Saltillo

This article is about the Mexican city. For other uses, see Saltillo (disambiguation).

Saltillo
City
City of Saltillo
Coat of arms
Nickname(s):  The Athens of Mexico, The Detroit of Mexico
Location of Saltillo within the municipality
Coordinates: 25°26′N 101°00′W
Country	Mexico
State	Coahuila
Founded	July 25, 1577
Founded as	Villa de Santiago del Saltillo
Founded by	Alberto del Canto
Government
• Mayor	Manolo Jiménez Salinas
Elevation	1,600 m (5,250 ft)
Population  (2015)
• City	807,537
• Metro	923,636
• Demonym	Saltillense
Time zone	UTC−6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Website	www.saltillo.gob.mx

Saltillo (American Spanish: [salˈtiʝo] (listen)) is the capital of the northeastern Mexican state of Coahuila and the municipal seat of the municipality of the same name. As of the 2015 census, Saltillo had a population of 807,537 people, while the population of the metropolitan area was 923,636 inhabitants, making Saltillo the largest city and the second-largest metropolitan area in the state of Coahuila and the 19th most populated metropolitan area in the country.

Saltillo is one of the most industrialized areas of the country and has one of the largest automotive clusters in Mexico, with plants such as Grupo Industrial Saltillo, General Motors, Fiat Automobiles, Chrysler, Daimler AG, Freightliner Trucks, Delphi, Plastic Omnium, Magna, and Nemak been installed in the region. In 2013, the fDi Intelligence Magazine placed the capital of Coahuila as the best medium-sized city with the best economic potential to invest in Latin America.

History

Historical aqueduct

Founded in 1577 by Conquistador Alberto del Canto and Spanish colonists, Saltillo is the oldest post-conquest settlement in northern Mexico. Fourteen years later in 1591, the Spanish resettled a community of their Tlaxcaltec allies in a separate nearby village (San Esteban de Nueva Tlaxcala), in order to cultivate the land and aid colonization efforts that had stalled in the face of hostility of the indigenous Chichimeca people to the Spanish presence. Saltillo grew slowly due to hostile Indians and water shortages. 100 years after its founding, its population was about 300; in comparison, the population of the adjoining Tlaxcalan town at the time, San Estaban was about 1,750.

Saltillo was a commercial center on the northern frontier which served as a bridge from central Mexico to regions farther northeast such as Nuevo León, Nuevo Santander, Coahuila, and Texas. Saltillo supplied the silver mines of Zacatecas with wheat. It never rose to great prominence, but it did develop a commercial core and an agricultural and ranching sector that supplied its own needs, with surpluses that could be sold. Saltillo became administratively more important at the end of the eighteenth century when a branch of the Royal Treasury was established. Merchants, most of whom were Iberian Peninsular-born Spaniards, constituted the most important economic group, handling a wide variety of goods and selling in shops. They were the provincial branch of the transatlantic merchant sector, with ties to Mexico City merchants. Peninsular merchants in Saltillo married into local elite society, acquired rural properties, and sought local office. In the late seventeenth century, an annual trade fair was established, carrying Mexican manufactures and livestock, and goods from as far away as China and Europe. Saltillo could produce wheat commercially so long as enterprises had access to water, but as with many other parts of the North, drought was a consistent threat. In the eighteenth century, there was a demand for draft animals, which Saltillo supplied.

In 1824, Saltillo was made the capital of the State of Coahuila y Tejas and included the area which is now the U.S. state of Texas until the Texas War of Independence and the founding of the independent Texas Republic.

On 23 October 1840, the Battle of Saltillo took place after 110 Texans and Tejanos crossed the Rio Grande and attacked the city as part of a campaign to establish the Republic of the Rio Grande, a separatist rebellion in northeastern Mexico which had Texan support.

Porfiriato and Mexican Revolution

Modernity reached Coahuila, and practically everything Mexico, with the arrival of the railroad in 1880, during presidency of Porfiriato. In 1890 telegraph, telephone, and street lighting networks were created, in addition to the construction of cultural buildings such as theaters and plazas; other works of a social nature such as hospices and civil hospitals, and sanitary structures like a drinking water system and drainage, the trail, the market, and the pantheon of Santiago were also created at this time.

During the Mexican Revolution, there were several Coahuilenses characters who had studied in Saltillenses schools such as the Ateneo Fuente and the Colegio de San Juan, among others.

During the Mexican Revolution, Saltillo remained without major shocks. The city was taken by the forces of Victoriano Huerta, later by those of Francisco Villa, and then by those of Venustiano Carranza. Hundreds of peasants were forced to join these various groups. As a result, many, including aristocratic families, fled to Texas.

