Beautiful San Luis Potosi
By Roberto Hugo Gonzalez
had the pleasure of spending six days in the State of San Luis and La Huasteca Postina (the Huastec region of San Luis
Potosi). This was a trip coordinated by the Mexican Consulate and the McAllen Chamber of Commerce. Texas Border
Business and Mega Doctor News made the trip with another thirty members of the press and chamber and consulate staff.
Now with the new direct flight to San Luis Potosi, Valley residents will enjoy a beautiful historic city that has breath
taking scenery.
To start with, the city is named after Louis IX of France (also known in Mexico as San Luis Rey de Francia; Saint Louis,
King of France), who is the city's patron Saint. Potosí was added in reference to the fabulously rich mines of Potosi, Bolivia,
discovered some forty years before the city was founded, as the exploitation of silver and gold mines in Cerro de San Pedro near San
Luis was the main reason for the founding of the city in 1592.
Its importance in Mexican history spans four centuries of influence, making its capital city of the same name a fascinating
destination.
During our visit, our group was told that the city became an important administrative and commercial outpost and in the 17th
century it assumed the role of Mexico’s most important northern city, whose domain once stretched from Louisiana to New Mexico. It
is a metropolis that combines its mining past with the magical touch of beautiful buildings from Mexico's colonial past. In 2010, the
historic center of the city was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site within El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro (the Royal Road of
the Interior Land) National Historic Trail.
It is one of Mexico’s most picturesque towns, whose central historic center features tiered esplanades, several handsome
plazas, flower-filled parks, and an active cultural scene. Following independence, the city played important roles in various political
upheavals.
General Santa Ana trained his troops here before confronting the Texans at the Alamo in 1846. In the 1860s, ousted president
Benito Juarez twice established the city as Mexico’s provisional capital. In the 20th century, San Luis was instrumental in Mexico’s
1910 revolt against an aging dictatorship.
One of its principal leaders, Francisco Madero, was jailed here in 1910 before fleeing to San Antonio, Texas and issuing the
Plan de San Luis Potosi. This document declared invalid the election results, and called on Mexicans to revolt on November 20, the
day Mexico’s bloody civil war erupted.
Another valuable addition to a travel experience here is to visit the surrounding countryside. As it is a state which boasts a variety of
ecosystems, San Luis Potosi is the hub from which to go and visit its three touristic regions: the Central Area, which has a forest
climate and springs for diving; the desert of the Altiplano (high plateau) featuring Real de Catorce as its star attraction; and the
Huasteca Potosina (the Huastec region of San Luis Potosi), the area of thick jungle with waterfalls and unsurpassed scenery. Also
running north south is the Sierra Gorda de Guanajuato range, creating a myriad of valleys and plains. Much of the state’s pre-Hispanic
and colonial influence can still be seen today in the towns and villages of this region. TBB
I