This past weekend I had the opportunity for a weekend trip to the most charming colonial city of Guanajuato and it just so happened to be during one of the largest and most important cultural festivals in Mexico and Latin America!

What is El Festival Internacional Cervantino?

El Cervantino is a huge cultural festival that celebrates the arts, language, culture, food, and more. It started in the mid 19th century when short plays by Miguel de Cervantes, who is also the author of the beloved epic novel Don Quixote, were performed in the plaza. From there, the festival has grown and expanded into the well known celebration that it is today. Each year El Cervantino has a special "country of honor"and this year was the USA! While the festival is to celebrate latin arts and culture etc, the festival also organizes several events to showcase the culture of the country of honor. It was so cool to see the blending and sharing of cultures all in one place, what made it even more sweet is that one of those cultures was my own! :')

There is definitely no shortage of fun things do during this festival! I would highly recommend adding it to your travel wish list! If festivals aren't your thing, thats okay! Regardless Guanajuato is a STUNNING city and well worth seeing, during the festival or not! Below I'll share some of the gems I saw during my visit that I recommend!

More to Guanajuato:

Along with dozens of beautiful exhibitions that the festival offers, Guanajuato also has it own must see places during your visit.

For the Museum Folks...

- Museo Casa Diego Rivera: This museum was the old house in which Diego Rivera was born and was restored in the 70s to become a museum showcasing how the family would have lived during the time and showcasing an impressive art collective in both permanent and temporary exhibits. There were lots of cool pieces of Rivera's to see and from other artists, I recommend!

- Museo de las Momias de Guanajuato (Museum of the Mummies): This museum has the largest collection of naturally occurring mummies in the world. The bodies of the mummies were interred during the cholera outbreak in Guanajuato during in 1833, they were later disinterred due to a tax required for "perpetual burial" during that time and were discovered to have become mummified. Due to the short time I was in Guanajuato, I didn't get to see this Museum, but it seems SO COOL and I will definitely be stopping there on my next visit!

- Museo del Pueblo de Guanajuato: This museum is located in an old house and features modern and contemporary art. I also was unable to visit this one due to time, but it is on the list for next visit!

- Funicular de Guanajuato: this is not a museum but nevertheless it has breath-taking views! The funicular is basically a cable car that will take you up the mountains of Guanajuato revealing beautiful views of colorful city! At the top you will find a small market with lots of delicious food and a very large statue called El Pípila which depicts Juan Jose de los Reyes Martínez holding a torch, who played a large role in Mexico's Independence.

(Pictured above from left to right: The Funicular, The stunning view ;), El Pípila from below)

Along with those awesome choices for tourist sites, the city has an amazing and large Market called Mercado Hidalgo that has so many different types of vendors that sell anything from yummy meals to a handcrafted souvenirs! My friend and had flautas from one of the vendors and were SO GOOD.

(Pictured above: The Market Hidalgo featuring my friends Audra and Carol <3, Yummy Flautas and freshly squeezed watermelon juice, View of Market Hidalgo from above)

Of course any visit would not be complete without popping in the local church to say hi to Jesus! While there I got the see inside La Basílica Colegiata de Nuestra Señora de Guanajuato! It was stunning. I stepped inside during the mass without realizing, just in time for the sign of peace. I got to share this with my friend who was with me, what a special moment! The other church I had the privilege of attending mass in was called Templo de la Compañía de Jesús de Oratorio de San Felipe Neri, whew what a mouthful. It was as equally stunning and felt just like walking into home. What a gift it is to be able to attend church anywhere in the world and feel at home thanks to the universality that is my Catholic faith!