20th century

Towards 1923 the current Antonio Narro Agrarian University was founded. In the fifties the Technological Institute of Saltillo and the University of Coahuila were created. Two decades later, the Autonomous University of the Northeast and the Saltillo Campus of the Tecnológico de Monterrey were formed.

Saltillo's agricultural climate in the second half of the 20th century was rapidly transforming into industrial activity; huge orchards disappeared and industries began to dominate today's landscape.

In the second quarter of the twentieth century, Saltillo altered the tide of agricultural and textile activities towards industrial companies with the creation of companies such as CIFUNSA, CINSA, Éxito, and Molinos el Fénix among others. In the middle of the century, with the protectionist policy of Mexico, companies such as Moto Islo in 1961, Zincamex, and Inyec Diesel continued to be created in the same decade.

The true industrial explosion occurred in the 70's and 80's with the arrival of the car industry in the region. Companies such as General Motors and Chrysler, along with their respective satellite companies or suppliers came to Saltillo. Since then, Saltillo and its Metropolitan Zone (Ramos Arizpe and Arteaga) are known as the "Detroit of Mexico".

However, a movement is currently underway to the diversify the industry, with the arrival of pharmaceutical companies, household appliances, chemicals, ceramics, and even parts for the aerospace industry. This reduces the risk of concentrating too heavily in a single industry.

21st century

Saltillo is located in a penisismic zone, where several earthquakes or telluric movements have been recorded. The last earthquake registered was in May 2018 with a magnitude of 4.0 on the Richter scale.

The first union between two people of the same sex was made in Latin Americ in Saltillo in January 2007. Two women from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, joined by means of the Civil Pact of Solidarity,

Education

At the end of the last century, Saltillo contained a number of educational institutions.

• Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila (UAdeC)
• Universidad Vizcaya de las Américas, Campus Saltillo (UVA)
• Benemérita Escuela Normal de Coahuila (BENC)
• Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro (UAAAN)
• Instituto Tecnológico de Saltillo (ITS)
• Universidad Tecnológica de Coahuila (UTC)
• Universidad Autónoma del Noreste, Campus Saltillo (UANE)
• Universidad de Estudios Avanzados (UNEA)
• Instituto Universitario del Norte (INSUNTE)
• Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Unidad Saltillo (CINVESTAV-IPN Unidad Saltillo)
• Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Campus Saltillo (ITESM)
• Universidad Pedagógica Nacional, Unidad Saltillo (UPN)
• Universidad del Valle de México Campus, Saltillo(UVM)
• Universidad La Salle, Campus Saltillo (ULSA)
• Escuela Normal Superior del Estado de Coahuila (ENSE)
• Instituto Universitario Valle de Santiago (UNIVAS)
• Universidad del Desarrollo Profesional, Plantel Saltillo (UNIDEP)
• Universidad Interamericana para el Desarrollo, Sede Saltillo(UNID)
• Universidad Iberoamericana Centro de Extensión Saltillo (UIA)
• Centro de Investigación en Química Aplicada (CIQA)
• Universidad Carolina de Saltillo (UCA)
• Universidad Tecnológica de Saltillo (UTS)
• Digital Invaders. Escuela de creatividad digital por Grupo W
• Universidad Autónoma de Durango (UAD), Campus Saltillo
• Universidad CNCI, Campus Saltillo
• Instituto de Ciencia y Cultura A.C. (ICCAC)
• Instituto Universitario del Centro de México (UCEM), campus Saltillo
• Universidad UNIVER
• Universidad Interamericana del Norte TEC Sierra Madre
• Instituto Tecnológico Don Bosco
• Instituto de Comunicación Gráfica del Norte (ICN)
• Facultades Universitarias de Saltillo
• Universidad Santander
• Instituto de Altos Estudios internscionales
• Instituto Universitario España de Coahuila
• Instituto de Estudios Superiores para el Desarrollo Integral
• Instituto Tecnológico de la Construcción
• Instituto internacional de Administración Estratégica
• Instituto de Calidad y Capacitación Empresarial (IIAE)
• Universidad Liceo Mohandas Gandhi
• Instituto Universitario Paulo Freire (UniFreire)

Government

The city of Saltillo is the municipal seat of the municipality of Saltillo. The current Mayor is Manolo Jiménez Salinas from the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI).

Geography

El Cerro del Pueblo (The People's Hill) and its 4-metre (13 ft) cross overlook the city. The city's elevation makes it cooler and windier than the neighboring city of Monterrey. Saltillo lies in the Chihuahuan Desert near the city of Arteaga. The city is flanked by the Zapalinamé mountains, which are part of the Sierra Madre Oriental. According to local legend, by looking at the relief of the mountains, one can see the relief of Zapalinamé, chieftain of the Guachichil tribe.

