were found in the church. They depict religious themes in a rather morbid interpretation, in the style of the frescos of Actopan.
Atotonilco el Grande, Mexico
(Near Pachuca de Soto)
From Pachuca it is 34km/21mi on the MEX 105 to Atotonilco el Grande (Náhuatl: "Place of the Hot Waters"; 2138 m (7017 ft); population 20,000; market day Thursday) where a mid-16th c. Augustinian convent is situated. The church's Renaissance façade has only been partly preserved and has Plateresque elements with medallions of St Peter and St Paul. The long nave has a very lofty groined vault and the remains of frescos. Murals depicting the great philosophers of antiquity can be seen on the convent staircase.
Convent Route from Pachuca to Huejutla
A number of interesting 16th c. sacral buildings belonging to the Augustinian order are situated along this stretch (MEX 105), which is characterised by a very richly-varied landscape of mountains, ravines and fertile valleys.
Metzquititlan, Mexico
(Near Pachuca de Soto)
Returning to the main road from Metztitlán and continuing northwards the village of Metzquititlán is reached after 10km/6mi. The 16th c. Augustinian Church of the Seäor de la Salud has a beautiful Indian-Plateresque doorway in the style of Tequitqui stonemason's art.
Tlahualompa
A road turns off right from the MEX 105 17km/10.5mi north of Metzquititlán to Tlahualompa some 9km/5.6mi away. This is a centre of bellfounding and the work can sometimes be watched here. The Indians living in the area sell copperware. The land between Tlahualompa and the road is rich in obsidian.
Torre de Reloj
The Torre de Reloj is a 40 m (131 ft)-tall clock-tower with niches containing four sculptures representing freedom, independence, reform and the republic. The carillon was imported from Austria.
Other noteworthy buildings are Las Casas Coloradas, dating from the end of the 18th c. and now a law court, and the 20th c. Teatro Elfrén Rebolledo.
Other noteworthy buildings are Las Casas Coloradas, dating from the end of the 18th c. and now a law court, and the 20th c. Teatro Elfrén Rebolledo.
Zacualtipan, Mexico
(Near Pachuca de Soto)
Returning on the MEX 105 from Tlahualompa it is 6km/4mi to Zacualtipán (2020 m (6630 ft); population 30,000) where a 16th c. Augustinian convent and a church with an Indian-Plateresque façade can be visited.
Pachuca de Soto Surroundings
Mineral del Chico, Mexico
Picturesque Mineral del Chico, 25km/16mi to the north and reached by way of El Chico National Park, is another important mining centre.
Mineral del Monte, Mexico
The important old silver town Mineral del Monte lies within wooded mountains approximately 12km/7.5mi east of Pachuca. Formerly Real del Monte, it was one of the world's richest mines.
Tepeapulco - Ex Convento de San Francisco
Within this 16th c. church is where artist Fray Bernardino de Sahagún started Historia de las Cosas de la Nueva España (History of Events in New Spain).
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 |
| Close | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 |
Venta Prieta, Mexico
The village of Venta Prieta lies south of the town near the MEX 85. Some of its population, descendants of Spanish Jews and Mexican Indians, form a strict Jewish community. Persecution drove them here from Michoacán at the end of the 19th c.
