San Luis Potosi Travel Guide, Mexico

San Luis Potosi, the capital city of the Mexican state of the same name, was once a mining settlement; in fact, it was one among the ‘Silver Cities’ that had added to the increasing wealth and importance of Mexico. Although mining activities are still ongoing even to this day, the mines have become the star attractions of the charming city, which has all the trappings of a popular tourist-retreat. There is indeed much to do and see in San Luis Potosi; but, it is certainly the calmness, the pleasantness about the place that enthralls one and all.    

Statistics

Area: 1443 sq km

Population: 0.7 million

Currency: Mexican Peso

Language: Spanish

Architecture

‘A sprawling city with a mix of architecture’ will be the right expression for San Luis Potosi for here you have a modern industrial city continuing to grow outside the colonial city center. What you see in the historical business district are plazas, palaces (a few have been converted into museums) and some fine churches. The 18th century Spanish Baroque-style cathedral adjacent to the ‘Plaza de Armas’ is an excellent example of colonial architecture.

But as already said, San Luis Potosi’s skyline is also defined by some really modern structures built in the recent years. The two tallest buildings in San Luis Potosi are Building EME and Building Muniz Werger (while the former has 17 floors, the latter has 15 floors). The Maze Museum of Science and Arts is another modern architectural wonder of San Luis Potosi.

Infrastructure

San Luis Potosi, the tenth largest metropolitan area of Mexico, enjoys a place of eminence worldwide as a commercial and industrial center. A lot of domestic and foreign trading is done from here and the city has some key industries. A number of multi-national concerns and world’s leading banks have their operations here.

San Luis Potosi has world-class transportation systems - it lies on a major highway and is well connected by rail-routes. Public buses and taxis ply on the roads. (When it comes to exploring the downtown areas, it is better to walk because the streets are closed to vehicular traffic). The city also has an international airport.

Accommodation facilities for tourists vary from some colonial era hotels to contemporary hotels. (A Marriot Hotel project is also underway in San Luis Potosi.

People and Culture

The Potosinos (that is what the inhabitants of the city are known as) are religious people and a greater percentage of them follow the Roman Catholic faith. Easter week is the chief festivity when parties and fairs are held weeklong.  

Besides the influence of Christianity, hints of some pagan elements are also found in the culture of entire Mexico. The same is true of San Luis Potosi, where local festivals like Festival Nacional de Danza (National Dance Festival) and Festival de Arte Primavera (Spring Art Festival) are celebrated with great spirit. If you want to be a part of San Luis Potosi's Feria Nacional (National Fair), make it a point to visit the city in the last two weeks of August.