Landmark 7 km west of Villanueva
A former hacienda just west of Villanueva whose baroque church, from 1689, keeps a carved and gilded wooden altarpiece.
El Salto is a small rural community just west of Villanueva that was once one of the town's haciendas; colonial parish records list the haciendas of Encarnación, Malpaso, Salto, Soledad and Tayahua in the Villanueva district. Like the others, it belongs to the landscape of farming estates that grew up in the valley in the 17th century, when the region was still a frontier.
The reason to come is its church. The hacienda's baroque temple dates from 1689, a few years before Villanueva itself was founded in 1692, and inside it keeps a carved wooden altarpiece covered in gold leaf, a rare survival in a village this size. It is a quiet place, far from any tour route, and a good stop for anyone interested in the colonial art of the Zacatecas countryside.
There are no services for visitors to speak of, and the church is not always open, so it is worth asking in the village who keeps the key. Combine it with Villanueva's own Templo de San Judas Tadeo and a trip to La Quemada for a full day.
What to see and do
See the baroque church from 1689 and its gilded, carved wooden altarpiece.
Walk around what remains of the old hacienda buildings.
Combine the visit with Villanueva's Templo de San Judas Tadeo and La Quemada.
Getting there
El Salto is about 10 to 15 minutes west of Villanueva by car on local roads. There is no tourist transport; go by car or taxi, and ask locally if the church is open.
7 km west of Villanueva
Directions from Villanueva on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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Places to stay in El Salto
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Tours & activities
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Weather mild
El Salto shares the climate of Villanueva, 7 km away. The best months to visit are Mar, Apr, May, Dec.
Make Villanueva your base
El Salto is an easy trip from Villanueva, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
More around Villanueva
-
Hacienda La Encarnación
· Hot springs · 13 km away
A restored colonial hacienda south of Villanueva with a small hot-spring spa, a temazcal and rooms in the old main house. -
La Quemada
· Archaeological site · 13 km away
The great hilltop city of northern Mesoamerica, with its Hall of Columns, ball court and Votive Pyramid, just north of Villanueva. -
Hacienda de Tayahua
· Landmark · 29 km away
A 16th-century hacienda village with a big stone arch and carved church, long linked to singer and actor Antonio Aguilar's family.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.