New Year in Colonial Mexico

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Saturday, 28 December 2002 - Explored Guanajuato on foot, beginning with colorful street scenes and pottery shopping at Gorky Gonzalez, visited the ornate Templo de la Compañía near the university, learned the story of El Pipila and the Alhóndiga de Granaditas from the 1810 revolution, enjoyed a lovely lunch and tour at Casa Javier y Valenciana wandered the busy Mercado toured the Diego Rivera Museum in his former home, and finished the afternoon with art and culture at the Del Pueblo and Quijote Iconographic museums before street performances around the Juárez Theater

Mexico 2003 — This was by far our busiest day. We began by shopping at Gorky Gonzalez for pottery and then launched an odyssey of Guanajuato sights. This fountain was in the corner of the streets below the Templo de la Compania, only 50 feet from the hotel. Here we tried to flag a taxi but were unsuccessful.

Mexico 2003 — The Jesuit church - Templo de la Compania - is next to the Guanajuato University. The dome is neoclassical and was a replacement after the first one collapsed in 1808. The facade is far greater than ornate baroque - it is referred to as churrigueresque.

Mexico 2003 — This street scene was near Gorky Gonzalez's workshop. The buildings all over Guanajuato were painted a palette of bright colors.

Mexico 2003 — The Alhondiga de Granaditas was the scene of a couple of gruesome stories from the 1810 Revolution. When the rebels tried to secure Guanajuato the Spanish held out in the granary due to its formidable size and a hillside location. The rebels were having a tough time until a miner nicknamed El Pipila (Young Turkey) arrived. He was able to crawl to the great wooden doors with a stone on his back for protection and light them on fire allowing the rebels to storm the building. Notice the bullet holes on the outside - they have preserved them as a memory of the struggle.

Mexico 2003 — All the Spanish inside were killed once the gates were stormed. A year later when the rebel leaders were captured the Spanish executed the leaders and placed their heads in baskets at the four corners of the building. They remained there for 10 years until the revolution was won by the rebels and the Spanish withdrew. This is the inside courtyard.

Mexico 2003 — Virgen de Guadalupe by Anomino (Anonymous) 1800. One of several paintings in the museum. The Virgin Guadalupe was the patron saint of the revolution - she was pictured on the guidons of the rebel army.

Mexico 2003 — This is a staircase painted by Diego Rivera who was born in Guanajuato. Ii illustrates the struggle from 1810-1821. In the center is Don Miguel Hidalgo's head in the basket.

Mexico 2003 — This was a display of Tintes which were Stamp/Seals for the native Mexicans. Virginia Ann enjoyed the various animals and designs used. This figure is only about 1 inch across.

Mexico 2003 — There was a display of pottery and this is a 6 foot majolica genealogy tree.

Mexico 2003 — Another mural by Diego Rivera covers another stairwell celebrating the overthrow of the Spanish in 1810.

Mexico 2003 — Virginia Ann sitting next to the Liberty Bell - rang when the announcement of the revolution's success made it to Guanajuato.

Mexico 2003 — It was time for lunch so we headed to the home of Javier Y Valenciana. This is the entrance to the magnificent home. This was the home of the owner of the Valenciana mine and very lavish.

Mexico 2003 — Inside Casa Javier Y Valenciana was a pretty courtyard where we had one of - Liz Holman's top picks of the trip - one of the best lunches. After lunch the owner of the home gave us a tour of the house - there is a shop with decorative items made on site. Most interesting was the lower level of the house which was the stable and water cistern. They have created a door into the cistern which is available for private parties.

Mexico 2003 — As the owner of the Valenciana Mine, Javier Y Valenciana, was the pretty well off since the mine was a major source of silver. At the end of the 18th century over 25% of the silver mined in Mexico came from this one mine. This is the church he built, the Templo de San Cayetano.

Mexico 2003 — The Templo de San Cayetano also known as 'La Valenciana' was built between 1765 and 1768 with funds donated by Count Valenciana. Its facade is also considered churrigueresque.

Mexico 2003 — This is a close up of the detail in the church facade. The church was made of pink limestone.

Mexico 2003 — Inside the church was as complex as the outside. The pulpit is inlaid with tortoiseshell and ivory.

Mexico 2003 — A close-up of one of the gold alters. The church was breathtaking.

Mexico 2003 — Once we were through with the Valenciana house and church we headed to the Mercado. In this picture you can see one of the on ramps for the tunnel system below the Mercado. The market was busy with after Christmas sales and shoppers looking for new year supplies.

Mexico 2003 — Inside the Mercado are many, many stalls selling everything from fresh fruit, vegetables, and meats to toys and pottery. Then add in a few small dining stalls to enhance the chaos.

Mexico 2003 — From the Mercado we walked to the Diego Rivera Museum here many sketches and some paintings by Rivera are on display as well as his collection of art. All has been donated to the state. Unfortunately they did not allow pictures of the art. This is a fountain in the foyer.

Mexico 2003 — The Diego Rivera Museum is in his home --- Casa Diego Rivera This is a view of the courtyard. There were many paintings and sketches inside. The house rises by four stories around two plazas.

Mexico 2003 — Only a few blocks away is the Del Pueblo Museum. Here are several traveling exhibits and one floor of pre-Columbian art. This picture is from the first floor looking up at the entrance to a chapel on the second floor. Like many homes in Guanajuato it is built on a hill so the entrance and second floor and third floor all have doors to the street level.

Mexico 2003 — One of the paintings on display at the Pueblo - Virgin De La Paloma O Alma Maria Anonimo (anonymous) 1900.

Mexico 2003 — Then we were off to the Quijote Icongraphic Museum. This museum has hundreds of works of art on only one subject - Don Quixote. This is the plaza for the museum.

Mexico 2003 — Included in the collection is Cabalgamto 1965 by Pablo Picasso.

Mexico 2003 — The Juarez Theater is an imposing structure off the Jardin. On top are statues of the Muses. On the stairway are two large bronze lions. This is the venue for one of Mexico's main Arts festivals.

Mexico 2003 — By afternoon and into the early evening there were street performers for crowds sitting on the theater steps. Here a clown uses a stuffed dog in his skit. They were a crowd pleaser. Without much encouragement a passer-by might find themselves in one of the skits.

Mexico 2003 — The inside of the Juarez Theater was magnificent with 5 balconies of private boxes and not a bad seat in the house. It is still an operating theater with regular performances.

Mexico 2003 — The theater foyer was in red velvet with a smoking area and a sitting room. This is a shot from the smoking room across the foyer.

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