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One of the countless silver shops of Taxco (source)

The downtown streets are lined with hundreds of shops selling an amazing variety of silver handicrafts. If you are short on time, 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.

Museum & Workshop Guillermo Spratling

After enjoying the artwork itself, you can learn more about the history of the region at the small Guillermo Spratling museum, one block downhill from the Zócalo.

The museum is dedicated to William Spratling, the American who revived Taxco’s silver industry through superb artisanship. In 1929, this professor moved from Texas to Taxco intending to write a book about the local colonial buildings. Taking notice of the local silver artisans, Spratling opened up a workshop and exported the goods back to the United States. The workshop grew and attracted apprentices from the whole region, which eventually gave new life to the silver market, and to the city. Such apprentices included Mexican Silver fabled silversmiths Antonio Pineda, Castillos, Ledesma, and Chino Ruiz. Thanks to Spratling, Taxco is the world's capital of silver, with over 300 shops and dozens of renowned silver jewelers. The silver is among the finest to be crafted anywhere in the world.

The museum contains a collection of pre-Columbian statues and implements in clay, stone, and jade, but no silver. For that, you need to go to William Spratling's hacienda-style former home and workshop, located in the outskirts of Taxco. This ranch-workshop is still active today and displays the distinctive kind of work that Spratling emphasized, with apprentices busy on reproducing some of the unique designs that are now considered collectibles worldwide. Practical Info

Other Silver Museum

There is also a small silver museum, Museo Plateria, next door to Hotel Posada Los Castillo. This is the place to learn about silver-making and to see some classic pieces, including some of those by William Spratling, although more of these are on display - and some can be purchased - at Spratling's workshop. More Info

Next: Marketplaces of Taxco