In Guanajuato? Be Sure to Visit the Teatro Juarez

The outside of Guanajuato’s Teatro Juarez (Juarez Theater) in Mexico blew us away.

We’d just arrived in Guanajuato, a gem of a colonial Mexican city, and had decided to walk to its historical heart.

We’d read it was only a 20-minute walk. But getting lost in the labyrinth of streets stretched that into over an hour. (Not that we minded – it was a delightful detour!)

But then, as we entered the pedestrian-only historical center and turned a corner, there it was – Teatro Juarez – the ornate Guanajuato theater we couldn’t wait to see.

Visiting this theater – along with getting creeped out at Guanajuato’s Mummy Museum and soaking up the art at the Diego Rivera Museum – is one of the best things to do in Guanajuato!

Teatro Juarez

This stunning theater, with its mix of architectural styles and rich history, is a true icon of the city.

Dating back to 1873, it’s decorated on the outside with 12 neoclassical Greek columns, lion sculptures and Victorian lamp posts.

On top, the roof is crowned with eight bronze statues of the Greek mythological muses.

Inside the Juarez Theater is also worth a look

Stepping inside Teatro Juarez feels like stepping back in time.

The carpet is worn from constant use. And the seating seems a bit crammed-in (as is typical of older theaters).

But the interior is just as impressive as the outside, with plush red velvet curtains, red leather chairs, gilded accents and a ceiling that’s a work of art in itself. The décor no doubt reflects the lavish tastes of Mexican dictator Porfirio Diaz, who inaugurated the theater!

If you’re lucky enough to catch a performance at Teatro Juarez, don’t miss the chance. The acoustics are said to be excellent, and we bet it would be quite magical watching a performance in such an opulent setting.

Overlooking the Guanajuato plaza

Back outside, we joined the university students and others (locals and visitors alike) sitting on the wide expanse of steps leading up to the Juarez Theater.

Perched there, we basked in the sunshine, looking out over the Jardin Union, the triangular plaza in Guanajuato’s center.

The plaza is quite cool (literally), fringed by gnarled ancient laurel trees, their deep-green crowns trimmed square to shade pedestrians on the sidewalk just below.

Gazing at the outdoor cafes and shops that ring the plaza and the bustle of people walking past, we felt as though we’d been transported to the Spanish Steps in Rome.

Where to stay in Guanajuato?

When researching Guanajato hotels for our visit, we zeroed in on Quinta Las Acacias.

Built in the 19th century as a French-style mansion, Quinta Las Acacias is the picture of old-world elegance – mixing European antiques with colorful Mexican touches and hospitality.

It sits on a tree-shaded cobblestone street a 20-minute walk uphill from the historic center of colonial Guanajuato (a charming UNESCO-listed town).

Quinta Las Acacias rooms

Hotel Quinta Las Acacias has a total of 16 rooms and suites.

The original main house has six rooms with polished timbered floors and flowered wallpaper.

But for more space, soundproofing and king-size beds, book one of the ten newer larger suites – some traditional, some more modern – in separate stone buildings that climb up the hillside behind the main house.

The newest suites, sprinkled around a cactus garden up top, have views of the Guanajuato mountains.

Each room is different. (See all the different rooms here.)

Once a kitchen, our traditional suite (Suite Con Jacuzzi La Galerena) featured a built-in yellow-tiled stove and counter, huge copper chimney and a playful tequila bottle display.

A tall beaten silver-framed mirror stood in one corner, and blue-and-white porcelain lamps framed the bed. Wood-shuttered windows hid a teeny balcony.

Minor quibble: We found our bathroom with no windows a bit dark.

Amenities

Thoughtful touches at this boutique Guanajuato hotel included free in-room WiFi, coffee maker and vase of fresh red irises.

Maids dressed prettily in pale pink dresses and white aprons kept our room impeccably clean (and they tucked in the green budgies in the birdcage outside each night).

There’s also a small pool.

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Photo credits: © Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase (except lead image) | 9, 11, 13 Quinta Las Acacias

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