Aguascalientes: A Unique and Fun Place to Explore

Aguascalientes is one of the most prosperous and safe states in Mexico, with an enviable strategic location that favors its connectivity with countless national and international destinations. Along with all these competitive advantages, it also offers a wide range of tourist attractions enriched with history, culture, gastronomy, and tradition; it is a state full of activity and fun throughout the year.

Aguascalientes has scenarios, spaces, and infrastructure to practice tourism in many of its variants: nature, adventure, sports, wine, culture, religion, business, etc. There are many experiences to live and enjoy in Aguascalientes. One of them is its three Magical Towns: Calvillo, San José de Gracia, and Real de Asientos, places that enchant visitors with their rich gastronomy, festivities, and traditions, as well as their culture and tourist attractions.

The Wine Route is a new tourist product that no one can miss; in this tour that consists of 16 points, among vineyards, wine houses, farms, and cheese factories, among other places, visitors will enjoy guided tours, wine tastings, tastings, and some other unique experiences.

Something that also attracts attention to Aguascalientes is its thematic festivals; throughout the year it offers families different recreational and cultural activities that aim to rescue the customs and traditions of the state; in October the Calaveras Cultural Festival is held, in September the Vino Fest is promoted, and in December Villa Navidad is held.

For nature and extreme sports lovers, the State of Aguascalientes has imposing sceneries where they can practice rappelling, hiking, zip-lining, mountain biking, sport fishing, climbing, and camping, among many other activities. The Cerro del Muerto, the Sierra Fría, the Sierra del Laurel, and the Malpaso dam are just some of the scenarios to live with nature.

And for those who enjoy art and culture, Aguascalientes offers countless museums, galleries, and historic buildings that stand out for their imposing architecture, such as the San Antonio Temple, the Cathedral, the Government Palace, and the Exedra, as well as the Morelos Theater, the City Museum, the Guadalupe Posada Museum, the Insurgence Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Regional Museum of History, among others.

Religious tourism is one of the most popular attractions in Aguascalientes; here it is possible to visit the Cerro de las Tres Caídas in the municipality of Cosío; the Cristo Roto in San José de Gracia; the Templo del Señor de las Angustias in Rincónde Romos; the Ex Convento del Tepozán in Asientos and the Parroquia del Señor del Salitre in Calvillo, which has the largest dome in Latin America.

The gastronomic diversity of Aguascalientes is another of its great attractions. In this state, visitors can enjoy a great variety of typical dishes of the region, such as Aguascalientes chili, Chichimeca rabbit, mole de guayaba, and the typical suckling pig tacos, among many others.

Sports and business tourism are two great strengths for the economy of Aguascalientes since every year major events are held here, thanks to the first-class infrastructure to host important national and international sporting events, as well as venues for conventions, exhibitions, congresses, conferences, symposiums, and festivals with a high influx of attendees.

And finally, the jewel in the crown, its traditional National Fair of San Marcos, which today is positioned as the most important in Mexico and Latin America; this festival takes place year after year in a family atmosphere on a surface of 93 hectares and registers an average of 8 million visitors; the festival offers livestock, industrial, handicraft and gastronomic exhibitions, as well as sports, artistic and cultural events for all tastes and ages.

But undoubtedly the warmth of its people and the clarity of its skies, are distinctive features that make Aguascalientes a unique place that offers locals and strangers alike an endless number of attractions that become important reasons to visit and get to know Aguascalientes.

Must-see Route

No matter where you visit from, thank you very much for coming! Now, it's your turn to get to know, eat, and feel like a true local. That's why this is a route, made especially for you. Feel like a true local, getting to know the unmissable in Aguascalientes.

The Heart of Mexico - Exedra Column

The column that you see there, is of Ionic style and was made in homage to Charles IV of Spain, but it was concluded when he had already abdicated in favor of his son Ferdinand VII. The kind of "steps" that cover the column, is the Exedra, which gives its name to the Plaza. At the bottom of the column are the remains of the liberal governor José María Chávez.

Government Palace Murals

Four walls of the State Government Palace were decorated with fresco paintings, detailing different aspects that have influenced the life not only of our state but of Mexico as a whole. These murals were painted by Chilean Osvaldo Barra Cunningham.

Morelos Theater

Welcome to a historic theater: the Morelos Theater. This theater was inaugurated on August 25, 1885, with the staging of "La muerte civil" ("Civil Death") by the Italian actor and producer Leopoldo Burón. Its appearance is like that of the theaters of Europe, lined all in beige quarry stone and with a great classic interior. Its interior preserves a horseshoe-shaped room. It has a monumental chandelier where the exact acoustics of the enclosure is located. Here, for the first time in the history of Mexico, the factions of the Mexican Revolution met in 1914 to discuss the immediate future of the country.

