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Meetings in Leon

Meetings in Leon

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Leon

Leon is located in the state of Guanajuato and is the fifth largest city in Mexico. The city is a colonial town rich in culture and history. It was first inhabited by a number of different indigenous groups; Viceroy Don Martin Enriquez de Almaza founded Leon in 1576 to establish a defensive position against the fierce tribe of the Chichimecs who opposed the Spanish conquest.

This colonial city later became known as the “Shoe Capital of the World”, due to its large production of quality leather goods and shoes for national and international markets. Without a doubt it is a great shopping destination

Leon’s strategic location in the center of Mexico links it to major cities and airports and, in addition to leather, it continues to produce agricultural products and livestock for the rest of the country.

Leon’s recent industrial growth has brought modern architecture, hotels, shopping centers and restaurants, and one of Mexico´s top ten convention centers, Poliforum Leon. This modern structure has 137,795 square feet of event space, can hold up to 12,000 people, and is designed for events of all types and sizes from banquets and concerts to conventions and expos. Conveniently, the Poliforum will soon have an attached Courtyard by Marriott hotel.

The Poliforum Leon has hosted a number of international and national events, including the World Youth Conference 2010, the ISO/TC 207’s 17^th Plenary Meetings 2010, and the International Tomato Congress. Leon’s largest convention center is conveniently located near a number of hotels, including the 5 star Holiday Inn Convention Center with 177 rooms and 3 meeting spaces that hold 250 people.

The International Airport of Guanajuato is located 20 miles from Leon, and has direct flights to and from six U.S. cities, including Dallas, Chicago and Los Angeles.

Air Flight Connection

		DOMESTIC	INTERNATIONAL
	Flight / Month
	630	320	310

	Passengers / Month
	32,206	17,188	15,017

Connection Cities

MEXICO CITY
TIJUANA
MONTERREY
DALLAS

LOS ANGELES
SACRAMENTO
CANCUN
SAN JOSE DEL CABO

CHICAGO
HOUSTON
OAKLAND

Airlines

AEROMEXICO
AMERICAN AIRLINES
VOLARIS

MAGNICHARTERS
CONTINENTAL AIRLINES
VIVA AEROBUS

Hotel Capability

4,320 (rooms / night)

Convention Center Capability

485,000 (sqft)

Venues

	Venue	sqft	Rooms	Website

	POLYFORUM	485,000	•4 EXHIBITION AREA •33 SESSION AREAS	www.poliforumleon.com

CVB Contact

	Contact	Mail	Telephone

	Oscar GarcIa Ramos	oscar.garcia@ocvleon.com	(477) 7634401

	Felipe Becerra Alvarado	fbecerra@ocvleon.com	(477) 7634401

Website

www.leon-mexico.com

Supports

Destination Format Request
FAM Trip
Publicity and Promotion Strategies
Social and Organization Program Coaching
Visit Inspection

Things to do

La Valenciana mine: Guanajuato’s Silver City

Tour the La Valenciana mine, the source of much of Guanajuato's early wealth and prosperity. Silver was first discovered in Mexico's Bajio region in the mid-1600s. A century later, Guanajuato was the leading center of silver mining in the world and today, both the city of Guanajuato and its adjacent mines are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The village of La Valenciana is located on the northern edge of Guanajuato and is home to the La Valenciana mine, once one of the richest and most productive silver mines in the world. Originally owned and operated by the Spanish, the La Valenciana mine was discovered by Antonio Obregon y Alcocer, who became the owner of the mine and Conde de Valenciana (Count of Valenciana).

The Church that Silver Built

Visit the magnificent Templo de San Cayetano with its pink stone facade and ornate interior. In the village of La Valenciana near the entrance to the La Valenciana silver mine stands one of the most impressive Guanajuato attractions, the 18th century Templo de San Cayetano de La Valenciana (San Cayetano Church). The San Cayetano Church sits atop a hill overlooking the city of Guanajuato and stands as a monument to the vast wealth of the La Valenciana silver mine and the rich history of silver mining in the Bajio, or heartland, of Mexico during the colonial period. The San Cayetano Church was built by Antonio de Obregon y Alcocer, the Conde de Valenciana and original owner of the La Valenciana silver mine.

Victory at the Alhondiga de Granaditas

The Alhondiga de Granaditas stands as a monument to the start of Mexico's War of Independence. The Alhondiga de Granaditas in Guanajuato is a historical building, monument and regional history and art museum built between 1798 and 1809. Alhondiga means “grain storehouse or market”, and the building originally housed a large grain and seed storehouse, or granary. In 1810, the building became a fortress for Spanish troops and loyalist leaders and the site of the first major victory over the Spanish. Under the command of Miguel Hidalgo, a local miner by the name of Jose de los Reyes Martinez, nicknamed El Pipila, tied a large stone to his back to deflect bullets and breached the Spanish defenses by burning down the fortress doors.

