Paracho

Paracho de Verduzco (often called merely Paracho) is a small city located in Michoacán, Mexico. Located at coord|19|39|0|N|102|4|0|W|, about 100 kilometers (60 mi) west of state capital Morelia, it serves as the municipal seat for the surrounding municipality of Paracho. It has a population of some 16,500.

Throughout Mexico, Paracho is known as The Guitar Capital of The World. This is because they are reputed to make the best sounding guitars in all of Mexico. The town is full of music shops that sell handmade stringed instruments. A national music festival is held in Paracho once a year, usually the second week of August. Some instruments that can be found in Paracho are: 10-string mandolins, quadrados, armadillo-backed guitars and mandolins, and acoustic bass guitars, as well as regular guitars and mandolins. Many of the stores and workshops allow visitors to watch the guitar-making process directly.

External links

* [http://www.paracho.8k.com updated pictures of paracho]
* [http://www.hechoenparacho.com Award winning 2007 Documentary about the luthiers of Paracho]