First of the several booming cities in the valley of El Bajio is Irapuato, probably most famous as Mexico's strawberry growing area, with several ultramodern quick freezing and preserve making plants. Irapuato produces huge quantities of these juicy, red berries.
In recent years, Irapuato's former drab downtown business section has been transformed into an attractive mail where no automobiles or other vehicles are allowed. The colonial style development has been built around the town's ancient cathedral and market plaza. The city now has a nine story hotel, a modern block square market
building, and innumerable shops all in keeping with the mall's colonial decor.
If you drive into Irapuato, you might want to continue about 30 miles west on Highway 110 to Rancho Corralejo, birthplace of Father Hidalgo. The ruins of the old hacienda where the "Father of Mexico's Independence" was born, and the adjoining humble ranch chapel, are 4 miles north off Highway I 10 on a good, slightly narrow, blacktop road. The turnoff is just beyond a branch of the Lerma River, some 6 miles west of the town of Abasolosite of another of Mexico's larger thermal spas.
First of the several booming cities in the valley of El Bajio is Irapuato, probably most famous as Mexico's strawberry growing area, with several ultramodern quick freezing and preserve making plants. Irapuato produces huge quantities of these juicy, red berries.
If you drive into Irapuato, you might want to continue about 30 miles west on Highway 110 to Rancho Corralejo, birthplace of Father Hidalgo. The ruins of the old hacienda where the "Father of Mexico's Independence" was born, and the adjoining humble ranch chapel, are 4 miles north off Highway I 10 on a good, slightly narrow, blacktop road. The turnoff is just beyond a branch of the Lerma River, some 6 miles west of the town of Abasolosite of another of Mexico's larger thermal spas.
