Hidalgo del Parral

What Makes it Magical

The south of Chihuahua has a history of mining and a prosperous past that is reflected in the palaces that were built in Hidalgo del Parral. This Magical Town is a colonial corner in the north of Mexico, founded in 1631 with the discovery of the La Prieta mines in the Cerro de la Cruz (Cross Hill).

This Magical Town is known as “The World Capital of Silver” due to its economic importance in the country after the discovery and exploitation of minerals in the 18th century. But it wasn’t just due to being one of New Spain’s most important mining centers that put this town on the map, or that still makes it well worth visiting today.

The city of Real de Minas del Parral, today Hidalgo del Parral, was the capital of Nueva Vizcaya and also of the Mexican Republic for a brief moment in time, when Benito Juárez crossed the state in 1864. This is also the place where Francisco Villa was assassinated in 1923.

Today its museums and historical sites from its mining past are attractions you should discover. Its 497 monuments made it worthy of recognition from the INAH (National Institute of Anthropology and History) as a City of Historic Monuments.

Why You Should Go

• The World Capital of Silver owes its history to one of the era’s most important mines: La Prieta, which is a fundamental part of Hidalgo del Parral’s history thanks to its wealth of silver veins, and today is still one of the Magical Town’s most popular attractions.
• In all of Chihuahua, Hidalgo del Parral is the city with the second largest number of buildings that are over 100 years old. It was recognized by the INAH (National Institute of Anthropology and History) as a City of Historic Monuments.

At the Very Least

Founded in the territory of the indigenous Concho people, this town has had its heyday eras in the mining, agriculture and livestock industries. Philip IV referred to it as the World Capital of Silver; its inhabitants today still call it the Capital of the World.

Don’t Miss

1. Visit the La Prieta mine, which gave birth to the Magical Town in 1631 when the city was established in the foothills of the Cerro de la Cruz. Today it is one of the museums that narrate Hidalgo del Parral’s history.
2. Try the gorditas de harina (fried wheat cornbread) that come with various fillings, dulces de leche (caramelized milk), coricos (biscuits made from corn flour), enchiladas (filled tortillas covered in spicy salsa), burritos, dobladas (filled and folded wheat flour tortillas), and the famous rayadas (traditional sweet bread roll).