Nieto Street

Emblematic commercial street, characterized by its sale of handmade shredded textiles from Aguascalientes. Here you will find a wide variety of styles and colors, you can also find clothes and shoes for your whole family. Visit it.

San Marcos Garden

Welcome to the most beautiful garden in Mexico: the garden of San Marcos! That's what the Chronicler of the Revolutionary Convention of 1914, Vito Alessio Robles, said. This garden, besides being the entrance to the National Fair of San Marcos, is a lung of the city, and in it live an infinity of animals and plants. Its balustrade is of neoclassical style as well as its four entrances. On March 3, 1831, Mr. Ignacio Tello de Lomas, parish priest of the church of San Marcos, delivered the deeds of the garden land for the amount of 400 pesos.

Mercado Juarez "Birria Market"

In the Juarez market you will find all kinds of footwear for the family, but what attracts people the most is the delicious birria. Even though it wasn't invented here, it is the best in Mexico! What is it? It is a dish based on lamb meat (although in some regions it is prepared with goat meat and in some parts of the north, with beef), prepared in a sauce of many spices and chili peppers cooked in the oven.

Terán House

This is not just any house, here on January 14, 1821, José de Jesús Rafael Terán Peredo, better known as Jesús Terán, "The Soldier of the Republic", was born. Terán was the representative of Benito Juárez in Europe after the French invasion. His house is of Italian style, unique in the state, designed by the master of Mexican Baroque, Felipe de Ureña.

Francisco L. Madero Avenue

Welcome to a unique street in the Mexican Republic! It is unique, because it connects the center of the city with the railroad station, in a straight line. Walk along with it and find bars, restaurants, cafes, bookstores, clothing, footwear, pharmacies, video games, and everything you need to feel at home in Aguascalientes.

Three Centuries Square

Here we are all children of the railroad! That's why you are welcome to one of the few railroad heritage museums in Mexico: La Plaza Tres Centurias. Here you will find a site museum, a gallery, the Aguascalientes railroad heritage study center, a model railroad club, the dancing fountains of Barcelona, and two presidential cars.

The Maestranza

This work of art is a technological spectacle of sound, light, and video that takes place on a dynamic and interactive mural five meters high and is based on mechatronic technology to narrate and illustrate in a very didactic and entertaining way the history of the railroad in Aguascalientes.

Other points of interest

Vestir Square
Rincón Gallardo Garden
Andador Allende
El Parian
Juarez Passage
Snacks of Aguascalientes

Bullfighting Route

Did you know that Aguascalientes is a land of bulls and bullfighters? Municipal Bullfighting Academy is the school of the greatest bullfighting figures in Mexico, and not only that. There is a centenary bullring where the greatest matadors of the 20th century spilled art; the most beautiful bullring in Latin America. And if that were not enough, the only bullfighting mausoleum in the world. An Olé here is worth more than a thousand in any other city.

Church of El Encino

The Church of El Encino is located in a wonderful neighborhood of the same name. A neighborhood that has forged the highest figures of bullfighting in the state of Aguascalientes, poets, artists, and entrepreneurs. It is also the home of the Encino Church, where the most adored Christ by bullfighters is located: El Cristo Negro (The Black Christ).

Don't miss the vaults of the church are covered with Talavera tiles, and the semicircular arches are worked in gold leaf. Be sure not to miss the organ, the paintings depicting Christ's Way of the Cross -perhaps the largest in Latin America- and, in the baptistery, a priceless and beautiful painting of the baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ by the artist Juan Correa, one of the jewels of sacred art in the state.

Bullfighting Mausoleum

Inside the Los Angeles Pantheon, in the Guadalupe neighborhood, is the only bullfighting mausoleum in the world. There rest the remains of the bullfighter Arturo Muñoz "La Chicha", the matadors Rubén Salazar, Efrén Adame, Fabián Ruiz, as well as the bullfighter Juan Gallo.

San Marcos Bullring

Its construction was done in 48 days, a record time! And it was in charge of Engineer Camilo Pani. It was inaugurated on April 24, 1896. The matador who inaugurated it was the Spaniard Juan Jiménez "El Ecijano", with bulls from the Venadero ranch.