Orography and hydrography

San Lorenzo Canyon

Composed of geological formations of the Jurassic period, the San Lorenzo Canyon, located southeast of Saltillo, in the Sierra de Zapalinamé, is a tourist attraction that attracts dozens of adventurers every week for the diversity of extreme sports that can be practiced here as the Rock climbing, rappelling, mountain biking, hiking, mountaineering and camping. Among its places, Balcones, La Ventana, Cascada de los Elefantes, La Y, Roca Escuela and the house of Lorenza stand out.

Arroyo del Pueblo

Enter from the south-west to the city through the Tanquesito colony at the southern end of Pedro Ampudia street, go down near and along the railway, pass next to the University Hospital and further to the north-west through the Pueblo Insurgente colony and continue parallel but relatively near the Vito Alessio Robles Boulevard towards the GM automotive complex and converges at the height of the road "Los Pinos" with the Cevallos stream. It has a Tlaxcalteca dam. Historical heritage in danger.

Arroyo de los Ojitos

It begins south of Francisco Coss Boulevard, passes behind the Saltillo Technology, crosses the Venustiano Carranza Boulevard at the height of the Hotel "El Paso" to the northeast, passes between the Liverpool and Home Depot buildings, and is channeled through Nazario Boulevard Ortiz towards Benito Juárez Street.

Arroyo de la Tortola

It begins its course in the Magisterium Colony, towards the temple of Santo Cristo del Ojo de Agua, crosses the center of the city between the streets Arteaga and Matamoros near the Coahuila school, then at the height of the Plaza “May 1st” in the street Emilio Castelar converges with the channel that descends near Antonio Cárdenas Street (or South Abasolo), apparently from the “el Chapulín” Park, is channeled underground through the Topo Chico Colony, down through Nava Street in the Republic Colony and then by Luis Echeverría and down again by Abasolo Norte and connects in Nazario Ortiz with the Charquillo.

Arroyo del Charquillo

It starts from the eastern end of the Ateneo street, goes down behind the sports San Isidro passing to the side of Campo Redondo, crosses the lake of the Sports City towards the Tecnológico de Monterrey and continues until converging with the Cevallos stream at the Boulevard Moctezuma or Pedro Figueroa.

Cevallos Creek

It starts in the Zapaliname mountain range, from the Lomas de Lourdes neighborhood, it passes along the Luis Echeverría Oriente Boulevard, passes behind the Mercado de Abastos, crosses on one side of Plaza Sendero, then descends along Tezcatlipoca street, passes near the Club Campestre and converges with the Navarreña stream on the road to Monterrey and on the way to the Valdés.

Arroyo de la Navarreña

Start in the mountains near the Vista Hermosa neighborhood, crosswise through colonies such as Founders and Morelos, go down the side of the Corona Motel on Fundadores Boulevard, pass by the Dolores Pantheon on Jesus Valdés Sánchez Boulevard and continue towards the South surrounds the Country Club on its east side and the Country Club subdivision and continues to the city of Ramos.

Land El Aguaje

Located in the San Lorenzo Canyon southeast of the city of Saltillo. Composed of geological formations originated between the Upper Jurassic and Quaternary that facilitate the intense infiltration of water to the subsoil, thus allowing the constant recharge of the aquifers that supply drinking water to the city of Saltillo.

On July 3, 2008, the Government of the State of Coahuila decides to buy the property, which was granted to Mexican Wildlife Protection in bailment on July 23, 2012 for its management and conservation.

Sierra La Concordia

It is the highest mountain in the municipality, reaches 3,462 meters above sea level.

Sierra Catana

Mountain that reaches 3,104 meters above sea level.

Climate

Saltillo has a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSh, just avoiding arid designation). Saltillo is located in the Chihuahuan Desert but temperatures are cooler than other desert cities in Mexico because it is located in an altitude of 1,600 meters (5,250 ft). Summers are slightly hot with cool nights, and winters are sunny but cool. Rainfall is scarce but more prominent in summer.

