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The tiny one-person factories that line the cobbled streets all the way up into the hills supply most of Taxco's silver. They provide for an amazing diversity, sometimes at rock-bottom prices. If you are new to silver buying, you may spend some time at Taxco's silver museum to learn abut the craft and become a more discerning shopper.

One of the oldest and most respectable silver shops in town is Los Castillos, located in the lobby of the Hotel Posada Los Castillo, downhill from the Zocalo. J.R. Alarcon. Tel. 762 213-96. Worth a visit if only for its premises is David and Saul, on Cuauhtemoc, half a block from Plaza San Juan on the way to the Zócalo. The owners claim jokingly that the Cacahuamilpa Caves were modeled after their shop. Tel. 762 245-95.

You'll find plenty of choices simply by walking around the church. The street on the north side of the church has several upscale silver shops, catering mostly to foreign buyers, and that’s where you'll find the most awesome works of art. The street on the southern side of the church boasts more modest shops. The items are less refined here, and the premises have a flea market feel, but you can find some unbelievable bargains in these shops. Shops right on the Zócalo, facing the church, are usually mid-range and more "touristy," so you may want to walk downhill a couple of blocks - in any direction - for better deals.

The most renowned designs can be bought at the Spratling Workshop, on the outskirts of town. There, most of the designs are unusual and considered collectibles. Spratling's designs can only be bought at the workshop, and most of the display cases hold only samples. Most items are by order only, although they have a few U.S. outlets.