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In Saltillo there are many places to visit so can be in touch with its architectural, historical and cultural beauties.
Among the interesting attractions in this city are the tours of the Plaza de Armas and the Zaragoza Alameda (Alameda = Poplar Cove); as well as visits to the Cathedral of Santiago and, of course, the Government Palace. If you are into culture then go see the collections at such museums as the Juarez Building, the Mexican Bird Museum, the Cultural Institute of Coahuila and the Desert Museum.
Rich land, good weather, strong men", this is the slogan you can read on Saltillo's coat of arms, a city of deep historic roots. Venue of transcendental milestones of the nation's life history and a place of great natural wonders, Saltillo offers one of the most spectacular landscapes in on Mexican soil.
Saltillo, so-name after a small waterfall that, a long time ago, formed a water spring in the middle of the desert, it is a city where architecture, tradition, handicraft and culture blend with modernity to come up with a vanguard town in terms of industrial development, science and art. Actually, the city is commonly referred to as the "Athens of the North".
Since its foundation, in 1575, Spaniards and Tlaxcaltecas lived side by side. This has been so because the Spaniards brought in the Tlaxcaltecas to help tame local nomads and teach them of agriculture. Two neighborhoods were founded; one for Spaniards and the other for Tlaxcaltecas even though today it is almost impossible to distinguish one from the other.
Even nowadays the historic center of this city is full of pink quarry-stone buildings among which we can mention the Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral of Santiago, and the Government Palace. In the environs of Saltillo, there are other interesting places examples of which are the Narigua, which harbors numerous glyphs; Rincon Dorado, where fossils of dinosaurs have been found and Arteaga, a place of profuse forests.his square, formerly known as the Plaza de la Independencia (Independence Square), is located right in the heart of the city. It is the town's most popular rendezvous where people go to while time away and it serves as one of the town's important departure points for tours. Many historic deeds occurred here: For example General Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana inspected his army at this square just before starting his campaign against the Texan separatists.
In the surrounding areas, you will find more tourist attractions, such as the Cathedral of Santiago, the Government Palace, the Cultural Institute of Coahuila, The Juarez Building and the Phone Company Building.
SANTIAGO CATHEDRAL
Built between 1746 and 1810, this sanctuary is considered to be the most important one in Coahuila. It also has been witness to important a number of historic deeds. During the American invasion, it served as a hospital.
The building's architecture is a perfectly combination of baroque and Churrigueresque styles. It is also one of the largest and most beautiful such building in Mexico. Santiago Apostol (Santiago the Apostle) is venerated.
It was built with quarry stone and its façade has flower-and-medallion-decorated columns. It is a perfect example of fine stonework. Three steel structures on its tower make up the cross to give it a memorable view.
Its altar is in baroque style and it is profusely decorated with engravings while being overly gold plated. There is an image of Santo Cristo de la Capilla (Holy Christ of the Chapel). Some 45 oil paintings from viceregal times are kept there and they are considered an invaluable jewelry.
GOVERNMENT PALACE
This building has been subjected to tragic fires and has undergone reconstruction a countless number of times. Today, it is a three-story building covered in stone quarry.
Murals describing the full history of the state, found in the lobby and along the marble stairway, are the building's main attractions.
COAHUILA CULTURAL INSTITUTE
Years ago this construction was a big old house, well known for having been home to wealthy families from the region at different times. It was not until the 1970s that it started to function as a building dedicated to art and culture. First it was known as the Instituto Estatal de Bellas Artes (State Institute of Fine Arts), then the Centro de Artes Visuales e Investigaciones Estéticas (The Visual Arts and Aesthetic Research Center) and finally the Cultural Institute of Coahuila (The Coahuila Cultural Institute), which is its present day name.
Promotion of the state's own culture and artwork is of paramount importance at this institute. Workshops and conferences and pictorial exhibits, as well as special events in its gallery are held to that effect.
JUAREZ BUILDING
This building, located next to the Plaza de Armas (Arms Square), is where Benito Juárez lived during his temporary government. Important decisions regarding the path the country would follow were taken precisely in this house. Today, it is a museum where photographs, historic documents and flags from olden times are exhibited.
MEXICAN BIRD MUSEUM
The museum was opened in 1993. Some 1,550 stuffed carcasses of the most exotic Mexican bird species standing on their nests, shells and showcases are exhibited there.
The museum has two explanation areas: the educational one, which includes guided visits and conferences; and the scientific one, which is offers information with regard to where each bird came from as well as a detailed study of one of each birds. Reference books are also available.
ZARAGOZA ALAMEDA
This is a very important ecological park in the city. It has a lake named "The Republic" due to the fact that its shape is a reproduction of the Mexican territory. This place is important because, having abundant poplar and ash trees, it acts as the city's lung.
Among other interesting places next to the Alameda, there is the Sanctuary of Guadalupe, the Fernando Soler theatre, the phone company building, the Ateneo, the Technological Institute of Saltillo, the Casino, the Universidad Autonoma Agraria and the Mexico Bullfighting Square.
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