Climate data for Saltillo (1951–2010)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	36.5 (97.7)	33.0 (91.4)	36.5 (97.7)	39.0 (102.2)	40.5 (104.9)	40.5 (104.9)	39.5 (103.1)	37.0 (98.6)	38.5 (101.3)	39.0 (102.2)	34.5 (94.1)	31.0 (87.8)	40.5 (104.9)
Average high °C (°F)	19.7 (67.5)	21.4 (70.5)	24.7 (76.5)	27.9 (82.2)	29.9 (85.8)	30.2 (86.4)	29.7 (85.5)	29.2 (84.6)	26.7 (80.1)	24.8 (76.6)	22.5 (72.5)	20.0 (68.0)	25.6 (78.1)
Daily mean °C (°F)	12.1 (53.8)	13.6 (56.5)	16.8 (62.2)	20.0 (68.0)	22.3 (72.1)	23.2 (73.8)	23.0 (73.4)	22.6 (72.7)	20.3 (68.5)	18.0 (64.4)	15.2 (59.4)	12.7 (54.9)	18.3 (64.9)
Average low °C (°F)	4.5 (40.1)	5.7 (42.3)	8.8 (47.8)	12.1 (53.8)	14.8 (58.6)	16.1 (61.0)	16.3 (61.3)	15.9 (60.6)	14.0 (57.2)	11.2 (52.2)	7.8 (46.0)	5.5 (41.9)	11.1 (52.0)
Record low °C (°F)	−14.5 (5.9)	−10.5 (13.1)	−6.0 (21.2)	0.0 (32.0)	0.5 (32.9)	6.5 (43.7)	4.0 (39.2)	8.0 (46.4)	1.3 (34.3)	−3.0 (26.6)	−5.0 (23.0)	−11.0 (12.2)	−14.5 (5.9)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	15.8 (0.62)	12.3 (0.48)	8.2 (0.32)	15.2 (0.60)	30.5 (1.20)	47.0 (1.85)	61.4 (2.42)	58.6 (2.31)	62.5 (2.46)	31.1 (1.22)	12.2 (0.48)	14.5 (0.57)	369.3 (14.53)
Average rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm)	3.4	2.7	2.0	3.4	5.1	6.3	8.8	9.2	7.9	5.1	3.0	3.3	60.2
Average snowy days	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.2	0.3
Average relative humidity (%)	55	52	48	50	55	59	62	64	69	66	60	59	58
Mean monthly sunshine hours	169.5	174.8	195.4	182.3	209.1	215.8	205.7	199.3	169.4	186.0	176.7	152.4	2,236.4
Source #1: Servicio Meteorologico Nacional
Source #2: Colegio de Postgraduados

Economy

Sarapes being made

Saltillo's most famous exports are Saltillo tile and the locally woven multi-colored sarapes. Mercedes-Benz and General Motors both have assembly plants here and Chrysler operates a truck assembly plant, a sedan assembly plant, two engine facilities, and a car transmissions plant. 37.4% of cars and 62.6% of trucks produced in Mexico are assembled in Saltillo. Saltillo is home to the Grupo Industrial Saltillo, an important manufacturing conglomerate that makes home appliances, silverware, and auto parts.

During the early 20th century, Saltillo was called the Athens of Mexico because of its number of famous intellectuals. At that time, Saltillo was inhabited by a large number of expatriates from Europe, particularly Great Britain and Ireland. It is currently considered the Detroit of Mexico because of the importance of its automotive industry, including the huge Chrysler, General Motors, and Delphi plants.

The General Motors plant, the Complejo Industrial Ramos Arizpe (Ramos Arizpe Industrial Complex) manufactures vehicles for export to Japan, Canada, and Central America as well as for domestic purchase. It builds the Chevrolet C2, Chevrolet Monza, Chevrolet Captiva, Chevrolet HHR, Saturn Vue hybrid, Saab 9-4X and Cadillac SRX. As of 2016 the plant produces about one third of the firm's full-sized pickups.

Points of interest

Plaza de Armas fountain

Saltillo Cathedral

Estadio de Béisbol Francisco I. Madero

Alameda Zaragoza, located just west of the downtown plaza, has a pond in the shape of the Mexican Republic.

The Colonial Center of the city is built in pink marble, giving Saltillo's architecture a distinctive flavor. Prominent buildings are the cathedral (built from 1745-1800), the Palacio de Gobierno (state government building), the Ateneo Fuente and the Instituto Tecnológico de Saltillo. The large cathedral is the best example of colonial religious architecture in northeastern Mexico; its facade is mainly Spanish Baroque, with less exuberant areas. The Centro Cultural Vito Alessio Robles (Vito Alessio Cultural Center) is an 18th-century repository of antiquities and documents from historians Vito Alessio Robles and Oscar Davila. The repository is also a temporal museum. The Casa Purcell (Purcell Manor) is a Victorian style mansion built in the 19th century by Irish merchant William Purcell. Today it is a cultural center. Next to Casa Purcell, is Banco Purcell which is also a cultural center.

The city has two world-class museums. The Museo de las Aves de México (Bird Museum), featuring a collection of bird specimens from all over Mexico in realistic displays. The Museo del Desierto (Desert Museum) focuses on the geography, geology, paleontology (with dinosaur fossils), biodiversity of the Chihuahuan Desert, and the history and culture of the local people through time. It includes a cactus greenhouse and exhibits, with dozens of species.

The Mirador has panoramic views of the city. Tunnels start in the Catedral de Santiago and end at the city's limits.

