By K. Westmoreland

Dolores Hidalgo is one of Mexico´s colonial treasures, and offers visitors a unique window into its historical past. Shopping, colonial attractions and unique cuisine are but a few of the many things this charming town has to offer.
Dolores is one of the most important towns historically in all of Mexico. On the night of September 15, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, the 57-year-old parish priest of Dolores, and Ignacio Allende learned that their plans for insurrection against Spain had been discovered. They decided to act immediately and soon after dawn the next morning, September 16, Padre Hidalgo delivered his now famous Grito (Cry for Freedom) from the Parroquia of Dolores. This was the beginning of Mexico's struggle for freedom from Spanish rule which was to drag on until 1824 and take some 600,000 lives.

Dolores of that time was a poor, largely Indian village, but the ragged army of Hidalgo and Allende marched from here to San Miguel, then to Celaya and Salamanca until finally, having grown to a force of some 20,000 men, they had their first real confrontation with royalist troops in Guanajuato. Hidalgo was captured after a final defeat in Guadalajara, then executed and beheaded on July 30, 1811. His head, along with those of Allende, Aldama and Jimenez, hung from one of the corners of the building in Guanajuato where that first battle had taken place.


Today Dolores Hidalgo is known primarily for its ceramics industry, which provides income to well over half the town's population. The inexpensive and mass-produced output of the town is marketed throughout Latin America.
Dolores is also famous for its exotic ice cream flavors. Try them at the Main Square. There are two vendors offering strange flavors such as Mole (chili and chocolate sauce), Beer, Strawberries and Cream, Avocado, etc. Each ice cream or "Nieve" in Spanish is around $15 pesos.

Other must see attractions in Dolores include:

• Parish church of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores: A beautiful structure dating from the beginning of the 18th century, with a facade of carved pink stone in the churrigueresque style. Every year the Cry for Independence is re-enacted on the porch of this church.
• Monument to Don Miguel Hidalgo: A bronze structure done in homage to the Father of the Country, inaugurated on 16 September, 1891. It was cast by Miguel Noreña, sculptor and master at the School of Fine Arts.
• Guest House: It was built in 1786. The facade has six arches over which there are balconies of carved stone. This house was acquired by the government of the state in 1940 to provide lodging for distinguished visitors. Every fifth year of government the president of the republic comes here for the re-enactment of “el grito” and is housed here during his stay.

To reach Dolores Hidalgo you should be able to get a bus from Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende or Leon. Each town is around 1 hour away. Taking a bus from Queretaro is also an option. From Mexico City you need to take a bus to any of the aforementioned cities and then to Dolores. The bus station is located at Hidalgo Street and Rio Dolores.