Ex-Haciendas in the Real de Catorce Area

There are numerous ex-haciendas from the XVIII century in the Catorce area. Many of there were involved in supplying agricultural products and animals to the local mining communities. Built by spanish colonials, these haciendas passed through various owners after Mexico's independence from Spain and continued to function as large ranch holdings through the 1800's. Most gradually fell in to disrepair and after the mexican revolution early in the 1900's many evolved to the ejidos and have been allowed to completely fall into ruins. Very few have survived intact.

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Ex-Hacienda de San Juan de Vanegas

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Ex- Hacienda de Salado
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Ex-Hacienda de Guaname

Originally named Zapihuanamé in the guachichil language, Guaname is located 17 km. (11 miles) west of Venado. This hacienda was at it greatest height in the XVIII century, and at the time of the War of Independence it is said that the property covered 400,000 hectares. Although most of the walls are still intact, and some sign of the original painting and woodword are still visible, almost all of the roofs have collasped and the interior spaces are being used as agricultural storage by the ejideros. The small hacienda chapel is still maintained and used by the village but a much larger church structure was under construction at the time of independence and was never completed.


The unfinished church dominates the surounding village of Guaname. The view from the rear shows the open yards that connect the church with the hacienda.


The original entrance to the hacienda is on the street on the left side of the church. A date of 1810 is in the pebble stone yard of the stable.


The interior patios of the hacienda are in a condition of neglect and ruin. Corn stalks are stored under the porticos that are still roofed. In other areas the roofs have collasped and the frescoed walls are weathering away.


The hacienda dining room looked out into what is now a completely overgrown patio through an intricate arched wooden framed window. Only one of the many rooms has any original window glass. These are etched and possibly imported from Europe in the XVIII century. The room beyound has lost its roof.


The yards of the hacienda where the livestock were handled, wagons loaded and unloaded, and the shops for maintaining equipment were located are now in ruins.


Guaname was on the route followed by Padre Hidalgo as he fled across northern Mexico at the start of the War of Independence. These monuments are found at many of the ex-haciendas and towns in the altiplano.

This large tank supplied the hacienda with water and its surrounding farm lands with irrigation. Natural springs in the area supply the tank and water the large area of bosque behind. The current ejido of Guaname still depends on this water source.

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Ex-Hacienda de Solis

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