Welcome to “The World’s Capital of Silver”!

This is an exciting time for us as we get ready to welcome the next generation of singers in the historic mining town of Parral. It was around 1640, just few years after the founding of Real de Minas de Parral, that the king of Spain, Felipe IV, declared the town “The World’s Capital of Silver”. 

Located in the southern part of the Chihuahua, Mexico with a population over 101,000, Hidalgo del Parral was named after Miguel Hidalgo who is considered the 'Father of the Country.'  According to legend, Juan Rangel de Biezma picked up a rock on the Cerro la Prieta (La Prieta Hill), licked it and proclaimed “There is a mineral deposit here.” That deposit produced silver for 340 years and shaped Parral as a major mining settlement.  Influenced by the historic presence of Spaniards, the city is recognized as one of the most European-fashioned cities in Mexico.  Associated with several historical figures, Parral is most celebrated for its association with Mexican revolutionary leader Pancho Villa, who was assassinated there on July 20, 1923. 

[source: https://www.santafenm.gov/parral_mexico]