After repeated expeditions to the Northern region of our Country by the Spanish conquistadors, the Villa de Durango was officially founded in the year 1563 by Captain Francisco de Ibarra; however it was not until the XVII, XVIII and XIX centuries that this beautiful capital of the Province of Nueva Vizcaya shows an extraordinary growth, that was undoubtedly linked to the economic bonanza brought about by the important gold and silver production of the mines found in the canyons of the Sierra Madre. This enormous cash flow made the construction of the Zambrano Palace and the Victoria Theatre one of the most important architectural complexes in the city, possible, and it is said, that by the year 1833, the San Dimas mineral holdings had produced 55 thousand million pesos.

Durango was declared the ecclesiastic capital of all the Northwest of New Spain, because of the need to solidly place the foundation of the “Spiritual conquest”, together with the Spanish religion, helping to promote the flow of donations, from the rich miners and ranch owners of the time, to the construction of churches and convents. Durango’s beautiful Cathedral, is the most important example of this construction boom.

Come and peek into the past of this marvelous colonial city. In its Historical Downtown district, where almost one thousand buildings built over four centuries, witnesses of the great moments in the history of the city, await you.