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Catedral de noche, Aguascalientes
Aguascalientes es la ciudad capital del estado mexicano de Aguascalientes, así como la cabecera del municipio del mismo nombre. La ciudad se encuentra en la zona centro-sur del estado, en el valle que lleva su mismo nombre y que divide de sur a norte el estado. El nombre de la ciudad se debe a la abundancia de aguas termales por lo cual fue nombrada “Villa de nuestra señora de la Asunción de las aguas calientes”.
Aguascalientes es una ciudad dinámica y próspera. Es reconocida por sus textiles y por su Feria de San Marcos, como también en el ámbito de la fiesta brava.
Coordenadas: 
21°52?51?N 102°17?46?O
Gentilicio: Hidrocálido o Aguascalentense
Clima
Por situarse al sur del Trópico de Cáncer y con una altitud de 1880 msnm su temperatura media anual es de 18°C. El mes más caliente es el de junio y el más frío enero. La oscilación de la temperatura no es mayor a 10°. Aunque en estos meses se han registrado temperaturas récord de 37° y -2°. El clima en la ciudad (como en todo el Valle de Aguascalientes) es estepario; la precipitación anual promedio es de 500 mm, y la temporada de lluvias es el verano (iniciando a finales de junio y terminando a finales de septiembre).
Festividades y desfiles de la Ciudad
Feria Nacional de San Marcos
La más famosa y grande de todas es la “Feria Nacional de San Marcos”. En la ciudad se celebran dos desfiles de tipo oficial uno con motivo del día de la Independencia la mañana del 16 de septiembre y otro con motivo de la celebración del inicio de la Revolución mexicana la mañana del 20 de noviembre como en cualquier otra plaza de la República Mexicana, pero también cuenta con otros dos desfiles locales uno con motivo de la Celebración de la Feria Nacional de San Marcos la mañana del 25 de abril (día de San Marcos) llamado desfile de primavera y otro el 2 de noviembre por la noche con motivo de la Feria de las Calaveras. Una mención especial merece para la comunidad católica de la Ciudad los Festejos a la Virgen de la Asunción que culminan el 15 de agosto, día en que se realiza una romería con carros alegóricos y en el que participan congregaciones religiosas, los seminaristas y con una participación especial trabajadores de diferentes compañías; un día antes con motivo de la Virgen de la Asunción se realiza la llamada “Peregrinación de los Choferes” que se reúnen a partir de la avenida Héroe de Nacozari y entran por la calle Francisco I. Madero hasta llegar a la Catedral-Basílica, haciendo ruido con sus claxón (que en momentos llega a ser ensordecedor) y regalando dulces a los feligreces que se encuentran en la calle, adornan sus automóviles con motivos blancos y azul tenue y muchas veces con una imagen grande de la Virgen que colocan en el cofre, los vehículos que participan son desde tractores de traillers, tortons, camionetas de redilas, pipas, taxis, como participan vehículos grandes esta peregrinación suele comenzar a las 6 de la tarde y no termina antes de las 11:30 de la noche y cada año son más los que se suman a la celebración.
Los mejores precios en hoteles en Aguascalientes
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Catedral de noche, Aguascalientes
Although this state is not often billed as a tourist center, international visitors, as well as citizens from all over Mexico, are attracted to the San Marcos Fair, which is considered the national fair of Mexico and contributes much to Mexico’s economy.
Recently, its capital city has gained the reputation as a great destination for its superb colonial architecture visible in the colonial centre, as well as the modernity and dynamism in the outskirts.
The city also hosts many conventions every year. It benefits from its excellent central location. The city is also famed for its environment of relaxation, and for its safety and cleanliness, as it is often described by people when traveling to this part of the country for conventions or tourism.
Most tourists go to the capital. A few tourists explore the former mining towns in the north of the state (in the municipalities of Asientos and Tepezalá), which are now almost ghost cities. The haciendas, hot springs, and baths scattered around the state are also of historical and recreational relevance.
The municipality of Calvillo has a semi-tropical climate, The largest producer of guavas in Mexico, it attracts some fans of watersports to its reservoirs.
The state has a Natural Protected Reserve in the higher mountains called Sierra Fría. The Sierra Fría is a protected area. Located at a height of 2,500 to 3,000 meters (8,200–9,850 ft) above sea level, it comprises oak and pine forests. Its attractions include observing exuberant landscape and wide ravines, in which, there are pumas, lynxes, boar, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, raccoons and many other animals. There are steep-sided cycle paths, camping and picnic areas as well as several hunting clubs. It is the mountain climate and fauna that attracts locals for camping activities. In winter, the temperature sometimes falls to 5°C (24°F) below zero when the weather is poor. Usually, Sierra Fria is the only part of the state that gets snow during winter.
