Pasadena Exploring Sister City Partnership With Guanajuato, Mexico

A Pasadena delegation traveled to Guanajuato, Mexico last month to explore the possibility of establishing a sister city there.

“I have advocated for years that we add a city in Mexico to our cadre of Sister Cities,” Vice Mayor Madison wrote in a letter to Guanajuato’s newly elected Mayor, Samantha Smith. “I am very pleased that following a recent change in leadership, the Pasadena Sister Cities Committee is finally pursuing this goal by visiting Guanajuato. My excitement about the possibility of forming a Sister Cities relationship with Guanajuato is undiminished.”

The delegation visited the city from October 7-13, according to information provided by Vice Mayor Madison’s Field Liaison Justin Chapman, who was part of the delegation that made the trip to Guanajuato.

“I went on the trip on behalf of Vice Mayor Steve Madison, who is very supportive of establishing this Sister Cities relationship with Guanajuato,” Chapman told Pasadena Now. “The Vice Mayor gave us a letter that we hand-delivered to the new Guanajuato Mayor Samantha Smith, which invited her and other Guanajuato officials to set up their own Exploratory Visit to Pasadena, which they are working on now.”

The similarities between Pasadena and Guanajuato are many. Both cities are similar in size: Pasadena has 140,000 residents and Guanajuato has 194,000, according to the 2020 Census. Guanajuato is a popular tourist destination with historical significance, as is Pasadena. Both cities are important and noteworthy hubs of arts, music, culture, science, technology, education, architecture, historic preservation, sports, and more.

As Vice Mayor Madison wrote in his letter to Mayor Smith, “Pasadena and Guanajuato have much in common—similar sized populations, a strong sense of history and preservation, shared passions for art, culture, and science, and the presence of renowned educational institutions where young people have the opportunity to reach their full potential.”

For the relationship to become formalized, it would eventually have to be approved by the Pasadena City Council and Guanajuato City Council. The delegation aimed to evaluate the feasibility of deepening the city’s ties with Mexico, particularly given Pasadena’s significant Hispanic/Latino population. While there, the delegation met with local officials, toured historical and cultural sites, and explored potential collaboration with businesses, educational institutions, and community organizations in Guanajuato.

The group also participated in meetings with officials from Guanajuato’s municipal and state governments, as well as leaders from local universities, cultural institutions, and nonprofits. The group also visited key sites like the University of Guanajuato, the Alhóndiga de Granaditas, and the renowned Festival Internacional Cervantino (FIC), an annual arts and culture festival that draws international artists and performers.

The proposed partnership comes after extensive research by the Pasadena Sister Cities Committee Guanajuato-Mexico Proposed Affiliation Committee, which evaluated several cities in Mexico for potential affiliation. Other cities reviewed included Mérida, Cancún, and San Miguel de Allende. However, after careful consideration, the committee recommended Guanajuato as the most suitable match for Pasadena, citing the cities’ shared history, cultural ties, and commitment to education and the arts.

Guanajuato, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is renowned for its colonial architecture, winding streets, and rich history. Founded in 1559, the city played a crucial role in Mexico’s struggle for independence and is home to landmarks such as the Alhóndiga de Granaditas, where a pivotal battle in the independence movement took place. Its vibrant cultural scene includes the FIC, one of Latin America’s most important cultural festivals.

With a population of approximately 194,000, Guanajuato shares similarities with Pasadena, which has a population of around 140,000. Both cities are significant hubs for arts, culture, education, and tourism.

“Pasadena and Guanajuato have much in common—similar-sized populations, a strong sense of history and preservation, shared passions for art, culture, and science, and renowned educational institutions,” Vice Mayor Madison noted.

The Pasadena Sister Cities Committee could submit a formal recommendation to the Pasadena City Council in 2025 to establish an official Sister Cities relationship with Guanajuato. As part of the proposed agreement, the Pasadena Sister Cities Committee suggests that the Mayor and Vice Mayor of Pasadena lead an official delegation to Guanajuato in October during the Festival Internacional Cervantino. Additionally, the committee plans to invite the Mayor of Guanajuato to Pasadena to continue fostering the partnership.

“The exploratory visit was a diplomatic success, and we are excited about the potential for collaboration between our two cities,” said Rene González, Chair of the Guanajuato Proposed Affiliation Committee. “This partnership would benefit both communities, offering opportunities for cultural exchange, educational partnerships, and economic development.”

The Pasadena Sister Cities Committee has expressed its hope that the Sister Cities relationship will not only celebrate the shared cultural heritage of Pasadena and Guanajuato but also foster new opportunities for collaboration in fields such as education, arts, and technology.