Historic centre of Zacatecas

Zacatecas lies in north-central Mexico on the steep slopes of a narrow valley. In 1546 Juan de Tolosa brought back rock samples from the Cerro de la Bufa that proved rich in silver and lead, and a mining camp was set up at the foot of the hill. The Zacatecos people resisted the Spanish but were defeated in the 1540s.

In 1548 the first major silver vein was struck in the San Bernabé mine, drawing craftsmen, merchants and clerics. The camp became a parish in 1550, and in 1585 it was declared the "Very Noble and Loyal City of Our Lady of Zacatecas". The Franciscans arrived in 1558, the Augustinians in 1576 and the Dominicans in 1604. With little flat ground, the town spread south along the Arroyo de la Plata, lined with tall buildings.

By the end of the 16th century it was the most important city after Mexico City. Silver paid for religious and civil buildings, and construction peaked in the 18th century. The 18th-century cathedral at the centre has façades where European and indigenous decoration stand side by side. On 23 June 1914 Francisco Villa's División del Norte stormed the city, the last stronghold of Huerta's government forces. The historic centre was inscribed in 1993.