Calvillo: La Capital Mundial de la Guayaba y Pueblo Mágico

Craving for something sweet, aromatic and delicious? The capital mundial de la guayaba (guava world capital) fulfills the expectations of those with a sweet tooth, but also of those who appreciate the picturesque charm of a colorful Pueblo Mágico (Magical Town) and the meticulous manual work of the artisans.

 

The prolific Valle de Huejúcar (Huejúcar Valley) -which used to be distinguished by having a good number of willows, as its name alludes to- it was the place where Creoles, Spaniards, mestizos and also Frenchmen settled down and set up their farms to devote themselves to agriculture.

 

It was in 1771 when José Calvillo, owner of the San Nicolás hacienda, decided to donate to the community of Ojocaliente the land necessary for the foundation of the town of San José de Huejúcar. Years later, in 1848, the name of the village changed to Calvillo, in honour of his benefactor and received the category of villa (town).

 

The production of guava plantations became the main sustenance of the community, something that continues to this day, since the area is the largest producer of this fruit in the country. Thus, Calvillo is the best place to go if you have a craving for guava paste, jams and all kinds of sweets that are made from guava fruit .

 

Located 52 kilometers (32 miles) from the city of Aguascalientes, Pueblo Mágico de Calvillo (Magical Town of Calvillo) is also the cradle of fraying, a beautiful type of embroidery that is made by removing certain threads from a fabric to create patterns, textures or monochromatic drawings. This is a tradition brought to these lands by European immigrants but which over time acquired local nuances.

 

These embroideries are highly appreciated for the enormous amount of work they demand and for the degree of detail applied to each piece. Thus, a frayed shawl can cost significant amounts of money and be a delicate accessory that complements a gala dress.

 

In addition, Calvillo has a charming Historical Centre and, from its main square, visitors may embark on several themed tours to explore its most colorful corners, its historical landmarks or even go on excursions to the guava plantations, to the haciendas or the Malpaso Dam.