La Valenciana Church

La Valenciana Church is a Baroque building in Guanajuato featuring walls of pale pink volcanic stone and three ornate altars covered in gold leaf. The structure follows a Latin cross plan and is topped with an octagonal dome.

The structure was built between 1775 and 1788 using wealth from the nearby La Valenciana silver mine controlled by Antonio de Ordóñez y Alcocer. This mining operation provided the resources needed for this major colonial religious project.

The church displays craftsmanship from the 18th century created by local artisans who worked with wood and precious materials. The carved details and gilded surfaces show the skills that developed in this mining region.

The church sits on a hillside near the road to Dolores Hidalgo and is easily reached from downtown. Visitors can drive themselves or join an organized tour to explore the site.

The entrance is surrounded by a stone wall topped with crenellations, an architectural feature rarely seen on other colonial churches in Mexico. This fortified design gave the place a distinct character compared to other religious buildings from that era.