Silao: the giant Christ of Cubilete

In the heart of rural Guanajuato State in Mexico, Silao holds on the nearby Cubilete hill one of the largest religious monuments in all of Mexico.

A car is particularly helpful for comfortably reaching the monument and the surrounding area.

The Cristo Rey del Cubilete, an imposing monumental statue marking the geographic centre of Mexico, dominates the hilltop visible for many kilometres around.

A few minutes away, Silao's charming historic centre comes alive with ancient colonial churches and traditional squares typical of rural central Mexico.

Continuing towards Guanajuato, you reach the celebrated and historic UNESCO mining city, with colourful houses clinging to the steep surrounding hills.

Towards evening, the numerous local restaurants serve typical dishes from the rich traditional cuisine of Mexico's Bajío region.

The Cristo Rey of Cubilete, standing over twenty meters high on a particularly imposing pedestal, was erected at the exact point Mexican geographers identify as the geometric center of the entire nation.

Silao, which has grown steadily over recent decades thanks to an important automotive manufacturing hub, also serves as a privileged gateway to nearby Guanajuato, a UNESCO World Heritage site.