The best way to celebrate; The Route of Independence

Published September 15th, 2021

The 211th anniversary of the beginning of Mexico’s Independence is approaching and what better way to commemorate it than by taking a route through the municipalities of Guanajuato where this important event took place.

It all began in the early morning of September 16, 1810, in the municipality of Dolores Hidalgo, where the priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla called the people to take up arms and fight for the Independence of the country from the atrium of the parish of Our Lady of Dolores. Today, Dolores Hidalgo is an extremely picturesque magical town called the Cradle of Independence, which is why its official name is Dolores Hidalgo C.I.N. Visit the parish church and see the plaque that marks the point from which the priest Miguel Hidalgo gave the “Grito”.

To learn a little more about the history, visit the Museum of Independence, while you taste traditional exotic snow of Dolores, such as avocado, chicharron, ceviche, and many more.

In Dolores, the Cura formed the first General Staff of the Insurgent Army at the Hacienda de Erre. With this battalion, the Cura left for San Miguel de Allende, specifically to the Sanctuary of Atotonilco, and motivated his troops with the first Insurgent Flag, the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

It was precisely in San Miguel de Allende, where Hidalgo and Ignacio Allende created the first Free City Hall of Mexico. Currently, the Sanctuary of Atotonilco is known as “The Mexican Sistine Chapel” thanks to the 17th-century murals found there, elements for which it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The Independence Route continued in Celaya, by September 21, 1810, the independence squads not only entered without any resistance to the municipality accompanied by the Priest Miguel Hidalgo, but they received all the support of the people of Celaya, increasing their troops considerably. At this point, the priest was named Captain General of the Insurgent Army and Ignacio Allende as Lieutenant General.

See the impressive murals that are in the Municipal Presidency, the temple and Convent of San Francisco, the temple of Carmen, and the portals of the Plaza de Armas. You cannot leave without tasting the traditional and sweet cajeta de Celaya.

The troops headed to Irapuato to recruit more insurgents, and with them take the road to the Capital. Visit the Casona de Iturbide, the temple of the Hospitalito, and the famous Mural of Identity located inside the Municipal Presidency. You can also harvest your own strawberries and taste all the products made from this delicious fruit.

The tour culminated in the capital of Guanajuato, Hidalgo and his troops arrived on September 28, 1810, the date on which a battle was unleashed against the Spaniards. After a miner known as “el Pípila” burned the door of the Alhóndiga de Granaditas, the few remaining Spaniards opted to surrender.

Walkt hrough the alleys, squares, tunnels, and emblematic points that distinguish Guanajuato Capital, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, such as the Museum of the Alhóndiga de Granaditas, or the iconic viewpoint of the city, where the monument in honor of the Pípila is located.