San Luis Potosi is synonymous with big and beautiful architecture. Many buildings are made of quarry in Baroque style that contrasts with the lordly and elegant neoclassic style prevalent in the city as well as in the local architecture of the houses with their characteristic faades and the large, iron window frames, giving life to the city. The government has instituted maintenance projects to perfectly conserve in a perfect way all the architecture that has made of this city one of the most beautiful places in Mexico.
The city offers a great variety of cultural attractions such as activities in museums, concerts, plays, and arts and cuisine classes in the plaza and its gardens. Crossing the Alameda Park, you can go to any of the four plazas where the main city attractions are located, as well as food stands where you can taste the delicacies of the San Luis Potosi cuisine.
Qualified tour guides will help you discover the history, details and the most fascinating information about the city. You will be able to walk on the streets and the main avenue, finding musical shows while admiring historic monuments such as the neoclassical "La Caja de Agua" (The Box of Water), one of the most representative spots of the city, and "La Casa de Moneda" (Currency Museum), both dating from the 18th century. Close to these monuments is the Spanish Clock with its peculiar machinery; this valuable item was donated by the Spanish community as a symbol of empathy and fraternity towards the San Luis Potosi people. Don't forget to visit the Guadalupe sanctuary, also known as "Basilica Menor de Guadalupe" (Minor Basilica of Guadalupe). This construction site demonstrates the transition between the baroque and the neoclassic styles at the beginning of the 19th century.
Cathedral
Located in front of the Plaza de Armas, this beautiful monument representative of San Luis Potosi blends the baroque and neoclassic styles. The Cathedral dates from the 16th century and it has three naves and an octagonal dome; inside, you can appreciate wonderful stained-glass windows and images of the apostles made of Carrara marble. Each and every detail is worth admiring, as well as the viceregal paintings you will find in here, without forgetting the neoclassic-style altar.
Cerro de San Pedro (San Pedro's Hill)
The discovery of a silver-rich field in the Cerro de San Pedro in 1592 brought a wave of Spanish immigration responsible for the foundation of San Luis Potosi as a mining town. You can walk along its ancient streets admiring its constructions, among which a church dedicated to San Pedro stands out; this building is a proud representative of the art of San Luis Potosi. It has a nice dome, unique in this state due to its beauty and fine details. Its faade with three niches was made in a primitive baroque style. You can also visit old mining tunnels. This zone is currently used to practice extreme sports.
Plaza de Armas
The Plaza de Armas is the most visited place in the city. Here you can admire the gorgeous Cathedral which dates from 1710, as well as the City Hall built in the 19th century, which used to be an Episcopal residence, and where wonderful stained-glass windows representing the shield of the city and a wide variety of murals with biblical passages are found. You will find the "Casa de la Condesa" (House of the Countess) where the only Mexican Vicereine, called Madame Francisca de la Gandara, lived. The "Palacio de Gobierno" (House of Government) is built on pink quarry in a neoclassic style and occupies an important part of the "Plaza de Armas." It features several ballrooms, including one which has been turned into a museum.
Museo Nacional de la Mascara (National Mask Museum)
This museum offers the most characteristic Mexican masks which represent numerous popular traditions as well as historic or symbolic characters that have survived the passing of time. In this museum, the anthropological importance of masks as a universal and cultural element connected to philosophical, religious, and mystic aspects is shown. This collection has approximately 1200 pieces. The structure of the museum is closely related to the cultural and geographic characteristics of the locality where the masks are elaborated; the different masks shown cover different ethnic groups as well as most of the states of the country. It was built towards the end of the 19th century and shows us the splendor of the quarry workers of San Luis Potosi.
Its neoclassic architecture and the decoration on its walls, as well as its iron works and monumental stairs, provide us with an idea of the wonderful things of an entire period.
Museo Regional Potosino (Regional Museum of San Luis Potosi)
This beautiful museum has ten large exhibition rooms where ceramic figures, hardware, fossils, minerals, handicrafts, and archeological pieces from the variety of cultures that lived in the oriental zone of San Luis Potosi, are on display.
Parque Tangamanga I y II
This is a recreational place with wide, green areas, a recreational spot, where the people of the city can practice sports and learn about culture, or merely relax.
You will find sports facilities such as jogging, bicycle, motocross and skating tracks, as well as soccer and archery fields. Inside Parque Tangamanga you will find a nursery with a great variety of flora, woods, and grasslands, as well as two beautiful artificial lakes where you can admire a variety of multicolored fishes.
In this beautiful park you will encounter a lot of animals in our ecological reserve, such as: white-tail deer, sheep, squirrels and many other animals. It has a playground for the kids to enjoy, kiosks with grills where you can hold family gatherings, as well as two theatres, a planetarium and the "Museo de Artes Populares" (Popular Arts Museum) where you can learn very interesting things. You can't miss the great water park, "Tangamanga Splash," located inside Tangamanga park.
Plaza del Carmen
Plaza del Carmen is considered the most beautiful plaza in the city. Here you will observe impressive buildings such as the amazing Iglesia del Carmen, which is the most important work of the viceregal baroque with its churrigureseco blend from the 16th century, in which the beautiful altarpiece, called "La Portada de los Arcangeles," stands out as well as the access faade of the Virgen del Carmen alcove, a shell-shaped chapel covered with gold-sheet details. In this plaza you will also find: the "Teatro de la Paz" (Peace Theater), inaugurated in 1894, where you can admire bronze figures and beautiful murals; the "Palacio Federal" that currently functions as the "Museo Nacional de la Mascara"; and the "Casa de Manuel Jose Othon", poet and pride of San Luis Potosi. Some of his personal belongings and manuscripts dated from the 19th century are on display here.
Real de Catorce
It is worth dedicating one whole day to Real de Catorce, a singular and famous ghost town that is located just two hours from San Luis Potosi. Its tranquility and quietness are amazing; its main attraction, however, is the mining complex where big and impressive properties dedicated to the extraction of gold and silver are still standing, despite the passing of time.
The main economic activity here is tourism. From the heights of Real de Catorce you can to admire the most impressive landscapes of the central high plain. You will find different tours, such as the ones to "Los Tajos" or "Las Tuzas," where you will be able to appreciate the gorgeous geography of Real de Catorce. In the lowlands you will find the Wirikuta natural reserve, sacred land of the Wixarrica people, ethnic Huichol indians in charge of collecting and using the hikuri -also known as peyote - for their ceremonies. At dusk, the blue sky is very impressive and the starry nights are incredible.
Procesion del Silencio (Procession of Silence)
Its origin dates back to the 16th century. It takes place every year on Good Friday night in Holy Week, at 8:00 p.m. sharp. For a lot of people, this is the most touching procession of the whole country; it is carried out by the different congregations of the region, such as monaguillos, nazarenitos and macarenas, charros and adelitas, all of them using their typical costumes while proudly holding up images of the churches they represent. The procession is always held in absolute silence carrying torches; it starts in the Plaza del Carmen and goes all the way to the Cathedral.
Quiqueland
Quiqueland is a tourist complex located just 15 minutes from San Luis Potosi. It offers private cabins and all you need for a fun vacation. You will find everything here from the classical swings to the most extreme activities such as rappelling and gotcha. Come and have fun with your friends and loved ones.
Located just 15 minutes from SLP, the tourist complex Quiqueland offers private cabins and all you need to have fun. No matter how old or young you are, here you will find everything from classic swings to the most extreme activities such as rappelling and gotcha. Enjoy it with your friends and loved ones.