This is one of the most enjoyable places in the city to sit and relax for a few hours, watch the people and vendors stroll by, enjoy a drink or something to eat at one of the excellent sidewalk cafes. Located one block east of the basilica. El Pipila High on the hill above the center of the city, you can see the 10 meter tall statue that commemorates the courageous actions of Pipila, the nickname of the indigena mine worker Juan Jos de los R os Mart nez. During the siege of the city in the war for independence, Pipila set fire to the entrance of the Alh ndiga, allowing the insurgents to storm the granary. Even if you have no interest in the statue itself, it is worth going up to Pipila for the excellent view of the city.
Visitors are welcome to climb up an inside stairway to the torch.
The interior overwhelming in a Moorish design of half circles, arabesques and woven frescoes of flowers, all rounded out with richly burnished wood, French metal work and textiles, and Italian stained glass. One stairway contains the painting depicting the old symbol of Guanajuato, a blindfolded virgin who stands for unconditional faith. The blindfold was later removed by revolutionaries to signify that the Porfiriato could no longer deceive the people with illusions of fortune and progress. Ironic that the political leaders that followed sought to utilze Modern architecture to carry out similiar illusions, but I digress. The theater is open for viewing Tues.-Sun.