An intriguing combination of legend and fact the history of silver in Taxco is a story worth knowing. Originally Cortes himself opened the mines in the hills of Taxco after discovering that the Aztecs had been using silver for barter for centuries. In 1716 silver was re-discovered in Taxco by Don Jose del le Borda, when as legend has it, he was riding in the hills above Taxco and spotted a rich silver vein from the back of his horse. He became very wealthy as a result during a time when silver was worth almost as much as gold and in gratitude to the area built schools, roads and houses for the township.His most famous contribution to the area is the Santa Prisca Cathedral, built in the Spanish Baroque style which can be seen from anywhere in Taxco as it glistens in the sunlight.Mexico’s war for Independence dur wrinkle cream ing the 19th century saw many of the mines destroyed as the Spanish barons fought to prevent them being lost to the revolutionaries. It wasn’t until a chance comment was made to William Spratling, a US citizen and architectural professor who came to the area in the late 1920′s to study Mexico and its culture that Taxco future potential as the world silver capital was realised.Apparently the US Ambassador commented to Mr Spratling that Taxco had once been the site of seemingly bottomless silver mines for centuries but had not ever been considered a location where jewellery and object of silver where designed and made. This got William Spratling thinking and he set about finding and nurturing the potential talent in the locals and motivating the artisans in the Taxco area to rediscover the craft of silversmithing.