Education

Local government palace

Inside the government palace

Saltillo's main universities are the Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila, the Instituto Tecnológico de Saltillo, the Tec de Monterrey Saltillo Campus, El Instituto de Filologia Hispanica, and the Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro. Other universities include Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Avanzados del IPN (CINVESTAV Saltillo), Universidad Interamericana del Norte (Tec Sierra Madre, Universidad Autonoma del Noreste, Universidad Pedagogica Nacional, Universidad del Valle de Mexico, Escuela Normal de Coahuila, and many others.

Sites of interest

Cultural

• 'Fernando Soler City Theater:' It was designed by the architect Francisco Flores Flores and opened on March 26, 1979. It presents plays, opera, music, dance, children's shows, festivals, conferences, reports of government, graduations, and congresses. The first performance was The efforts of a house of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, under the direction of Luis G. Basurto with scenery by David Antón and the actors Magda Guzmán, Rubén Rojo, José Baviera and Carmen Monje, among others.
• 'Las Maravillas Park Auditorium:' Las Maravillas Park Outdoor Auditorium, has a capacity for more than 15,000 spectators.
• 'Paraninfo del Ateneo Fuente:' It is the university campus par excellence; innumerable academic and cultural events are held in it. Its murals stand out, works by the Catalan painter Salvador Tarazona, of which the one on the north side is dedicated to science and the one on the south side is dedicated to culture and the arts.
• 'Casa Purcell Cultural Center:' Architectural work built in the 19th century by the architect Alfredo Gilles in the style of the old houses of Ireland, whose owner was Guillermo Purcell, is now a cultural center that has exhibition spaces Temporary contemporary art.
• 'García Carrillo Theater Cultural Center:' It has a gallery where temporary exhibitions are exhibited; It also has an auditorium where conferences, concerts, readings and, every Thursday, the projection of film cycles are held.
  

  García Carrillo Theater, Aldama and Allende Street, downtown area.
• 'The Cultural Center Vito Alessio Robles:' Former headquarters of the City Council of Saltillo, it has a mural by Helena Huerta on the history of Coahuila, personal objects of Don Vito Alessio Robles, a library (with a great collection of old books and documents of historians Vito Alessio Robles and Oscar Dávila), and temporary exhibitions of modern art.
• 'Coahuilense Institute of Culture:' Culture and art carried out in the state are promoted and disseminated here; it has an art gallery (where pictorial works are exhibited), workshops, conferences, various special events; In addition to a bookstore and a cafeteria.
• 'El Recinto a Juárez:' It houses the Coahuilense College of Historical Research. It offers library services and plays, conferences, book presentations and other cultural activities are also held.
• 'University Cultural Heritage Site:' House dating from 1680, belonged to the Purcell family during the twentieth century. It was the headquarters of the National Bank of Mexico and from 2005 is used for cultural purposes exposing the artistic heritage of the city.
• 'Aurora Morales de López University Cultural Site:' A space for artistic expression of the Autonomous University of Coahuila. The site broadcasts and houses works produced by creators from Coahuilenses.

Religious

Church of Santo Cristo del Ojo de Agua.

• 'Cathedral of Santiago Apostle:' True architectural jewel dedicated to the Apostle Santiago el Mayor and that in 1745 began its construction as a parish for later, in 1891, to be erected as the Cathedral of Saltillo combining several architectural styles such as baroque and The churrigueresco. It is the most representative building in Saltillo and its tower is one of the tallest in Latin America. Inside, its altarpieces stand out, as well as a collection of 45 high-value viceroyal oils and the silver front on the altar of San José, an 18th-century piece that participated in the exhibition “Mexico, Splendors of Thirty Centuries” , which toured the US and Mexico for three years.
• 'Church of Santo Cristo del Ojo de Agua:' It is located at the top of the hill where the spring comes from which the name of the city emerges. This architectural jewel houses a crucified Christ known as the Holy Christ of the Eye of Water, to whom many parishioners attribute the presence of the spring, which seems to spring from its base. The temple began to be built around 1917 and the Holy Christ of the Eye of Water arrived in the city in 1927 by efforts of the third bishop of Saltillo, Jesús María Echavarría y Aguirre.
• 'Parish of San Esteban:' Of great historical value is this temple, built in 1592 when the town of San Esteban de la Nueva Tlaxcala was founded, inhabited by the Tlaxcaltecs. In addition, in 1847 at the battle of La Angostura he served as hospital.
• 'Temple of San Francisco de Asís:' Example of the spiritual fervor of its inhabitants is this church that dates back to the 19th century and gives life to the garden square of the same name, where there is a sculpture of the outstanding Saltillense bullfighter Fermín Espinosa "Armillita Chico".
• 'Temple of San Juan Nepomuceno:' Jesuit temple built in the 19th century. Its neoclassical facade contains unfinished towers, dome and windows. Inside are oils by Father Gonzalo Carrasco, evangelical sculptures, and a mural of the life of San Juan.
• 'Sanctuary of Guadalupe:' Gothic style built in quarry in 1890 stands out in the city. At that time the Sanctuary belonged to the town of San Esteban de la Nueva Tlaxcala. In the upper and central part of the building there is a clock, ogival windows and arch buttresses, characteristic of the Gothic style that arrived in Mexico after the Maximilian Empire.

