Zacatecas From Above and Below

The city of Zacatecas is capital of the state of the same name. This UNESCO-listed city is the northern-most of Mexico’s major historical silver mining towns. It is a picturesque town with lovely pink limestone buildings and a fascinating history that began in the 1540s when a silver lode was found here.

Mexico Travel Tip: What to do in Zacatecas?

the View from above on the Teleferico

When in Zacatecas, take a tour of the old mine, Mina El Eden  There you can learn about Zacatecas mining history, ride a mining cart, and visit the museum of rocks and minerals that’s located inside the mine. After exploring the world below the surface, make your way up to Cerro El Grillo to ride the teleferico and enjoy the view from above. The teleferico runs between two peaks on opposite sides of town, Cerro El Grillo and Cerro de la Bufa. Both were important strategic locations during the Battle of Zacatecas in 1914. This was a key battle in the Mexican Revolution, when Pancho Villa’s Division del Norte defeated the troops who supported President Victoriano Huerta. The ride only takes seven minutes, but that’s enough time to take in the panoramic views of the city and the rugged desert landscape beyond.

Getting off the teleferico at Cerro de la Bufa you’ll find the Museo Toma de Zacatecas, a museum that tells the story of the fateful battle. There’s also a plaza at the top of the hill, “Plaza de la Revolución,” with large statues of the victorious revolutionaries Pancho Villa, Pánfilo Natero and Felipe Angeles astride their horses.

Mexico Location: Where is Zacatecas?

Located in north/central Mexico, Zacatecas is the country’s eighth largest state and shares borders with Aguascalientes, Coahuila, Durango, Guanajuato, Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, San Luis Potosi and Tamaulipas. Agriculture, mining and tourism are the state’s largest industries.

-Suzanne

Suzanne Barbezat, a fellow #MexChat co-host,  is a travel writer and tour guide based in Oaxaca, Mexico. She has written About.com’s Mexico Travel section since 2006 and is currently working on a book, Frida Kahlo at Home, which will be published by Frances Lincoln in Spring 2016. She also offers tours in and around Oaxaca with her tour company Discover Oaxaca Tours. You can find her on twitter: @MexicoGuide

This post is part of the Mexican March Madness 2015, a look at the 31 United States of Mexico in the 31 days of March. This is the last state, hopefully you enjoyed the series.