From the Basílica Colegiata de Nuestra Señora de Guanajuato stairs
Del Truco (August 2014)
If you look at this photo, today’s photo was taken from the exit steps on the other side of the church.
The Legend of Truco Street (pictured above)
A man lost his wife’s soul in a card game—against the Devil himself.
In the heart of Guanajuato, on a street now known as Del Truco (“of the trick” in English), stood an elegant house beside the Basilica of Our Lady of Guanajuato. It was owned by newly arrived Spanish merchants, but more than trade took place behind its doors.
Every evening, after six o’clock, the house became a gathering place for the city’s wealthy elite, who indulged in their favorite pastime—card games. Among them, the most infamous was El Truco, a high-stakes game of risk and ruin. Many had walked in with fortunes and left with nothing. Over time, the house became so renowned that the entire street took its name: La Casa del Truco—The House of Truco.
Among its most devoted patrons was Don Ernesto, a man consumed by the thrill of gambling. One fateful night, when luck seemed to favor him, a mysterious gentleman challenged him to a game. Unable to resist, Don Ernesto wagered all he owned—his house, his wealth, his entire fortune—only to lose it all in the shuffle of the deck.
Desperate to reclaim his losses, he pleaded for one final hand. The stranger leaned in, whispered something chilling into his ear, and Don Ernesto’s face turned pale. Yet, he agreed.
The final round was dealt. And once again—he lost.
A bloodcurdling scream rang out. In his blind desperation, Don Ernesto had gambled away his most precious treasure—his beloved wife. His opponent, the enigmatic figure who had played flawlessly all night, had been cheating all along. But no one could prove it. After all, he was none other than the Devil himself.
To this day, locals say that every night, a cloaked shadow roams Truco Street, knocking on doors, whispering into the darkness. It is Don Ernesto, still searching for one last game, one last chance to win back his wife’s soul.
The tale spread like wildfire across the city. The infamous gambling house was shut down, forcing its patrons to seek more honorable pastimes. Yet, legend has it, when night falls on Truco Street, a shadow still lingers where the house once stood—waiting, watching, and perhaps, still playing the Devil’s game.
