Casa Estrella de La Valenciana

An alternate to staying in the center of the exceptionally picturesque city of Guanajuato is to take a 10-minute drive into the historic hillside suburb of Valenciana and stay at the charming Casa Estrella de La Valenciana. The owners, Sharon and Jaye, are friends who worked together in Long Beach, California, before deciding to open a small inn. Guanajuato was a natural choice since Sharon’s husband’s family immigrated to California from there. Sharon is your gracious hostess at the inn, while Jaye takes care of reservations in California. The inn, nestled on the hillside above the Valenciana mine, has a panoramic view of the city as well as the famous Church of San Cayetano, a lavish church built in the 18th century by the Count Alococer whose enormous wealth came from the nearby silver mines. A 5-minute walk from the hotel leads to nearby plaza. Casa Estrella opened in 2003 after extensive remodeling and offers a quieter alternative to stayiing in the center of town as well as offering the finest modern comforts without losing one iota of Mexican charm. A casual elegance prevails with terracotta floors, abundant use of colorful Talavera tiles, beautiful lamps, hand-loomed carpets, fine linens, and excellent Mexican art. Tucked into the garden below the inn is a beautiful swimming pool where guests love to relax after a day of sightseeing. The hotel also rents a lovely large 2 bedroom house, Casa Estrellita.