With Otomies Indians in the pre-Hispanic period, the region was conquered in successive phases by Chichimeca, Purépecha and Aztec tribes, to go into Spanish hands in 1531. The city has a good number of edifices built during the Colonial period, and it also has a remarkable place in the Mexican history, because of the events that happened there. Add to this the fact that the urban aspect offers a pleasant impression when seeing its houses, palaces and temples generally made with pink stone.

Among the numberless and varied colonial monuments, the Chapel of 'Calvarito' is the most remarkable, because the first mass was said there on July 26th, 1531. Another building of great importance is the church and the convent of the Cross, located in front of 'Calvarito', because it is said that in this place the soldiers' weapons were kept before the battle of July 25th, 1531.

Other important colonial buildings are: the temple of the Congregation of Guadalupe, built in 1680, with a simple portal in a sober baroque style, of a great importance, because it was the first, after the one in Mexico City, devoted to the Virgin of Guadalupe; the temple and former nun convent of Santa Clara, founded by Diego de Tapia in 1633, with some of the most beautiful retable with good quality paintings; apart from the railing of the old choir, made with forged iron; the temple of Santiago, which belonged to the Jesuits, built in 1625 and modified in 1775, and the temple of Santo Domingo de Guzmán, which was also a convent, built in 1697.