Tour Taxco, a colonial town filled with hilly cobblestone lanes leading to attractive plazas. Lining the streets are immaculate Spanish-era palaces, Baroque monuments, quaint whitewashed houses and flower-filled courtyards. Taxco achieved 16th-century fame as a silver-mining boomtown. Today its artisanal stores, markets and workshops lure shopping enthusiasts. In 2015, the town became one of Mexico’s Pueblos Mágicos for its historical significance, mining heritage and natural beauty.
Borda Square (the Zócalo) is the town’s energetic heart, a public space framed by architectural masterpieces, bars, cafés and souvenir shops. Be entertained by street performers and listen as vendors hawk their wares. Visit the magnificent Baroque Santa Prisca Cathedral, dominated by huge twin bell towers. Retrace silver mining history at the Silver Museum. Attend contemporary theatre shows and peruse art exhibitions at Casa Borda Cultural Centre.
Follow narrow lanes fanning out from Borda Square to uncover more of the captivating colonial townscape. Browse a wide range of silver goods, including jewellery and encrusted ceramics, at shops and studios. Mercado de Plata is a one-stop market for competitively priced silver souvenirs. Wander amid the colourful stalls of the labyrinthine Mercado Central.
Admire religious artwork, including dedications to the town cathedral, at Casa Humboldt (Virreinal Art Museum). Pre-Columbian art and pottery bequeathed by U.S. silversmith William Spratling occupy the Guillermo Spratling Museum. Hear legends of ghostly happenings on a tour of the Figueroa House Museum.
Find relief from the sun in tree-shaded Guerrero Park, where locals often meet to chat. Ride the Taxco Teleférico and admire splendid views of the encompassing cliffs, mountainsides and peaks of the Central Highlands. Enjoy more views from the Cristo Monumental, accessible via a 45-minute walk or short taxi ride from the town centre.
Located in the northern part of Guerrero state, Taxco is about a 3-hour drive southwest of Mexico City. It’s a good base for exploring the caves of Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park, woodlands of Alejandro Humboldt National Park and Las Pozas Azules natural pools.