Dolores Hidalgo, Birthplace of Independence

Follow in the footsteps of Mexico's revolutionary leaders in Guanajuato. In 1810, a Roman Catholic priest by the name of Miguel Hidalgo delivered his now infamous Grito de Dolores (Cry of Dolores) in the town of Dolores in Guanajuato state. Ordering the church bells to be rung, Hidalgo called for the end of 300 years of Spanish rule in Mexico. Start your tour of Mexico's Independence route in colonial Guanajuato. The first major victory against the Spanish was won at the Alhondiga de Granaditas, a former granary. Shortly thereafter, revolutionary leaders Hidalgo, Allende, Aldama and Jimenez were captured and beheaded, their heads returned to Guanajuato and hung from the four corners of the Alhondiga where they would stay for the next ten years.

City's Underground Roadways

A remarkable network of underground roadways runs beneath colonial Guanajuato. The historic downtown of Guanajuato is best explored on foot. European-style plazas are linked to one another via cobblestone streets and callejones (alleyways) that wind up and down the hillside, many of which are pedestrian-only and too narrow for cars. Navigating the streets of Guanajuato City presents a unique challenge for motorists. The Rio Guanajuato (Guanajuato River) used to flow beneath the city of Guanajuato and frequently caused the city streets to flood, especially during the rainy season.

Festival Cervantino: Cultural Mecca

Each year Guanajuato hosts the most important festival of arts and culture in Mexico. The colorful and lively colonial city of Guanajuato is a cultural mecca and internationally known as the host city of the annual Festival Cervantino (Cervantino Festival), a state sponsored cultural festival that's held each year in October. The Cervantino Festival is one of the premier arts and cultural festivals in Mexico and Latin America and features performing arts from around the world with a special emphasis placed on artistic creations in the Spanish language. The origins of the Cervantino Festival date back to the mid-20th century when short plays by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, author of Don Quixote, were performed in the city's plazas.

Legends and Serenades

History and folklore come alive in the streets and alleyways of colonial Guanajuato. Guanajuato is a city steeped in legends and myths, many dating as far back as the 16th century, such as La Llorona (the weeping woman), El Truco (the trick) and the famous Callejon del Beso (Alley of the Kiss). The sharing of these local legends is part of the tradition of the callejoneada, a type of “walking serenade”, during which local musicians dress up in traditional 17th century costumes and weave their way through the cobblestone streets and narrow alleyways of colonial Guanajuato while playing music, singing popular folk songs and reciting local legends. The tradition of the callejoneada was introduced into Mexico after the arrival of the Spanish.

Guanajuato's Cerro del Cubilete

Witness an impressive display of faith in the heart of the Bajio. Cerro de Cubilete (Cubilete Hill) is located 15km west of the city of Guanajuato in the heartland of Mexico, a region known as the Bajio. At 2,579m (8,460 feet), Cubilete Hill is the highest mountain in Guanajuato state and thought to be located at the exact geographic center of Mexico. Marvel at the towering Cristo Rey (Christ the King) statue, a 20m (65 feet) monumental sculpture, religious site and museum situated atop the summit of Cubilete Hill, and enjoy stunning panoramic views of the surrounding area. The statue faces the city of León and can be seen for miles.Erected in 1950, the bronze Christ the King statue is one of the most historically important religious shrines in Mexico.

Universidad de Guanajuato, University Town

The University of Guanajuato is the cultural centerpiece of the city. One of the oldest universities in Latin America, the Universidad de Guanajuato (University of Guanajuato) first opened in the 18th century as a Jesuit school for children. It was the first educational building to open its doors in Guanajuato, and was originally founded as the Hospice of Holy Trinity. It changed names several times before becoming property of Guanajuato state in 1828. Shortly after becoming property of the state, the university was renamed the Colegio Nacional de Guanajuato (National College of Guanajuato). In 1945, the College gained university status and was renamed the University of Guanajuato.

Adventures in the Sky

Enjoy spectacular bird's eye views of the Bajio region while soaring over Guanajuato. It is an excellent outdoor destination with pleasant year round weather and beautiful landscapes. Nature lovers, outdoor enthusiasts and adventurous travelers can explore the mountainous terrain and vast natural areas of Guanajuato; including the nature reserve at Las Palomas, Sierra de Lobos and the ecological zone at Valle de Santiago. Popular activities include hiking, mountain biking, rappelling, fishing and camping. Adventure sports enthusiasts flock to Guanajuato for paragliding and hang gliding. Paragliding and hang gliding are similar to one another in that both sports provide spectacular bird's eye views of the rugged and beautiful landscapes of Guanajuato.