This dusty old mining center, now a fast-growing urban area, has a few remnants leftover from colonial days but is otherwise quite unexciting. The Museo Nacional de la Fotografia, housed in a former cloister, is the largest historical-photograph archive in Mexico. Its 1.5 million photos include an especially impressive collection of images from the Mexican Revolution by the famous Casasola brothers. Also visit the Hidalgo Cultural Center in town. The zocalo (central plaza), with an ornate clock tower, is a pleasant place to stroll.
Pachuca is a good base for visiting the beautiful El Chico National Park, a pine-forested highland popular for mountain biking, rock climbing and picnicking. 65 mi/105 km northeast of Mexico City.
