Coahuila
Destinations
Saltillo
Saltillo is the state capital of Coahuila, a prosperous city in the north that lost its provincial flavor quickly as it became the great cosmopolitan city that it is today. The foundation of Saltillo is a semi-desert area where a geyser shoots up from under the ground.
The city has many attractions. México Plaza is the place where the North American Army, under the control of General Zacarías Taylor, encamped before the confrontation with Mexican troops, commanded by General Antonio Lopez of Santa Ana in the year 1846. This battle was called the "Battle de la Angostura" or "the Narrow Battle".
San Juan College has been converted into the Bird Museum of Mexico. This monumental building permanently features a large exhibit of Mexican birds, representing nearly 70 percent of the native birds of Mexico.
Various architectural zones can be found in the center of the city like the Santiago Cathedral, The Governor's Palace, with the famous murals of Almaraz and Tarazona, the Plaza de Armas, where one can appreciate the unique facades of the Coahuilense Institute of Culture, the Saltillo Casino, the Precinct of Juarez and the Purcell House.
In the historical center you'll find the Vito Alessio Robles Cultural Center, which protects a library of more than 13.000 volumes from the 17th, 18th, and 19th century. Also visit the Alameda Zaragoza, the buildings of the Municipal Presidency, Congress Palace and the Superior Court of Justice, as well as the "Fernando Soler" City Theater. Further north in the city are the structures of Atenoe Fuente and the Saltillo Technology Institute.
Monclova
Monclova is one of the most important cities in the state, and has very unique characteristics. This city is the premier producer of Mexican steel, and for this reason it is nicknamed "The Steel Capital".
It seems that such a large industrial city would have little to offer of interest to travelers, but Monclova is actually a beautiful city with vast historical and cultural wealth.
Some of the more important monuments and buildings are the following: Santiago Apóstol Parish, the Coahuila-Texas Museum, the Zapopan Hermitage, the Polvorín (Gun Powder) Museum, the San Francisco de Asis Parish, the Harold Pape Museum, the Mini-Pape Museum, the Pape Library, The Monclova Meteorological Observatory, the Moncolva Astronomy Observatory (the largest in Coahuila), the Baseball Stadium, and the Coahuila Racetrack (the only one in Mexico and Latin America that has the U.S. IHRA certification).
Other interesting options in the city are Xochipilli Park, Xochipilli II Park, the Santiago de la Monclava Zoo and the "El Socorro" Golf Club.
Torreón
Torreón is located in what it is known as the Lagunera Region, and is a city of beautiful women, cultural attractions and strong commercial activity. The city was born thanks to its proximity to the Nazas River, which allowed the growth of cotton and vegetables to flourish. The installation of the railway lines that connect Juárez City with the Federal District also helped form the city.
Torreón is full of small details that create its uniqueness: The Money Museum, the Pearl Channel, the Regional Museum, the Torreón Museum, Noas Hill, the Railroad Museum, the Paleontology Museum, the Hill Museum and the Revolution Museum.
Their parks invite one to stay awhile in tranquility, to breathe pure air and to relax from one's hectic routine. The most famous parks in Torreón are: the Etnias Park, Founders Park, Plaza da Armas, Juárez Square, Venustiano Carranza Forest and the tree-lined avenue of Ignacio Zaragoza.
There exist many natural ecological sites for tourists to visit, providing ample opportunity for the practice of adventure tourism. Whether to practice extreme sports or simply to visit an ecological paradise, the traveler will find they have it all within reach. The Bilbao Dunes, The Zone of Silence, the Nazas River, Cuatro Ciénegas, Azul Pool, Los Mezquites Pool, La Becerra Pool, La Concha Spa, the Rosario Grottos, Francisco Zarco Dam, Raymundo National Park and Sierra del Sarnosa are just a few of the wonderful ecological sites to visit.
Piedras Negras
The municipality of Piedras Negras is located in the northeast of the state of Coahuila and borders the United States. Piedras Negras is a thriving city with many new exploits and plans for the future. Piedras Negras is the main border city in the state and is proudly called "Mexico's Door".
This northern region of Coahuila has diverse attractions for the tourist. There are many farms with magnificent hunting facilities, as well as spas and springs. There is also an important thermo-electrical plant, the modern Naval Technological University, and a well-developed hotel infrastructure with commercial services.
In addition to this, it is the birthplace of several illustrious people, including Mr. Pedro Ferriz Santacruz, a famous radio announcer, and Laura Ezquivel, who is the world-renowned author of "Like Water for Chocolate".
This city is also the capital of the Nacho, the world-famous cocktail snack. The Nacho was created here in 1943 by Mr. Ignacio Anaya, who created it to feed a distinguished group of companions who were dining with him during a visit.
These are just a few of the reasons to come and enjoy Piedras Negras.