Museums

In Saltillo there are about 22 museums, including: Museum of the Presidents' Coahuilenses, Campus of the University Cultural Heritage, 'Pinacoteca Ateneo Fuente' of the Autonomous University of Coahuila, Museum-Parish Archive, Hall of Natural History.

• 'Museum of the Coahuilenses Presidents:' Erected to honor the memory and legacy of the five coahuilenses who have been Presidents of Mexico: Melchor Múzquiz, Francisco I. Madero, Eulalio Gutiérrez Ortiz, Roque González Garza and Venustiano Carranza. Display photographs, documents and personal and official objects of these characters. It has the first presidential band that Guadalupe Victoria during his tenure as President.
• 'Landín Chapel Museum:' The old chapel, built at the end of the 18th century, it has been restored and preserved more recently. It includes a museum area where a collection of 20 paintings of religious art from the 17th and 18th centuries is exhibited.
• 'Museo de la Angostura:' In memory of the triumph of Mexican troops against the United States in 1847. It is housed in an old house that was once the State Normal School.
• 'Catrina Museum:' Picturesque space where we can appreciate the history of Catrina, who represents death in the traditional Day of the Dead has a cafeteria where hot chocolate and bread are served died every day of the year; It also has a library and video library where more is detailed about this tradition.
• 'Museum of Bullfighting Culture:' Its modern museum proposal, its interactive and didactic character, makes the museum the first of its kind in Mexico; We invite you, then, to take a detailed look at the vast and wonderful world of the bull.
• 'Bird Museum of Mexico:' It has a collection of more than 2,500 birds, (the largest collection of birds in Mexico and Latin America) mostly belonging to the territory Mexican. The enclosure that houses it was the former Jesuit College «San Juan Nepomuceno».
• 'Desert Museum:' Considered one of the best natural history museums in Latin America, it has become an icon of the city. In its more than 12,300m² the visitor will be able to learn about the origins of the planet, the deserts and the impressive dinosaurs, until the appearance of the first settlers and the fauna that our ecosystem inhabits today.
• 'Museo del Normalismo:' Tells the history of education in Coahuila. It has a collection of pedagogical instruments and a room dedicated to distinguished graduates of the Benemérita Normal School of Coahuila.
• 'Government Palace Museum:' In this cultural space you will find the magic of this Palace building, where the history of 250 years ago is told and the stages Coahuila has lived will be known, same in which the images and testimonies, the life and work of our former governors will be present.
• 'Museo del Sarape and Typical Costumes:' Promotes the investigation and rescue of a material heritage that is part of the identity of both Saltillenses and Mexicans. It exhibits the first sarapes made in the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as the typical costumes of the region.
• 'The Gyroscope Museum:' The Gyroscope is a space for people of all ages, where you can find how science and technology influence your daily life.
• 'Rubén Herrera Museum:' Casona dating from the 18th century, where a collection of the Zacatecan master Rubén Herrera made in Mexico and Europe is displayed. It has a room for temporary exhibitions, auditorium, and library.
• 'MAG Graphic Arts Museum:' In this new Museum in Saltillo, there is an important collection of more than 1,400 objects that belonged to José Guadalupe Posada, Mexican engraver, known worldwide for his prints and social cartoons, inspired by Mexican folklore. The objective is to spread and preserve printed art in the state of Coahuila. It seeks to promote knowledge and appreciation of both industrial and artistic printing techniques, value the work of visual artists and rescue the appreciation for the trade of the printers.
• 'Profr. Natural History Room Rafael Narro of the Athenaeum Source: 'Located inside the Athenaeum Source, the museum shows the evolution of the earth, man and species.
• 'Cato Museum:' The journalist and chronicler of the city.