El Encierro

Point of reference and faithful homage to the love for the bull in Aguascalientes. This bronze work is made up of seven fighting bulls, each one bearing the symbol in homage to the cattle ranchers of the area, guided by a caporal on the back of a horse. Together they exceed eight tons in weight, 24 meters long, 10.5 meters wide, and 6.5 meters high.

Monumental Bullring

The most beautiful bullring in Latin America: the Monumental of Aguascalientes. This plaza is a representative symbol of the National Fair of San Marcos. It currently has a capacity of 15,000 spectators. The best bullfighters in the world have performed here, especially during the opening night of the festival. For its design, the characteristics of the Spanish and Portuguese bullfighting arenas were taken into account. In particular, it is influenced by Lisbon, Campo Pequeño, Las Ventas, Plaza Monumental de Barcelona and Plaza España.

Refugio Reyes Route

Maybe you don't know the name Refugio Reyes Rivas, but in Aguascalientes, Refugio, Don Cuco or "El Burro Loco" ("The Crazy Donkey") - as he was called - embellished the city, so much so, that most of the architectural legacy, from the end of the XIX century and beginning of the XX century, was built by this wonderful architect born in Zacatecas, but built-in Aguascalientes. Visit churches, hotels, houses and why not.... even a castle.

Ciela (Fraguas)

It was built in pink and yellow quarry stone, framing the openings and crowned with truncated pediments, integrating the use of stipes in the first body of the wooden door. The most romantic singer-songwriter of the first half of the 20th century, Alfonso Esparza Oteo, was born on this property.

Regional History Museum

The 1901 farmhouse was the home and school of the Guadalupanas sisters, and today houses the Regional Museum of History.

La Saturnina Restaurant

Refugio built this house for Don Anselmo Lopez, a prominent businessman of the state. Today it is the delicious Restaurant La Saturnina.

Aguascalientes State Congress

The property was projected in 1914 for the Chavez family. It was formerly the headquarters of the Hotel París. It still preserves, in its interior, original horseshoe and stained glass windows.

Historic Hotel France

This was a hotel built for Mr. Felipe Nieto Obregón. Its facade is full of harmonious and plural architectural elements, with French airs, honoring its original name. Today it is the headquarters of Sanborns.

PROFECO

This property was built as a house for Mr. Ignacio Ortiz, with a sober facade of yellow quarry stone. Under the cornice of the first body, in the highlight of the balcony, the characteristic rosette of the repertoire of Refugio Reyes stands out.

Founders' Plaza

Designed in 1899, what today is the Plaza de los Fundadores, was the first hotel in Aguascalientes, the Hotel Washington. Its owner was Mr. Domingo Velasco. It still preserves part of its original facade.

State Historical Archive

It used to be a house and American consulate, today it is the headquarters of the State Historical Archive.

Regis Hotel

The building dates from 1917, its style is Art Nouveau and its façade is decorated with pink quarry stone. It was the headquarters of the Regis Hotel of Don Regino Ibarra, house, and today it is the headquarters of the regional center of the National Institute of Anthropology and Anthropology of Mexico (INAH).

Refugio Reyes House

In 1903 he acquires the land and builds his house, currently located at 423 Juan de Montoro Street. The house still has the characteristic style of the architect from Zacatecas.

La Glorieta de la Purísima Monument

This artistic representation was ordered in 1910 by the then governor Alejandro Vázquez del Mercado, by the presidential order issued by General Porfirio Díaz so that the centennial of the War of Independence would be celebrated throughout the Republic.

Church of the Immaculate Conception

Its construction began on July 18, 1902, inspired by the neo-Gothic style, where the half arches, characteristic of this trend, stand out.

Ortega Castle

Don Juan Douglas, a Scotsman by birth, founder of the flour factory "La Perla", built this castle under the project of Federico Mariscal, who left Refugio Reyes in charge of the development of the building.

Aguascalientes Museum

This building had several owners throughout its history, at the end of the XIX century Don Antonio Morfín Vargas, sold it to Misses Díaz Portillo for the construction of a Catholic school.

Church of San Antonio

Don Antonio Morfín Brambila and Don Antonio Morfín Vargas were the benefactors in the construction of this temple, for many, the icon of Aguascalientes. On October 12, 1895, the first stone was placed, and finally, the temple was blessed on December 8, 1908.

Museums

Aguascalientes has something magical because if it is not the cradle, it is the breath of those who were the most important artists of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Clear examples are Saturnino Herrán, José Guadalupe Posada, Elizondo Sagredo José Francisco, Alfonso Esparza Oteo, Manuel M. Ponce, Ramón López Velarde, Jesús Fructuoso Contreras, Ana Brenner and many more. That is why you should visit museums.

