The two balconies
Almost touching.
ReyungCho — CC BY-SA 4.0 · ReyungCho — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Comisión Mexicana de Filmaciones from México D. F., México — CC BY-SA 2.0 · ReyungCho — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Radeksz — Public domain
A narrow, steep alley between tall houses whose facing first-floor balconies come so close, less than a metre apart, that someone on one could reach across to the other. It is one of Mexico's best-known alleys because of its story. The folk tale says a girl from a rich family, Ana, fell in love with a poor young man, Carlos, and her father forbade them to meet. Carlos rented the house opposite, and the lovers met every night across the two close balconies, until the father found out and the story ended sadly. Today couples stand on the third step below the balconies for photos, said to bring luck in love. Storytellers wait around the spot to tell visitors the tale for a tip. The alley is short, a quarter of an hour is plenty, but it is crowded at weekends, so come in the morning. Combine it with a walk through Guanajuato's other alleys, all colourful and winding.
Almost touching.
Ana and Carlos.
All around.
Off Calle Ayuntamiento, near Plaza de los Ángeles, central Guanajuato
El Pípila Monument and ViewpointA massive stone statue on a hill above Guanajuato showing a miner raising a torc4 minutes walk4.8
Alhóndiga de GranaditasA massive stone grain store built from 1798 to 1809 in neoclassical style; its n4 minutes walk4.8
Teatro JuárezGuanajuato's most beautiful building, a 19th-century theatre with a neoclassical5 minutes walk4.7A folk tale of two lovers forbidden to meet by the girl's father, who met across two very close facing balconies. Couples now pose on the third step.