Travel Guide SALTILLO Contents

DISCOVER SALTILLO 01

SALTILLO PROFILE 03

SALTILLO ATTRACTIONS 04

SALTILLO DINING 11

SALTILLO SHOPPING 13

SALTILLO NIGHTLIFE 15

THINGS TO DO IN SALTILLO 16 DISCOVER SALTILLO

Saltillo is a highly industrialized city and the capital of the state of Coahuila. Its economic growth is mostly a result of the large number of transnational companies that have established themselves in the region. In fact, Saltillo is known as the Detroit of Mexico thanks to the growth of its automobile industry, and the Athens of Mexico for its renowned educational and cultural activities.

As a result of its growing hotel and convention infrastructure, Saltillo has become a top destination for business travelers. The friendliness and warmth of its residents coupled with its progress and modernity are just some of the city’s greatest riches, and it’s also home to beautiful colonial buildings.

1 BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIAL METROPOLIS

Geographically, Saltillo is well-positioned to do business with the eastern and western regions of Mexico, as well as the United States and Canada. Efficient air and ground transportation, low industrial costs, a skilled labor force, and high productivity make it a great opportunity for both international and do- mestic investment.

At a national level, Saltillo is an economic powerhouse. The city excels in the industries of textiles, transportation, chemicals, wine making, and most importantly, automobile manufacturing. The automobile industry is one of the most important in the region due to the large number of specialized assembly plants, some of which are considered among the most modern in Latin America. They produce 30% of the cars in the country. In addition, the cities of Saltillo and Torreon produce around 40% of the milk products in Mexico.

2 SALTILLO PROFILE

Renowned industrial metropolis

Site of important automobile assembly plants

Home to various textile, wine making and electronics companies

Numerous museums

Business infrastructure

Land of the sarape and the famous bread “pan de pulque”

3 SALTILLO ATTRACTIONS

Thanks to its abundant natural wealth, Saltillo offers stunning landscapes, forested areas, deserts and mountains, making it a great destination for alternative tourism and winter sports. In addition to the rich biodiversity found in and around Saltillo, it also offers cultural centers, colonial churches, monuments and museums.

ATENEO FUENTE

Housed in a beautiful Art Deco style building, the Ateneo Fuente features a Natural History Museum, a colonial art gallery, a Mexican art gallery and a high school. It takes the first part of its name, Ateneo, from “Atenas de Mexico” (Athens of Mexico), a nickname given to the city of Saltillo for its promotion of the arts and sciences; while Fuente refers to the city’s founder, Juan Antonio de la Fuente.

HISTORIC CENTER

Discover the cultural beauty of the buildings and monuments in historic center of Saltillo. Experience the history, art and faith of the city at the Plaza de Armas. Nearby, you can admire buildings of great historic, architectural and cultural importance, such as the cathedral and the Saltillo Casino. Other tourist attractions worth visiting include the Old Train Station, the Government Palace, the Venustiano Carranza Museum and the San Esteban Church, which was built in 1592.

4 SALTILLO CATHEDRAL

The stunning Saltillo Cathedral is an architectural gem built in honor of the apostle Saint James the Greater. It started out as a parish church in 1745 and was later transformed into the cathedral that exists today. Visitors can appreciate the religious devotion and fervor enshrined in the graphic images of the Via Crucis that were brought from Belgium. You’ll be amazed by its cruciform architecture, magnificent oil paintings and fine sculptures in every corner.

PRESIDENTS OF COAHUILA MUSEUM

The city of Saltillo is a renowned metropolis rich in the arts, history and culture. The Presidents of Coahuila Museum is designed to recognize the important political figures of the state with a 300-piece exhibit related to the life and work of 19 presidents of Mexico and two emperors. It also provides information about Eulalio Gutierrez Ortiz, Melchor Muzquiz and Roque Gonzalez Garza.

5 THE GYROSCOPE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY MUSEUM

This museum is ideal for interactive learning and teaches the importance of science in everyday life. It focuses on themes such as electricity, magnetism and the development of transportation over the years. There are also exhibits with biological themes, regional plants and animals, a planetarium, a robotics laboratory, and a fourth dimension room. BULLFIGHTING CULTURAL MUSEUM

This museum showcases the evolution of bullfighting and a series of testimonials about this sport. It is considered the first museum of its kind in the country and features literature, painting, sculpture, music, cinema and poetry exhibitions.

