Chihuahua City, Capital city in northern Mexico
Chihuahua City is a major urban center in northern Mexico, sitting in a wide valley between mountain ranges and arid plains at around 4,600 feet. The streets form a grid around a central plaza, where colonial buildings stand alongside modern commercial districts and residential neighborhoods.
Spanish settlers founded the town in 1709 as a mining hub, processing silver and other metals from the region. During the 19th century, it became a stage for key moments in the fight for independence and the revolution, serving at times as a seat of government.
The name comes from Nahuatl and means dry sandy place, which reflects the landscape between high plateau and desert. In the old town streets, vendors often sell regional specialties like machaca and sotol, a local spirit distilled from agave plants.
The central streets are easy to explore on foot, while buses and taxis provide access to more distant neighborhoods. The best time to visit is between October and April, when temperatures are milder and the summer heat fades.
The Quinta Luz museum displays the vehicle in which revolutionary leader Pancho Villa died in 1923, complete with the original bullet holes in the bodywork. Visitors can view the car up close and see the traces of the ambush that ended one of the most well-known figures in Mexican history.
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