The story
Welcome to the base of one of the most iconic sights in all of Mexico. As you stand here at Lascuráin de Retana number five, in the very heart of Guanajuato’s historic center, look up. Rising before you is the monumental staircase of the Universidad de Guanajuato.
This cascading waterfall of white and green cantera stone doesn't just lead to a place of learning; it serves as the architectural soul of this labyrinthine city. To understand this place, we have to look past the grand facade and into the 18th century. Long before these steps were built, this site was the Colegio de la Santísima Trinidad, founded by the Jesuits in 1732.
Back then, it was a modest institution supported by the wealth of the local silver mines. However, the university you see today underwent a radical transformation in the mid-20th century. Between 1945 and 1955, architect Vicente Urquiaga designed this neo-classical masterpiece, giving the city its most recognizable landmark.
The choice of green quarry stone reflects the very earth of the surrounding mountains, rooting the institution in the local landscape. Now, imagine the thousands of students who have ascended these one hundred and thirteen steps. For a student here, the climb is a daily ritual—a literal and symbolic ascent toward knowledge.
But the staircase is more than a path to a classroom. It is a stage. During the world-famous Festival Internacional Cervantino, these steps transform into a massive open-air theater where performers from across the globe showcase their craft under the Guanajuato stars.
If you look at the top of the building, you’ll see the delicate arches and the tower of the university church, the Templo de la Compañía de Jesús, which sits right next door. The university's interior is just as breathtaking, housing a magnificent library and an astronomical observatory that has studied the clear Mexican skies for generations. As you linger here, listen for the sound of music.
This university is the birthplace of the Estudiantinas—groups of students dressed in 17th-century Spanish attire, playing mandolins and guitars. They lead the famous Callejoneadas, or "alleyway wanders," through the city's tunnels and plazas. Whether you choose to climb to the top for a panoramic view of the multicolored houses clinging to the hillsides, or simply admire the view from the street, remember that you are standing at the intersection of Guanajuato’s past and its future.
The Universidad de Guanajuato remains a beacon of light, art, and history, anchoring this winding, silver-rich city to its colonial roots while constantly reaching for the sky.