Situated about 300 miles north of Mexico City at an elevation of 6,200 feet, San Luis Potosi doesn't suffer the high summer temperatures and humidity of coastal areas. Although it's out of the Colonial Circle of cities such as San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Morelia, and Patzcuro, SLP, too, is rich with colonial architecture and history. In the 17th century San Luis Potosi was the Capital of Northern New Spain, a territory that extended into Louisiana and Texas. In the 1863 and again in 1867, it served as the capital of Mexico and home to President Benito Juarez. (He signed the death sentence of Emperor Maximillian here). Francisco Madera's "Plan of San Luis" called for Mexicans to revolt against dictatorship and spurred Mexico's Civil War that began November 20, 1910. San Luis Potosi calls itself the La Ciudad de Los Jardines, (City of Gardens).

It is full of parks--with trees, fountains, flowers, and benches. Cathedrals, museums, and theaters also abound in the city. THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MASKS reputedy has the most diverse collections of masks in Mexico. Across the street, the Teatre de la Paz is a combined theater/art gallery, with impressive two-story mozaic scenes. Don't miss Plaza San Francisco, a shaded jardin where you'll find Casa de Artesanias with craft items from throughout Mexico for sale. The baroque-style Franciscan temple dating to early 18th century is the centerpiece of this park. MERCADO HIDALGO, a 14-block market zone closed to vehicles, is a wonderful place to walk and shop. Products range from practical household items to native handicrafts, such as rebozo shawls made in rhw nearby pueblo of Santa Maria del Rio. At the north end, this marketplace turns into a typical Mexican food mart, filled with pungent smells of raw meat, the sounds of tortillas and spiced fillings sizzling on family grills, and scenes of bananas, mangos, limes, and avocados artistically arranged in colorful tiers.