Guanajuato is the epicenter of religious tourism this holiday season and is ready to enchant its visitors with tourist and cultural activities.
- The arrival of 1,270,000 visitors is expected, of which 255,000 will be tourists staying in hotels; an economic impact of 3 billion Mexican pesos is estimated for the State.
In Guanajuato, we promote tourism and culture, said the Governor of the People, Libia Dennise García Muñoz Ledo, during the "Connecting with the People" program, which promoted the state's tourist and cultural agenda during this Easter and Spring Break holiday period.
“Guanajuato is beautiful, it has historical heritage, with emblematic places, rich traditions, and it offers a diversity of tourist and cultural activities. We have spectacular places, wonderful museums, archaeological zones, World Heritage cities, and magical towns. Guanajuato is an unmissable destination,” said Governor Libia Dennise.
In this broadcast, the State Governor was joined by Guadalupe Robles León, Secretary of Tourism and Identity, and Lizeth Galván Cortés, Secretary of Culture, with whom she made special mention of the season's attractions and multiple activities for all Guanajuato families and their visitors.
The Governor explained that during this holiday period, 1,270,000 visitors are expected to arrive in the state of Guanajuato, of which 255,000 will be tourists staying in hotels in our state.
Additionally, an economic spillover of over 3 billion pesos is estimated in the sector, covering hotels, restaurants, shops and transportation, as well as food establishments, taxi drivers, guides, waiters, etc.
This season, religious tourism is buzzing in Guanajuato, a state that stands out for its attractions and cultural richness, with festivities that combine religious rites, music, traditional dances, and popular cultural expressions; in addition to the architectural heritage that Guanajuato boasts in its temples, parishes, cathedrals, and the Sanctuary of Christ the King.
“We cannot fail to mention the very famous Holy Friday in Guanajuato, this very special and much-anticipated day. I must confess that it is one of my favorite activities, which blends tradition and culture,” said the Governor.
This is one of the most representative traditions of the city of Guanajuato, dating back to 1885. It consists of placing altars dedicated to the Virgin of Sorrows in homes, temples, and old mines, and as a main characteristic, fresh water or snow is offered, and the popular festival called "Día de las Flores" (Day of the Flowers) is celebrated beforehand.
Another traditional representation is La Judea in Purísima del Rincón, which has more than a century of history; and in Jalpa de Cánovas, the coquitos. “Let me tell you, I used to go when I was a child, and I remember the coquitos in my hand, and they would tell us ‘even or odd,’ and you had to guess to keep them,” Libia Dennise recalled.
Traditions such as the Procession of Silence in Celaya and the Holy Burial in San Miguel de Allende were mentioned; the Burning of Judas in León, celebrated in the Santiago neighborhood in the Llamarada area. This is a centennial festival that occurs on Easter Sunday and consists of burning cardboard figures with fireworks that represent characters.
Other traditions include the Procession of Silence in Celaya and the Holy Burial in San Miguel de Allende; the Burning of Judas in León, celebrated in the Barrio de Santiago in the La Llamarada area. This is a centuries-old festival that takes place on Easter Sunday and consists of burning papier-mâché figures with fireworks that represent characters.
The Governor and her guests discussed pilgrimages, such as the Pilgrimage to the Black Christ in Salamanca, where thousands of faithful attend the Sanctuary of the Lord of the Hospital in a tradition that dates back to 1560. Also in Moroleón and Uriangato, the Pilgrimage to Huandacareo takes place on the last Wednesday of Lent since 1944.
“These are times for reflection, for tranquility, and for spending time with family, and that's why we've prepared a whole cultural agenda, because if you, like me, are going to stay here in our beloved Guanajuato, we need to find things to do,” expressed the Governor.
Therefore, in the state of Guanajuato there is a cultural agenda for these two weeks from March 27 to April 12, and as is traditional, there are the Altares de Dolores in the museums of the cities of Guanajuato, Silao, and Purísima.
On Good Friday in Guanajuato capital, an altar titled “Her Blood”, an installation by visual artist Ana Karen Gómez. It will be inaugurated this Wednesday, March 25th at 5 pm at the Conde Rul Museum.
For Thursday, March 26th, starting at 3 PM, the traditional Dolores Altars will be on display in Guanajuato. On Friday, March 27th, at the Guanajuato Museum of Art and History, as part of International Autism Day, we will be part of an inclusive culture, dialoguing with specialists from different perspectives.
This Friday, the 27th, at the Hermenegildo Bustos Museum in Purísima del Rincón, we invite you to pointillism classes, a pictorial technique from the late 19th century, from 10 AM to 2 PM.
There is also a vacation program at the Museum of Art and History from March 31st to April 10th with all activities completely free: on March 31st, with "Dolorosa POP," to add color to the Virgin of Sorrows; on April 1st: "Crucifixion in Color," using the watercolor technique; on April 9th: "Easter Egg Decals," for visiting families to decorate their Easter egg; and on April 10th: "Masked Rabbit," to design a mask of this Easter character.
Other activities and places to visit this season include: the Under the Sign of Saturn Exhibition. Divination in Art at the Guanajuato Museum of Art and History, a tour of the visual history of hermetic sciences and divination through art; Fidelio Opera (Beethoven), on May 6 and 8 at the Teatro del Bicentenario, with the Aguascalientes Symphony Orchestra and the Bicentennial Theater Choir.
The Picnic Opera: April 9-11, an event that invites you to enjoy in a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere under the stars. The program includes presentations of Giacomo Puccini's Tosca, Madama Butterfly, and La Bohème.
Festivals in different municipalities are part of this season's activities: the Band Festival, March 28 and 29, in Jaral del Progreso; the Coroneo Sí Sabe Festival, March 29, in Coroneo; the Easter Festival, March 29 to April 5, in Santa Catarina; the Carpas Fest from April 2 to 4, in Yuriria; Adventure in the Heights, April 4, in San Diego de la Unión; the Mezcal and Ice Cream Fair, April 10 and 11, in Comonfort; and the Art and Craft Festival, April 10 and 11 in Acámbaro.
“I want to tell visitors that we will be deploying Operation San Cristóbal, which allows us to guarantee peace and security. In Guanajuato, we are ready to receive them, attending to all tourists and our people,” concluded Governor Libia Dennise.
