Valle de Santiago offers a range of reasons to visit: the eight-day Corpus Christi festival at the Jardín Principal, a Romería in September and the seasonal migration of swallows. For cultural points of interest, the Parroquia de Santiago Apóstol and the Museo municipal are specific landmarks; within the municipality, there are also the Rincón de Parangueo crater and the Hoya de Álvarez recreation area. When choosing when to travel, festival dates and the birds’ annual cycle may be important factors.
Corpus Christi at the Jardín Principal
The Corpus Christi festival lasts eight days and is celebrated at the Jardín Principal in front of the Parroquia de Santiago Apóstol. It includes various guilds presenting flowers and elaborately decorated candles, as well as a procession through the city streets. Participants include rebocero shawl makers, farmers, weavers, teamsters and chauffeurs, merchants, butchers, bricklayers, shoemakers, ice and milk sellers, bakers and carpenters. Alongside the religious festival, the different occupational groups are also in the spotlight. If you want to plan your trip specifically around the Corpus Christi festival, confirm the current date before making arrangements.
Architecture and city history
The Parroquia de Santiago Apóstol is a notable Baroque-style building. Its construction began in the 18th century under Augustinian friars. Another dated milestone in the city’s history is the renaming of a square: on September 15, 1910, it was renamed from Plaza de Armas to Jardín Independencia. The reference to the 18th century is the date construction began; the name change, by contrast, is dated to a specific day.
An event in September
The Romería at the Alameda takes place every year on September 16, after the Independence Day parade. The event is part of a specific sequence in the city’s calendar. If the Romería is a key reason for your trip, confirm the current dates before making arrangements.
Museum and cultural program
The Museo municipal is located at Calle Emilio Carranza 27, half a block from the Jardín Principal. One exhibition room is dedicated to Chupícuaro and Purépecha culture and includes figures made of stone, bone and shell.
The Casa de la Cultura de Valle de Santiago program for February to December 2018 included piano, violin, singing, guitar and drums, as well as classical, folkloric, Arabic and Polynesian dance, modern dance, drawing and painting. The program dates from 2018; if a current workshop matters to your trip, check the latest offerings before making arrangements.
Swallows through the year
In May, flocks of around 10,000 swallows arrive in Valle de Santiago; they move on at the end of October, while some stay in the area around the city for longer. During the day, the birds fly out to the countryside to feed on seeds and insects. At around 6 p.m., they return to sleep on power lines, particularly along Arteaga, Juárez and 5 de Mayo streets. Smaller numbers can also be found along Manuel Doblado Street and other streets in the city center. May marks their arrival and late October their departure; individual birds stay for varying lengths of time.
Destinations in the municipality
Outside the town center, within the municipality of Valle de Santiago, lies the Rincón de Parangueo crater. Access to the crater interior is through a tunnel about 400 meters long. In Hoya de Álvarez, within the municipality, there is a recreation area managed by the local community, with three spring-fed pools, covered barbecue areas, a camping area, a basketball court and restrooms.
Discover more destinations: Marroquín, Comanjilla, Guanajuato, Salamanca, Cañada De Negros, León De Los Aldama, San José, Barrón.
Return to the main travel overview: Guanajuato.
