After the conquest of the Aztec Empire in 1521, Mexico was the richest and most prized possession for the Spanish Empire. For 300 years Spain not only ruled Mexico, but also worked diligently to model it after the mother country. The result: a Latin country dominated by European ideas, architecture, monuments and art. The modern day Mexico has more standing legacies to this Spanish colonial era than any other country in the world. (In fact, Spanish Catholics built 12,000 churches in Mexico during that time!) This incredible heritage can be experienced in literally hundreds of cities, towns and villages throughout the country, and Guadalajara, Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende, Morelia and Patzcuaro are certainly at the top of the list

Guadalajara is another of Mexico’s overlooked treasures. It is the country’s second largest city and is known as the “city of roses.” Extremely sophisticated and well preserved, Guadalajara is a wonderful mixture of parks, fountains, plazas, rustic churches and tree-lined boulevards. In addition to the museums, galleries and other cultural offerings, the shopping here is unsurpassed. The suburbs of Tlaquepaque and Tonala are world famous for native crafts, folk art and traditional fine arts of all kinds.

Guanajuato is purely Mexican. You won’t find many Americans here, but you’ll be glad you came. This town is so magical that it’s difficult to describe in words… quite simply one of the most amazing cities in all of Mexico. It has mysticism and charm only rivaled by the small Italian villages in Tuscany or the Andalusian cities in southern Spain. Founded in 1557 as a silver mining town, Guanajuato is built over a maze of unusual subterranean street systems. Once used as control channels for floodwaters, the roads twist and turn through stone arched tunnels that bring you to the surface in various locations throughout the city. Above ground splashes of bright greens, blues and yellows give the perfectly preserved buildings a storybook quality. A labyrinth of tiny streets, alleyways and steep stairwells cover the hillsides. This feels much more like a medieval village than a colonial city. If you’re into photography, you’ll be in heaven!

As for the increasingly popular San Miguel de Allende, this wonderfully eclectic and mesmerizing city has one of the largest populations of Americans living in Mexico. It has the unique ability to maintain all of its historic grandeur while thriving as a cosmopolitan art community. In 1951, the founding of the Instituto Allende, dedicated to the study of all forms of art (and considered the largest school of fine arts in Latin America for English-speaking students), established San Miguel as a city devoted to creativity.

Rolling green hills, mountain lakes, pine trees and wildflowers hardly fit a description of Mexico. But that is exactly how to describe the immense natural beauty of the city of Morelia. Lush and gorgeous, this city defines 17th and 18th century Spanish architecture. The downtown area is home to masterfully restored buildings, most with soft pink-colored stone and delicate facades. The central square is graceful, refined and surrounded by museums and shopping. Morelia feels something like a storybook and the towns and villages on its outskirts are equally impressive.

Morelia has earned a reputation throughout Mexico as a leading intellectual and artistic center, but it is outside this cosmopolitan core that layers upon layers of fascinating history begin to unfold. Famous for its Lake Pátzcuaro (one of the highest lakes in the world at an elevation of 7,250 feet), this quaint historical jewel is a magnificent tribute to preservation. Unlike the regal architecture of nearby Morelia, the buildings here stand untouched in the colonial glory of their past. Indian roots run deep and aside from the paved streets, little has changed. Patzcuaro is home to some of the finest hand-loomed fabrics in all of Mexico and shop after shop is filled with elegant table linens, bedding and clothing in vibrant colors and of unprecedented quality.

Exploring the this magnificent heritage that lies within Mexico’s interior will forever change your perception of the beauty, grandeur and splendor that is at the colonial heart of Latin America. It will be well worth it to experience the real soul of Mexico through these remarkable cities and many others like them.

Itinerary and Pricing