Recreation and recreation areas

Parks

• 'Alameda Zaragoza' In addition to being an important "lung" for the city, which gives life and color through numerous groves, this Alameda is (located in the vicinity of the Historic Center) has many passages that offer the possibility of comfortable and warm walks.
• 'Francisco I. Madero Sports City' the largest park in the city, where the “Francisco I. Madero” baseball stadium and the Olympic stadium of the same name are located. It also has a large lake and several children's slides.
• 'Mexican Army Urban Forest' It is the largest green area in Saltillo, which raises the quality of life of its inhabitants. It is a space with vegetation characteristic of the entity, housing pine, ash, whitewood and lollipop. On October 30, 2003, the first tree was planted, when it was still a project, and currently has approximately 3,000, scattered on more than 12 hectares of wooded land. In its different areas you can perform recreational or sports activities. During the weekends, cart rides and courses on Environmental Education are offered.
• 'Parque Las Maravillas' The second largest park in the city. Fascinating recreational site with huge green areas, playgrounds, squares, fountains and areas to practice various sports or just have a good family day.
• 'El Chapulín Ecological Park' The newly renovated park has attractions such as the El Chapulín Fountain, Lake Maggiore, the Coahuila Garden, the Tree of Life, the Garden of the Ancestors, the Garden of the Cactaceae, Garden of the Senses and the Fountain of the Dolphins, spaces that offer various themes to the attendees.
• 'Saltillo Sur Biblioparque:' It has a library shaped like a book, different soccer fields, two basketball courts, playgrounds and an acoustic shell.
• 'Biblioparque Saltillo Norte:' It has a velaria, 7 soccer fields with artificial grass, miniature golf, children's baseball park with artificial grass, beach volleyball courts, tennis courts, a library with more of one thousand 100 trees, illuminated monumental fountain and skating rink, indoor parking, basketball courts, library and zip line, among others.
• 'Mirador de la Plaza México:' This place has panoramic views of the city, and was a site in which the US army encamped in the Battle of the Angostura against Mexican troops
• 'Urdiñola Ecological Park:' A park with a waterfall, fountains and water mirrors.
• 'Parque Venustiano Carranza:' Large outdoor public park. It has several walking trails, with green areas, playgrounds, grills, palapas, courts and tracks for various sports such as skateboarding, tennis and cycling.
• 'Bellavista-Ojo de Agua Linear Park:' On this site it was built on a stream that used to be a refuge for thieves and drug addicts. Today it is a modern linear park lighting, which has fast football, basketball, playground and benches for the healthy recreation of the inhabitants of the area.
• 'Cristo de las Galeras:' The structure placed in the highest part of the Cerro de las Galeras, dressed in a white robe, with open arms and with an eye on the Saltillo Valley, is located between Guayulera, La Minita, Mirador and Puerto de la Virgen colonies, west of the city.
• 'Parque los Nogales (Biblioparque Poniente Saltillo):' It is located to the west of the city within the Nogales II neighborhood, has fast soccer fields, basketball, tochito, children's play area, snack area, parking and a large number of walnuts for which this name is given to the park.

Places

Plaza de la Nueva Tlaxcala.

• Plaza de Armas
• Sister Cities Square
• Square of Illustrious Men
• New Tlaxcala Square
• Saint Francis Square
• Mexico Square
• Mother's Square
• May 1 Square
• Madero Square
• Athenaeum Square
• Composer's Square
• May 1 Square
• Coahuila Square
• Juarez Square

Shopping centers and plazas

In Saltillo there is a great variety of shopping centers and plazas that in a few years have settled in the city due to the good acceptance of the population. The main centers and commercial squares of the city are mentioned below.

Shopping centers

• Royal Square
• La Nogalera
• Saltillo Patio
• Saltillo Galleries
• My Plaza Mirasierra
• South Trail Square
• Park Center

Commercial places

• Musa Square
• Colosio Square 555
• Casa Grande Square
• Carranza Square
• Novva Square
• Santa Isabel Square
• District V
• Plaza Lafragua
• Cocoa Square
• Paseo Villalta
• Technology square

Culture

Matlachinada 2014. Event held every year, with Matachines from all over the state of Coahuila.

During the twentieth century the city received the nickname of "the Athens of Mexico" for its large number of prominent intellectuals.

Sarape de Saltillo

The sarape (or jorongo) is a rectangular garment, for male use, with or without opening for the head and multicolored stripes vanished like a rainbow. It is one of the most representative objects of Mexico. The serape is a garment of traditional Mexican men's clothing, usually brightly colored and with patterns or designs generally somewhat predictable. He can behave elegantly and is relatively the male equivalent of women's rebozo.

The serape is a part of the characteristic clothing of "the Mexican," that is, of the stereotype of the national, along with the hat, which unites Mesoamerican and European weaving traditions, as well as pre-Hispanic and colonial themes.

It is usually made of wool, fiber that maintains heat more efficiently, but is also woven from cotton. The thickness of the yarn chosen for the fabric, as well as its material, the elaboration of each necessary knot and the final size of the serape, are variables that influence the final weight of the serape, and also in the sensation it gives as an easy material of driving

It is traditional from various parts of Mexico, as in Saltillo. In fact, it was colonizers of Tlaxcalan origin who took the serape to Coahuila from Zaragoza, Zacatecas and probably to New Mexico.

