Guanajuato is steeped in history, legend and folklore. It is situated on Mexico’s famous Independence Route, a road 1400km (875 miles) in length, along which can be traced Mexico’s historic struggle for independence. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the town preserves a colonial charm in places such as Hidalgo Street, an underground street, the Governor’s Palace, the Juarez Theater, the University, the Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Guanajuato and the Valenciana Church. The parish Church of Dolores Hidalgo is of great significance, being the place where, in 1810, Father Miguel Hidalgo raised the ‘Grito de Dolores’, the cry of rebellion against the Spanish when, with 80,000 armed supporters, he commenced the independence struggle. The town also features several museums, including the Diego Rivera Museum (the birthplace of the internationally renowned muralist) and the somewhat bizarre Mummy Museum. The Botanical Gardens of San Miguel de Allende also provide an eco-tourist feature to visit.