Regional Museum of History
Museum of Traditional Mexican Toys
National Museum of Death
Museum of the City
Aguascalientes Museum
Escarcega Museum
Aguascalientes Railroad Museum
J. Guadalupe Posada Museum

Religious Route

Here are some of the churches worth a visit. In your city, there are also many, and very beautiful, but the ones in this city have something, a very special atmosphere. Get to know the saints, altarpieces, countless paintings, relics, architecture, and above all, get to know the religious legacy that helped forge history. Don't forget to upload your photos on social media.

Cathedral

The cathedral was blessed on September 22nd, 1738. In the access arch, you can see the image of the patron saint of the state: San Miguel Archangel. On the front, you can read an inscription that reads: BASILICAE LATERANENSI IN PERPETUUM AGGREGATA (Lateran Basilica added in perpetuity). That is why it is a minor basilica. Inside you can see an Italian organ from the Ruffatti music house, made of Congo wood, made especially for Aguascalientes; a splinter of the cross of Christ, and a large collection of paintings by José de Alcívar and Miguel Cabrera.

Church of the Expiatory

This church was built on May 13, 1904, by order of the first Bishop of Aguascalientes, Mr. Portugal y Serratos. Of neo-gothic style, with a choral window with a tri-lobed arch, you cannot miss its interior, and the most beautiful stained glass windows.

Parish of the Sanctuary (El Conventito)

It is known as "El Conventito" because it was the convent of San Ignacio de las R. R. R. Nuns of the Teaching. Today it is the parish of the Sagrario. Its facade is neo-Gothic, with pyramidal finials along the facade.

Church of Our Lady of the Rosary (Church of Mercy)

This church was under the administration of the Mercedarian Order, until the Reform laws determined its exclaustration in 1859, when the Secular Clergy took charge, until December 1906, when it was placed under the care of the Dominican Fathers. In 1948 it changed its name to Temple of Our Lady of the Rosary.

San Marcos Church

The church of San Marcos dates from 1655, although it remained unfinished for more than a hundred years, it was concluded on December 15, 1765. In the sacristy of this temple, you will find the work " The Adoration of the Kings to the child Jesus", by José de Alcívar painted in the year 1775, a work of great size that covers the whole wall. One of the great sacred jewels of the state.

Guadalupe Church

Let the baroque surprise you. In its façade, you will find the baroque style in its maximum expression. Its dome was covered with Talavera tiles, and inside, you will be surprised by its marble-like volcanic stone pulpit and the four pendentives with the four apparitions of the Virgin of Guadalupe to the indigenous San Juan Diego. But the great treasure of this church is the painting of the Guadalupe Virgin made by José de Alcivar in the 18th century.

Church of the Third Order

In this church are the remains of the Spanish benefactor of education in Aguascalientes, Don Francisco de Rivero y Gutiérrez. The beautiful façade of this church is made of pink quarry stone, with three niches that surround the choral window, and the access is bordered by two others, supported by stipite pilasters; it does not have a bell tower but a belfry.

Church of San Diego, Chapel, and Catacombs

Sober and very poor baroque style, characteristic of the Franciscan order, it has a belfry instead of a bell tower. Its interior is a gift of the baroque. In the lower part are located the catacombs, where the mummified remains of Father Fray José Sainz are found, and on the upper floor, the Chapel of the Virgin of San Diego, one of the most beautiful in all of Mexico.

San José Parish Church

Neo-Gothic in style, this church differs from the usual constructions of Refugio Reyes Rivas, breaking with the tradition of the Latin cross plan with a dome on the transept. Its elevation is of great sobriety, as was common in the stylistic eclecticism of the time. Refugio illuminates the temple with pointed arch windows and Gothic finials.

San Antonio Church

It is the undisputed icon of Aguascalientes. It is the culminating work of the self-taught architect Refugio Reyes Rivas. Don Antonio Morfín Vargas, allocated $200,000.00 (two hundred thousand pesos) for the construction of this precinct. The bells are from the United States, the paintings from Italy, it has an organ from the house of A. Wagner and Levien, beautiful decoration of pink, yellow and green quarry, a double drum dome that defies gravity, and interiors decorated by Candelario Rivas.

Church of the Immaculate Conception

Its construction began on July 18, 1902, inspired by the neo-Gothic style, where the half arches, characteristic of this trend, stand out.

Organize your agenda and enjoy Aguascalientes.