Subterranean Guanajuato (photo by Mexicanwave courtesy of Flickr)

Guanajuato is a truly magical city, like many of the majestic colonials of Mexico. The city itself dates back to 1552 and the tunnel system was built around the time of the silver boom. Guanajuato was one of the many famous silver towns in Mexico and in 1558, a prosperous silver vein was first discovered that put it on the map.

Emerging from the tunnels (photo by shugyou courtesy of Flickr)

One of its most intriguing qualities is the subterranean tunnel system that crisscrosses around underground Guanajuato. Cars and buses run underground making the city quite pedestrian friendly.There are areas that have simply banned vehicles, something you definitely notice after visiting some of Mexico’s bigger cities.

From above (photo of Catwommn courtesy of Flickr)

Like much of Mexico, the buildings are ornate and quite colorful. They are close together as a result of alley ways and streets being so narrow. This bodes very well for visitors wanting to travel by foot. There isn’t the sense of congestion that can sometimes mar the view of the colonial beauty.

The light of day (photo by dearbeatrice courtesy of Flickr)

While the tunnel system may not be the best choice for those who live with claustraphobia, it is a must see. There are few places left on Earth that can transport you to another place in time. Guanajuato’s subterranean system does just that. Some may call the tunnels spooky, creepy or just plain weird, but they should definately be added to your tavel log when visiting Guanajuato.