6 PARRAS DE LA FUENTE

This picturesque Magic Town is located within an hour of Saltillo and is known as the “Oasis of Coahuila” for its fertile vineyards that grow delicious grapes to make fine wines that are exported all over the world. From atop the Santo Madero Church you can admire the vineyards that make up the lush green landscape. Here you’ll also find the San Lorenzo Hacienda, one of the first wineries in the Americas and the former home of Francisco I. Madero, who served as president of Mexico. MUSEUM OF THE SARAPE AND REGIONAL DRESS

This museum features an extensive collection of hand-made traditional clothing that demonstrates the beauty and creativity of Mexican artists. It also showcases the origins of the sarape: a symbol of Saltillo, as well as other garments from hundreds of years ago.

7 THE DESERT MUSEUM This museum has four pavilions and a complete botanical garden with more than 250 different types of cacti. Interactive exhibits teach visitors about the origins and nature of the desert. You’ll be amazed by the wide variety of plants and animals that survive in the desert despite the absence of water, and have the opportunity to see the skeletons of a Tyrannosaurus Rex, a Hadrosaurus and a Quetzalcoatlus.

NARIGUA VALLEY Located just 25 minutes outside the city, you’ll find this rock art site that is included on the National Archeological Registry. It has 150 petroglyphs, which are rocks carved with the inscriptions of ancient nomadic tribes who depended on fishing and hunting to survive. It’s also possible to see the ancient fire pits that belonged to these hunter-gatherer tribes, the same groups who are responsible for the creative rock carvings.

8 VITO ALESSIO ROBLES CULTURAL CENTER

This cultural center hosts conferences, conventions and temporary expositions of modern art and visual arts. Its architecture is designed around archways and it is named in honor of Vito Alessio Robles, a soldier from Saltillo and the author of numerous books, who is recognized as the best historian from Coahuila. The interior is decorated with murals by Helena Huerta which captures the history of Saltillo from its founding through the 70s, turning the building into a true work of art to behold. For book lovers, it’s almost unthinkable to not visit this cultural center, which houses a collection of more than 13,000 literary works from the seventeenth to nineteenth centuries.

LA CATRINA MUSEUM

This important museum showcases the magic, traditions and customs that surround the mysterious Catrina character in Mexican popular culture. This museum has a cinema, exhibition halls, a library, and an area where you’ll find a pulqueria and a chocolate shop. It is decorated with paper-mache catrinas made by the artist Cinthya Fuentes. In one room you can admire year-round altars dedicated to deceased personalities, which change monthly according to the anniversaries of their passing.

9 BIRDS OF MEXICO MUSEUM

This extensive museum is located in the historic center of the city. It has more than 2,350 specimens and 75% of the bird species that exist in Mexico. When you visit this museum you can learn about the importance of natural resources in Mexico and the world through the study of birds. These fascinating creatures can help teach us about geography and nature. The museum is located in a historic building that was built in the mid-nineteenth century and originally housed the famous San Juan school.

RINCON COLORADO

Also known as the Valley of the Dinosaurs, Rincon Colorado offers a wealth of fossils from the Cretassic era (70 million years ago). The first dinosaur fossils discovered and reconstructed in Mexico were found here and belonged to the Hadrosaurus family. The fossils of a Tyrannosaurus Rex were also found here. It is located 30 minutes from Saltillo and features a paleontology reserve and museum. ARTEAGA MOUNTAINS AND WINTER SPORTS

This area offers beautiful snowy scenery and lush forests. It is home to the first artificial ski resort in Latin America and features ski slopes made of a special fiber that makes it possible to ski here all year round. Located just 10 minutes from Saltillo, it’s the only place in Mexico where you can enjoy winter sports.

10 SALTILLO DINING

The cuisine of Saltillo is varied and many dishes feature premium beef, tender veal, lamb and baby goat. In addition, you can enjoy exquisite fritada de cabrito (barbecued baby goat), delicious migas saltillenses, or tasty huevo con machaca tacos (tacos with egg and dried, spiced meat).

