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Mexico would be the number one destination for Americans go abroad, which hosts tens of millions of tourists every year, but while resort zones along the coast concentrate the majority of tourist arrivals, other, lesser-known spots in the hinterland have been largely ignored for years.
This year, this trend has changed.
Now more than ever, American vacationers want to explore different parts of Mexico and experience the country beyond their luxurious enclaves, and that’s where this incredibly exciting but lesser-known colonial city has come into play:
One of Mexico’s last hidden gems
Located in north-central Mexico, a two-hour drive from the equally underrated Aguascalientes, Zacatecas has never been traditionally promoted as a tourist destination on the international stage, even though it one of the most culturally rich in Mexico and historically important cities.
It is a remarkably popular cultural destination among Mexican locals themselves, but there is no denying that international tourism in Zacatecas, especially as far as American visitors are concerned, is severely limited, mainly due to poor promotion.
Now it appears its potential will be fully unleashed as the local government turns its attention to tourism, formally identified as one of the main drivers of the city’s economic growth this year, and campaigns to position Zacatecas as a ‘romanticcity trip.
So what makes it so unique, and what have Americans who limit their travel to the Yucatán Peninsula, or Mexico City at best, experienced? missed all these years?
One of America’s oldest settlements
First off, Zacatecas is one of the oldest European settlements in all of the Americas, and this alone deserves consideration, especially if you are passionate about Mexican culture.
It was originally founded by the Spanish colonists in the mid-16th century, and like many of its sister cities in Spanish America, it became an important trading center and a wealthy mining center due to its abundance of silver and much rarer territory. minerals.
While most of the wealth flowed across the Atlantic Ocean to mainland Spain, Zacatecas flourished as a major center of Baroque art during the rise of a now-defunct empire, which included some of Mexico’s most beautiful city buildings and one of the best preserved old city center.
The Centro Historico in Zacatecas has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993 in recognition of the city’s 16th and 17th century landmarks and colonial cityscape, dominated by narrow alleys etched onto steep slopes and a beautiful Spanish cathedral.
However, unlike other historic cities of this level, Zacatecas has evolved with the times without sacrificing his past.
A historic city that has evolved with the times without losing its essence
The famous Plaza de Toros, inaugurated in 1866, is now home to the Quinta Real Zacatecas Hotelwhile several other historic structures in the center have been repurposed and now house shops, cultural centers or other organizations, without damaging the building or changing its facade.
Walking through the picturesque center of Zacatecas you may have the impression that not much has changed since the Spanish conquered Mexico and laid the foundation stone on the central Plaza de Armas, but you only need to take a furtive look beneath the surface take to discover that this is a creative, youthful city.
Yes there are beautiful colonial mansionsa Spanish-style Hidalgo Avenue lined with boutiques, a historic Central Market, temples and all the other possible features you’d expect from a colonial city, but it’s more than just an open-air museum.
After all, this is a metropolitan area home to over 1.6 million people, and there’s no shortage of entertainment options, especially in the historic district, sights further afield, and artsy, modern neighborhoods to explore.
Non-stop flights from the United States
Fortunately for Americans, Zacatecas is served by its own international airport.
Being a smaller destination, it obviously doesn’t have the same flight frequency, nor the impressive connectivity of Cancun, Cabo, Mexico City or other much more popular holiday destinations, but it do hosts flights from Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago O’Hare, Chicago-Midway, Los Angeles and San Jose (CA).
Discover more historic colonial cities you can fly to directly from the United States here.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
