Sombrerete (Spanish: [sombɾeˈɾete] ) is a town and municipality located in the northwest of the Mexican state of Zacatecas, bordering the state of Durango.
It was founded in 1555 by Spanish conquistador Juan de Tolosa as a mining center, due to the wealth that the mines provided, Sombrerete was one of the most important towns in New Spain. The historical center of Sombrerete, La Noria de San Pantaleón and the Sierra de Órganos National Park were declared in the year 2010 a UNESCO World Heritage Site, adscripted to the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, Spanish for 'Royal Road of the Interior Land'.
In 2012 it was also declared as a Pueblo Mágico, Spanish for 'magical town' by the Mexican Secretariat of Tourism.
The town of Sombrerete maintains its colonial-era layout with wide streets that connect small streets and alleys dotted with plazas. The main plaza is surrounded by the government building.[1] The Diezmo stream bisects the town.[2]
It also maintains many of its colonial era monumental constructions. The largest of these is the San Mateo monastery complex, which includes a church dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi (Third Order). The monastery was constructed in the 16th century and was the main religious center for the region until the 19th century. The main church has a main altar made of gold-plated wood. There are also sanctuaries dedicated to Our Lady of Solitude, the Holy Cross, Saint Peter and Our Lady of Guadalupe all constructed in the 18th century.[1][3]
The Santo Domingo Church, begun in the 18th century, was one of twenty two constructed in the state by Count Fernando de la Campo, along with the Santuario de Plateros. It is Baroque with the interior containing valuable religious art. It is also the final resting place of the count. Next to it is the Santa Rosa Monastery and in front is a public garden.[1][3]
The San Juan Bautista Church dates from 1777. Its facade is Baroque with three levels decorated with niches, sculptures and gargoyles. The interior contains a number of valuable paintings along with a main altar topped by an imaged of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. In its atrium, there is a bust of Benito Juárez.[1][3]
La Capilla de la Candelaria is dedicated to an image brought from Seville. Spain, a figure of the Virgin Mary, made of wood donated by Juan de Tolosa in 1556. The small building has a stone altar, with its roof held up by fifty two thick beams. Each year the image has its feast day.[3]
The Santa Veracruz Chapel was built in the 16th century. Its interior is completely empty, not even pews. In the floor there are over a hundred graves of unidentified children, women and men. It is somewhat deteriorated as it has not been restored as of 2013.[3]
The La Soledad Church dates from the 18th century, distinguished by its Moorish bell tower and Churrigueresque facade.[3]
The municipality has one museum which was opened in 2000. It contains exhibits that recount the economic, social and cultural development of the region beginning with the pre Hispanic period.[1]
The town has two main festivals. One celebrates its founding on June 6 and the other focuses on the Virgin of Candelaria in February. At festivals such as these, the most traditional music of the area, called tamborazo, is played.[1] Another important event is the Noria de San Pantaleón Fesvial (July 27).[3]
The town of Sombrerete acts as the local government for a number of other communities that surround it, extending over 3,571 km2. Many of the smaller communities of the municipality were the sites of former hacienda mansions. The most important of these communities include Colonia González, Charco Blanco, San Jose De Mesillas, Colonia Hidago, Villa Insurgentes, Ignacio Zaragoza, Benito Juárez and San Martín. These communities are dedicated to agriculture, livestock and some commerce. The municipality is bordered by the municipalities of Miguel Auza, Río Grande, Sain Alto, Fresnillo, Valparaíso, Jiménez del Téul and Chalchihuites with the state of Durango to the west and north.[1]
The town and municipality of Sombrerete is located in the northwest of the state of Zacatecas about 168 km from the state capital.[1]
The region is between the Sierra Madre Occidental and the central highlands of Mexico. The municipality is in a valley is surrounded on all sides by small mountain ranges such as the Sierra de Sombrerete and the Sierra de Santa María with prominent elevations such as the Cerro Grande, Cerro Reyes, Cerro Sombreretillo and Cerro Alto. The town has an altitude of about 2,300 meters above sea level with the highest elevations over 2,500.[1]
The main river is the San Antonio-Barajas which passes through the towns of parade, Buenavista, Los Terreros, La Capillos and Los Sauces. Other important streams are Grande-Las Adjuntas, El Pino-Linares, Los Mimbres, La Guera-Espiritu, Santo Loberos, San Juan, Milpillas, Zaragoza, Las Varas, Charco Blanco, La Batea, El Salto and Peñuelitos. The main bodies of water are Charco Blanco, Dolores, Santiago, San Ignacio and La Honda.[1]
For about half of the municipality, the climate is temperate and semi-moist with rain mostly in the summer. The other half is slightly drier than this. The average temperature for the municipality is 22.1 C and the average annual rainfall is 635.6mm.[1]