Taxco offers a culturally focused look at the town’s history: historic buildings, museums, and viewpoints provide a range of ways to explore during your stay. Taxco’s Zona de Monumentos Históricos encompasses 72 blocks of buildings dating from the 17th to the 19th century; the Museo de Antropología Guillermo Spratling displays architectural pieces and silverwork, while viewpoints offer views of the town and mountain region.
Historic Buildings and Their Periods
The Zona de Monumentos Históricos of Taxco de Alarcón encompasses 72 blocks of buildings dating from the 17th to the 19th century. This time span provides a framework for the town’s architectural history across several centuries. The individual buildings therefore cannot be reduced to a single date or style.
The Parroquia de Santa Prisca y San Sebastián was built in 1758 in the Baroque Churrigueresque style. The technical term refers to a distinctive form of Baroque architecture and makes the church a specific example of this style. The Ex-convento de San Bernardino de Siena is considered one of the first monasteries in the Americas. Taxco is thus home to both a religious building with a precise date and a monastery with a distinctive historical designation.
Casa Borda adds the use of an individual building to this architectural history. It was built in 1759 as the residence of Don José de la Borda and now houses the Centro Cultural Casa Borda. The building’s transformation from a residence into a cultural center connects its origins with its present-day cultural function.
Museums: Architecture, Silver, and Diverse Collections
It is worth taking a look at the different collections when exploring the museums. The Museo de Antropología Guillermo Spratling displays architectural pieces from the state of Guerrero, as well as silverwork by the architect Guillermo Spratling. If you are interested in architecture and silver art, you will find both themes represented in this collection.
The Museo de Arte Virreinal Casa Humboldt comprises 14 small rooms containing paintings, sculptures, furniture, liturgical objects, and textiles embroidered with silk and gold. A wide range of object types are displayed here, including artworks, furnishings, and religious objects. This gives the collection a different emphasis from the architectural pieces and silverwork specifically featured at the Museo de Antropología Guillermo Spratling. This distinction can help you plan your museum visit around the subjects that interest you most.
Panoramic Views of the Town and Mountain Region
The viewpoints also differ in what they overlook. Cristo Panorámico stands on Cerro del Atache and offers a view of the town. The Teleférico provides panoramic views of Taxco and the surrounding area from its gondolas. The Centro Histórico of Taxco, in turn, offers a distinctive view of the mountainous region. Each perspective described is therefore different: the town from Cerro del Atache, Taxco and its surroundings from the gondolas, and the mountain region from the historic center.
These distinctions give you a concrete point of reference if views are among your interests. You can compare the views described without treating them as a single viewpoint.
Religious Tradition During Holy Week
The Ruta de las 7 Casas is a Holy Week tradition in Taxco that involves visiting seven churches. Its timing differs from that of the buildings and collections: the route takes place during Holy Week. If you would like to include this tradition in your trip, check the specific holiday dates for the year in question.
Discover more destinations: El Coacoyul, Tepecoacuilco De Trujano, San Marcos, Técpan De Galeana, Iguala, Bajos Del Ejido, Barra De Potosí, Troncones.
For the main travel overview: Guerrero.
