Churches and sirines
Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guanajuato
Each of the Basilica's three impressive entrances is graced with baroque-mannerist cantera stone facades, and a three-section bell tower built in the same period and style rises majestically from the main facade. The Basilica also features another, smaller, tower in the 18th-century Churrigueresque. To one side of the baptistry is a neoclassical chapel with two small towers, in a style contrasting with the other elements of the church, built between 1870 and 1878, dedicated to the Virgin of Lourdes.
One of the lateral chapels is dedicated to Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, patron saint of miners, and the other to Saint Ignatius of Loyola, patron saint of the city.
The church's floor, thought to originally have been hardwood mesquite and later stone tiling, is now marble, dating from 1956. In the 18th century, the Marquis of San Clemente built an annex to the church to house the niche of the Holy Virgin, which was later made into the baptistry, and which features a beautiful font and several paintings by Miguel Cabrera. This history books tell us that the image of the Virgin of Guanajuato was a gift from Charles I or Phillip II. A magnificent kiln-dried wood sculpture, the image represents the sweet beauty of the Holy Virgin and the Christ Child. The sculpture's pedestal is a magnificent baroque silver piece, donated in 1737 by José de Sardaneta y Legaspi.
The chapel that is now the resting place of Father Jarauta, a century ago held the remains of Saint Faustina, Martyr; her revered body and dried blood, in an elaborate urn, were acquired in Rome by the second Count of Valenciana. These remains, authenticated by the Holy See, arrived in Mexico City in 1803 and were displayed for public veneration in the private chapel at the home of the Count, located on Calle de Plateros (now Madero) in this viceregal capital. In 1812, before a notary, the remains were placed in the current urn. The Count of Valenciana donated the body and blood of Saint Faustina to the parish of Guanajuato, and, in 1826, the remains were placed in a chapel whose altar was designed by architect Eduardo Tresguerras. In 1907, on the occasion of the declaration of patron sainthood of the Virgin of Guanajuato, the remains of the saint were moved to the high altar.
Cristo Rey / El Cubilete
This shrine crowns the mountain Cerro del Cubilete, 2,579 meters (8,460 feet) above sea level. One of Mexico's most important religious monuments, it marks the geographical center of our country.
The site was originally home to a Christ the King statue of lesser size, which was destroyed in an air raid during the height of what is known as the "Cristero War", the last stage of armed conflict in the Mexican Revolution.
The current building which serves as a base for the gigantic statue was built by Nicolas Mariscal in 1944. Mariscal had previously built another chapel dedicated to Christ the King which adjoins the Cathedral of León. The entire building, and the image of Christ as well, are art deco in design. This is evident in the floor plan, the façade, and in the construction materials used.
Inside, the altar table rests upon a circular platform of three steps. Above this table hangs a grand metallic crown, symbol of royalty, accenting the circular ceiling vault of rings and arches. Thin Cali marble plaques adorn the vault's hollows, allowing natural light to filter in.
Seen from the outside, the building is the base for the statue of Christ the King holding His arms open in sovereignty over the entire country. Two angels kneel at the statue's feet, presenting Him with a crown of thorns and a royal crown. From the plaza at the foot of the shrine, one can enjoy wide-open vistas of the Guanajuato plains. The air is pure and one feels a certain mystical comfort.
San Diego
Construction of this church was begun by the Barefoot Franciscans of San Diego in 1663. Of the original building, nothing remains above ground, but underground is a different story: The many floods that have swept through Guanajuato buried the church bit by bit and led to rebuilding in 1694 and 1780. This latter construction is the one we see today. The work was funded by the first Count of Valenciana and completed in 1784, raising the floor, walls, facades and altarpieces six to eight “rods” over the original level.
The facade, carved out of fine pink quarry stone, is a superb example of the Mexican Churrigueresque. The interior no longer has its original altarpieces – these have been replaced by cold nineteenth-century neoclassical pieces. In the century past, the convent attached to the church was lost, as was the cemetery and chapel of the Third Order, to make room for the construction of the Teatro Juárez.
Parroquia de Belén
The church facade features a bust of Bethlemite founder, Pedro de Betancourt. On the opposite section is an image of Franciscan Antonio de Padua. The second horizontal section features two niches: the left niche holds an image of Nuestra Señora Santana, and the right, that of San Joaquín. The Virgin Mary prominently figures in the center niche of the third horizontal section.
The church is built in the shape of a Latin cross. Certain elements in the presbytery particularly stand out, including the dome, the side altarpieces and the stunning high altar. The original baroque altarpieces have now been redone in a 19th century style. The left altarpiece is dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe; across the transept is a grand sculpture of the Sacred Heart. The altarpiece of the high altar corresponds to a neo-gothic style, and the pulpit features fine Spanish gilding.
Santuario de Cata
Given the religious spirit of the time, it was customary for miners to build chapels at work sites to fulfill their religious obligations. Such was the origin of the church we can see today. Local history has it that the image of Christ that is now venerated in the church was sent to Cata by the wealthy miner Alonso de Villaseca--owner of large mines in the towns of Ixmiquilpan, Cardonal and Zimapán--to be venerated in one of his own haciendas in Cata. However, in order to provide the sculpture and faithful parishioners with an adequate space, the construction of the current church was begun in 1709. After several long pauses in the construction, the church was finally concluded in 1789.
Construction delays were due to fluctuations in the production of the mine at Cata. In proportion to mine production, the church was slowly erected, modified, and occasionally even abandoned when mining operations turned unprofitable and local residents, the construction workers, moved elsewhere.
The Mineral de Cata Shrine is now a religious center of national importance, as worshipers from all corners of the country come to venerate the miraculous image of the Christ of Villaseca, motivated mainly by their wish to obtain indulgences, goods and favors.
San Francisco
When the Franciscans arrived in Guanajuato, they founded a hospice next to the Church of San Juan Bautista, which was later conferred to them in 1828. They built the Convent of San Francisco there, which was concluded in 1792. The Franciscans decorated the interior with stone altars, carved in the neo-baroque style of the period.
San Cayetano (Valenciana)
This churrigueresque church, built of pink cantera stone, features three wooden altarpieces covered in gold leaf. In 1775, construction was begun in an area near the Valenciana Mine, and the church was completed in 1778. Initially, the church belonged to the Hospitaller Order of the Latins. That same order built a convent adjoining to the church which they never occupied and which today houses the School of Philosophy and Letters of the University of Guanajuato.
Santuario de Guadalupe
Built in the eighteenth century, this shrine is known for the groups of dancers that gather here from all over the state during the December celebrations in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe.
Mellado
The Church of Our Lady of Mercy, in Spanish, "Nuestra Señora de la Merced ," was erected in 1752 through the initiative of mining partners. The baroque church features a scupted rose cantera stone façade with a large, finely-carved wooden door and a small square bell tower. The interior consists of a single nave with three domes near the high altar. Although this is principally a mining neighborhood, Mellado has been known for the quality of its ceramics since the mid-19th century.
San Roque
The small Church of San Roque, located next to a fine town square with an undeniable urban charm, was built at the beginning of the eighteenth century, around 1726. Its façade is baroque in style. The square has been the stage for the short comic plays known as Entremeses Cervantinos since 1953. These plays gave rise to the International Cervantino Festival in 1972.
San Sebastián
During the colonial period, there were as many cemeteries in Guanajuato as there were churches, seeing as the courtyards of the churches were, in fact, cemeteries. At that time, the San Sebastián Cemetery, which dates back to the eighteenth century, was outside the city limits. In 1782, a parishioner by the name of Moratin, with the help of alms he received, built the church which is situated on the grounds of this cemetery.
