San Sebastián
del Oeste, Jalisco
San Sebastián is a
charming little colonial city nestled 4600 feet up in the Sierra
Madre Mountains to the North East of Puerto Vallarta. It is a
fun day trip from the resort area.
San
Sebastián del Oeste, Jalisco
Fast Facts
Population - 600 in the city, 5.626 in the
municipality
Location – Located in the Sierra Madre
Mountains in the State of Jalisco. Elevation – 1530 meters
History
Mining began after the
arrival of the Spanish in 1524 and the town was established in
1605. They mined for gold, silver lead, and zinc and at its
height was considered one of the principal mining centers in New
Spain.
Trade routes were
developed. Salt for the smelting process was transported by mule
from what is now Puerto Vallarta. The smelted metal – especially
the silver and gold- was transported to Guadalajara and then to
Mexico City and onward Veracruz to be shipped to Spain. At its
peak of prosperity in the 1700’s there were over 30,000 people
inhabiting the area and there were 30 operating mines.
Today
Cobblestone streets
lead visitors throughout the town and towards the heart of the
town – the tiny plaza and charming bandstand in the center.
Beside the plaza are numerous adobe clay buildings restored to
keep their original colonial charm. The 18th century church
dedicated to San Sebastián is just to the side of the plaza with
it’s back facing the bandstand.
18th
century Haciendas; developed with mining money, remain in the
area.
The pueblo today now
boasts 600 residents. The main industry is agriculture; cattle,
corn, agave and coffee.
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