San Luis Potosi, Mexico

San Luis Potosí is in the center of Mexico much like St. Louis is at the crossroad of the country. It located in the north with fertile soil and is an industrial center, owing its existence and architectural splendor to rich mining deposits. The city is considered one of the colonial treasures of northern Mexico and has a most important historical center.

San Luis Potosí was founded as a Franciscan mission in 1592, but it wasn’t until its gold and silver deposits were discovered that the development of the urban zones started. The name San Luis was given in honor of Louis IX of France and Potosí because it was compared with the rich gold mines in Bolivia. Much of the gold and silver has gone, but zinc and lead mines commingle with a modern industrial base situated in the road corridor of the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The city preserves its colonial enchantment and also enjoys many attributes of a modern city, such as hotel infrastructure, highways, airport, tourist and cultural attractions. The railroad and highway system makes San Luis Potosí the neuralgic communications center of the country. Its geographic location puts it equidistant from the three main cities of the country, Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey.