TORREON

 

The city of Torreon is located in Mexico?s northern region in southwest Coahuila, 278 km (172 mi) from state capital Saltillo. The climate is hot and dry, with an average year-round temperature of 24º C (75º F). During the summer, however, the temperature can reach 40º (104º F).

 

Known as the City of Great Endeavors, due to its important commercial and industrial activity, Torreon has an interesting Historic Center where you can appreciate splendid religious and civic architecture. Among the most important edifices are the modern Catedral del Carmen (Carmen Cathedral); the Casino de la Laguna, one of the city?s most famous buildings, which is a neoclassical construction with Spanish renaissance influences; and the Isauro Martinez Theater, one of Mexico?s best theatres, which contains a frontal rose window inside a beautiful Moorish arch. During your stay, you can visit the wonderful museums and learn about the city?s history and its role during the Mexican Revolution. At the Paleontology Museum, you can see fossils that were recently found in the region.

 

During your visit, you can also check out the spectacular Cristo de las Noas, a monumental sculpture that stands more than 20 meters (66 feet) tall at the top of the Cerro de las Noas. This figure is the most important spiritual symbol for the residents of Torreon and La Laguna region.

 

In the city?s surrounding areas, where semidesert landscape predominates, you can visit incredible natural environments like the Bilbao Dunes, which are ideal for sandboarding, and the Valle de Cuatrocienegas (Cuatro Cienegas Valley), which has turquoise-blue ponds formed by fresh water springs. Finally, there?s the mysterious Zona del Silencio (Zone of Silence), where visitors claim to experience paranormal phenomena, the absence of sound and loss of radio signals.