About Saltillo, Mexico

Those brightly-colored blankets that have become an unmistakable symbol of Mexico are produced in this city, the oldest in the north-east of Mexico.



Saltillo¡¯s buildings reflect the various periods in its history. The most important of these is the Cathedral of Santiago, built in a baroque, churrigueresque style, whose altarpieces have toured the world. Nearby stands the Recinto Juárez, formerly the seat of Juárez¡¯ government and now a museum displaying documents and objects of the time. Other major constructions include the Teatro Fernando Soler and the Teléfonos building.



When you visit the city, you will be able to try the excellent meat produced here, tour unusual museums, get a glimpse of the desert and choose one of the famous blankets that are named after the city and symbolize the whole country.



Santiago del Saltillo del Ojo de Agua was founded in 1577 and fourteen years later, San Esteban de Nueva Tlaxcla was established next to it with 71 Tlaxcalan families sent there to pacify the region. Thereafter, farming spread and a textile industry developed that is still famous to this day. Saltillo was one of the first major towns to be captured by the insurgents led by Hidalgo, who entered the city in 1811. After independence, the state was forced to cope with the war against Texas and it experienced problems with the state of Nuevo León that were only solved by Juárez when he established his residence here during the French invasion. In 1913, Venustiano Carranza, who was governor of Coahuila, refused to recognize the government formed after the assassination of Madero and began the Constitutionalist Revolution. Nowadays, although Saltillo is one of the country¡¯s most dynamic industrial centers, it has managed to preserve its friendly, provincial atmosphere.



Saltillo, 1590 m above sea level, is set in a fertile valley surrounded by mountains separating it from the desert that stretches out towards the four corners of the globe. To the north lie the hills of Las Valles, to the south the Sierra Encantada, to the east Arteaga and to the west the Sierra Colorada. In the south of the valley lies the tableland of Arzipe at the bottom of which stands the city with its mild, semi-arid climate.