In the city of Aguascalientes one of the best sunsets in the world can be seen in the Cerro del Muerto which the hill resembles the shape of a man lying down. The city of Aguascalientes is called “el corazón” which means “the heart” of Mexico because it lies in the middle of the country. This city is often considered, by its locals, to be one of the safest and cleanest in Mexico. Also, the city of Aguascalientes is known as “the land of the good people”.
The state is located about 300 miles (480 km) from Mexico City:
21°52?51?N 102°17?46?O
Cultural life
Government Palace: a forest of columns, carved arches and imperial stairs
Aguascalientes organizes the largest festival held in Mexico, the San Marcos Fair, which takes place from the middle of April to the beginning of May. The celebration was held originally in the San Marcos church, neighborhood, and its magnificent neoclassical garden; since then, it has greatly expanded to cover a huge area of exposition spaces, bullrings, nightclubs, theaters, performance stages, theme park, hotels, convention centers, and other attractions. It attracts almost 7 million visitors to Aguascalientes every year.
The old part of the city revolves around downtown and the four original neighborhoods from which the city expanded. The most notable building here is the Baroque Government Palace, dating from 1664 and constructed out of red volcanic stone, it is known for its hundred arches. The prominent Baroque Cathedral, begun in 1575, is the oldest building in the city. The tall column in the center of the main square dates from colonial times; it held a statue of a Spain’s viceroy, which was toppled when the country gained independence; the current sculpture on its summit commemorates Mexican independence.
The extraordinary Baroque facade of Guadalupe Church
Aguascalientes historic downtown is home to several outstanding museums including the Aguascalientes Museum (Museo de Aguascalientes), the city’s art museum, housed in a Classical-style building designed by the beloved self-trained architect Refugio Reyes; the Guadalupe Posada Museum (Museo Guadalupe Posada), located in the historic nationhood of Triana, exhibits the life and work of José Guadalupe Posada; and the State History Museum, which is housed in an elegant Art Nouveau mansion typical of the Porfirian period with and ornate patio and dining room with vegetable motifs in a Mediterranean style, with a French Academism facade, and interior columns and an arcade of pink stone characteristic of Porfirian Eclecticism.
Camarin of San Diego: Interior detail
Other designs by Refugio Reyes include the Paris Hotel, the Francia Hotel, and his masterpiece, the superb Church of San Antonio, considered to be one of the most beautiful churches in Mexico. The Church of our Lady of Guadalupe possesses an extraordinaryly exuberant Baroque facade designed by José de Alcibar, a renowned architect of the period considered to be one of the most famous artists in Mexico in the 1770s. The Camarin of the Immaculate in the church of San Diego is considered by historians to be the last Baroque building in the world; it links the Baroque and Neoclassical styles; it is the largest of the fewer than ten of these type of structures built in the whole continent.
Aguascalientes is also home to some of the country’s leading provincial theaters. Outstanding examples are the Morelos Theater, historically important for its role during the Mexican Revolution as a convention site; architecturaly, the building is notable for its facade and interior, which houses a small museum. The Teatro Aguascalientes is the city’s premier theatre and opera house and is equipped with the latest technology.
Morelos Theater
In addition, in the modern section of the city, the Museo Descubre astonishes as an interactive museum of science and technology aimed at providing with a hands-on learning experience. It also possesses an IMAX screen. The Museum of Contemporary Art is the city’s premier art museum.
The gothic structure of the Los Arquitos cultural center used to be one of the first bathhouses in the city, declared a historic monument in 1990. The Ojocaliente is also an original bathhouse still in use today, and fed with thermal springs. La Estacion Historic Area (The Old Train Station Complex) contains the Old Train Station and Railway Museum historic complex, which at some point in 1884 formed the largest rail hub and warehouses in all Latin America. The complex is adorned with dancing fountains, a railway plaza and original locomotives and monuments. It was in this complex that the first locomotive completely manufactured in Mexico was made. It symbolizes the progress of the city and its transformation from the rural to an emergent industrial economy. The rail factories supplied with railways and locomotives to whole of Mexico and Central America. The Train Station is also historic due to its unusual (for Mexico) English architectural style. The Alameda avenue, the railway hangars, the factory complexes, and its surrounding housing have been proposed to be placed in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
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