It is usually compared to a Mexican poncho without a hat and is known by different names throughout the country, such as: tilma, jacket, coton, blanket or blanket. It is also known as gabán, but it can be said that this last denomination is wrong, because the serape does not have a central opening to put the head.

It serves as a coat, blanket, bedspread, tablecloth or cape. It also decorates walls and floors, as a tapestry or carpet. Another use is to put it on the horse before climbing the saddle. And in the past, during quarrels, it also served as a practical shield, especially as a hindrance against sharp objects.

In the Historic Center you can visit the Sarapes Factory, where you can see how one of these garments is created and if desired, buy one. In the year of 2009 the Museum of Sarape and Mexican Costumes (Allende 160 south) was inaugurated in Saltillo, with copies from the 18th and 19th centuries, and where the processes of obtaining wool, its dyeing, loom weaving are explained and its use, throughout history.

The Pulque Bread

The bread of pulque is the great tradition of the region, at the moment the city of Saltillo is related or synonymous of this product, looked for by inhabitants and consumers of the whole country as well as of the foreigner; other known breads are also the empanada s walnuts, the creamed ones, the muffin s, braided bread, bishops, etc. In addition, a typical dish of this city is roast beef, kid, etc. There is no special occasion for roasted meat, it can be done on a birthday, an anniversary, a Friday afternoon or a Sunday at noon, finally there is no week without roast

The Saltillo Rondalla of the UAAAN

The city of Saltillo is known for its rondalla, being the highest representative of the Rondallesque movement in Mexico for more than four decades. The 'Rondalla de Saltillo' went beyond transposing the established limits and creating its own style. It has multiple recordings and has toured several countries, it is characterized by using guitars, requintos, a double bass, vocals and a poet, elegant dress, tailor or tuxedo suit. The poet Marco Antonio Aguirre arrived at La Rondalla de Saltillo in 1966 and wrote his story with tours, 30 recorded albums and international fame.

Sports

The following professional clubs are based in Saltillo:

Club	Sport	Founded	League	Venue
Dinos Saltillo	American football	2016	LFA	Estadio Olímpico Francisco I. Madero
Saraperos de Saltillo	Baseball	1970	Mexican League	Estadio de Béisbol Francisco I. Madero

Transportation

Saltillo Metropolitan Area air traffic is served by Plan de Guadalupe International Airport. It takes 15 minutes to get from downtown Saltillo to the airport. It has several flights per day to Mexico City and no flights to international locations. There is a comprehensive bus system in Saltillo along with many taxis.

Sister cities

The following are sister cities of Saltillo:

• Austin, Texas, United States
• Lansing, Michigan, United States
• Windsor, Ontario, Canada
• Holguín, Cuba
• Canton, Ohio

People

• Fernando Soler (1896–1979), film actor and director
• Rubén Aguirre, actor best remembered for his characterization of Professor Jirafales in the television show El Chavo del Ocho.
• Magda Guzman, actress with many film and TV credits 1941 to the present
• Roberto 'Flaco' Guzman, prolific film actor from the 1970s to the early 2000s.
• Brissia Mayagoitia, singer, former member of a band called La Nueva Banda.
• Rosario Ybarra, activist and prominent figure in Mexican politics.
• Carlos Bee, former U.S. Representative from Texas, son of Hamilton Bee, great-grandson of Thomas Bee.
• Manuel Acuña, 19th-century Mexican writer. He focused on poetry, but also wrote some novels and plays.
• José Narro Robles, former director of the Faculty of Medicine of the National Autonomous University of Mexico.
• Roque González Garza, Mexican general and acting president of the Republic from January to June 1915.
• Julio Torri, Mexican writer and teacher who formed part of the Ateneo de la Juventud (1909-1914).
• Josip Lovaković, footballer, currently playing for Atlante F.C. of Croatian descent
• Checo Marrero, Engineer and philosopher, creator of the square ball. Most famous quotes: “Vámonos marimba al baile” “No Pos Guau” “Y arriba el cemento”
• Armando Fuentes Aguirre (Catón), Attorney and writer, author of a number of columns in multiple National newspapers. Chronicler and historian of the City.
• Hugo Lopez, Operations Manager for Spencer//Butcher Group, Yazaki, Arnecom.

External links

• Saltillo travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Link to tables of population data from Census of 2005 INEGI: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática.
• Official city website
• Texts on Wikisource:
  • "Saltillo". New International Encyclopedia. 1905.
  • "Saltillo". Encyclopædia Britannica. 24 (11th ed.). 1911.
  • "Saltillo" . The American Cyclopædia. 1879.