Once a gold and silver mining hub, San Luis Potosi is a less-traveled alternative to central Mexico’s more touristic destinations. Pink-quarry colonial buildings, historic landmarks, and contemporary museums line the streets of old town, while the rural highlands above boast rivers, caves, and waterfalls.
It is known for its Spanish Baroque-style cathedral, the state capitol, and several ornately decorated churches. The city is the site of Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí (1826; present status 1923). It is on major highway and railroad routes and has an international airport.