Zacatecas

Zacatecas is a state in north-central Mexico with a glorious silver-mining heritage and one of the country's most beautiful colonial cities. Its capital, also called Zacatecas, is a UNESCO World Heritage city of pink-stone Baroque architecture. Perched on the high central plateau, it blends history, mining and striking landscapes.

Zacatecas sits on the arid high plateau of north-central Mexico, a semi-desert region of mountains, mesas and mining hills. It is one of the highest state capitals in the country. The climate is dry and temperate, cold in winter.

The state is famed for its colonial silver cities, the lively tamborazo brass-band music, and traditions such as the callejoneada street parties. Its capital's cathedral is a masterpiece of Mexican Baroque.

One of the richest silver-mining regions in the Spanish empire, Zacatecas funded much of colonial Mexico's wealth. A decisive battle of the Mexican Revolution was fought here in 1914. It became a state in 1824.