Some of the other exquisite dishes from Saltillo include patagorria, which is baby goat viscera, chicharron de aldilla (pork rinds) and cabrito al pastor or al horno (barbecued or roasted baby goat). They are often accompanied by delicious handmade “gorditas” (flour tortillas). Pan de pulque, a kind of bread, is another traditional food in Saltillo. EL MESON PRINCIPAL

El Mason Principal is recognized as one of the best restaurants serving Coahuila cuisine in Saltillo. The high quality ingredients used in the preparation of the dishes and excellent service guarantee that you’ll have a unique dining experienced. The best items on the menu are the cabrito al pastor and the fritada. Enjoy barbecued ribs or a juicy steak accompanied by delicious handmade Mexican salsas prepared in a “molcajete” and freshly made tortillas. These flavors represent more than 40 years of tradition.

11 WINE

The traditional drinks of the region are liquors made from apple, pear and quince fruit, as well as wines produced in Parras de la Fuente, the first wine region in Latin America. This region located an hour from Saltillo is where they make the best Blood of Christ wine in the country, as well as communion wine, which is also often served alongside red meat because of its delicate flavor and high quality.

TRADITIONAL DESSERTS

When it comes to desserts, sweets made from regionally grown fruits and seeds, such as fig, quince fruit, pine nuts and almonds, are an excellent choice. Other famous desserts include nut rolls with caramel filling, milk caramel, glorias (caramel pecan candies) and suaderos (jelly rolls stuffed with pine nuts and almonds).

12 SALTILLO SHOPPING

The shops in Saltillo offer a wide selection of goods to suit all tastes. You’ll find everything from souvenirs to clothing and electronics. Saltillo also produces some of the state’s most traditional items, including the highly renowned Saltillo Tile and the famous sarape.

DE DULCE Y BARRO

This traditional shop in downtown Saltillo offers delicious candies and regional crafts. Try the delicious milk candy, made from milk boiled in a copper pot to provide and exquisite flavor and finer texture. Or how about a nut roll filled with milk caramel and rolled in pecans. You’ll also find beautiful pottery items to add a touch of Mexican flair to your home décor.

13 THE SARAPE

The sarape is a magnificent piece of handmade art

that became a national symbol shortly after Mexico

gained its independence, as it was used by all of the

horsemen to keep out the cold. Internationally recognized

for its vivid colors and delicate craftsmanship, it is a

piece of traditional menswear, typically made of wool

and closely linked to Mexican cowboys. Traditionally,

it features a diamond shape in the center and a

background that’s similar to a mosaic with zigzagging

vertical stripes and alternating repetitive designs, such

as triangles, diamonds and ovals.

SHOPPING MALLS

In Saltillo you’ll find shopping malls with a wide variety of stores and boutiques, as well as restaurants and services for locals and tourists.

Plaza Real: This is one of the main shopping malls in the city. It has a large supermarket, as well as a convenient cinema complex and numerous shops. It also has a food court with a wide variety of fast food options.

Plaza Casa Grande: This is one of the most popular shopping malls in Saltillo. It has international restaurants, including the famous Sushi Bar, as well as a play area for kids.

Plaza Las Palmas: Even though it’s not very big, this mall is one of the most visited for its outdoor areas and its dining options. It has several prestigious shops and a great location in the northern part of the city.

14 SALTILLO NIGHTLIFE

The nightlife in Saltillo is the perfect complement to your business trip or vacation. The music in the bars and clubs ranges from electronic to country, pop, rock and norteno. On the weekends, the crowds head to Venustiano Carranza Boulevard, which is where most of the city’s nightlife is located.

You can also find entertainment venues, nightclubs and karaoke bars in the historic center of the city. For a more casual atmosphere, check out some of the nightspots in the northern part of the city or go bar hopping in the area around Eulalio Gutierrez Boulevard.

15 THINGS TO DO IN SALTILLO

Walk around the historic center and admire the main tourist attractions

Take a tour of the city museums

Try some of the delicious local cuisine, including cabrito, patagorria, chicharron de aldilla and pan de pulque

Shop for wine in the picturesque town of Parras de la Fuente

Sample some traditional desserts and candies, such as rollos de nuez rellenos de cajeta, dulces de leche, glorias and suaderos

Enjoy a fun night out at the nightclubs and restaurants on Venustiano Carranza Boulevard

Explore the Narigua Valley and see a variety of petroglyphs

Visit Dinosaur Valley with its wealth of fossils

Check out the artificial ski center in the Arteaga Mountains

Buy a traditional sarape

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