Callejón del Beso — the star-crossed lovers of Guanajuato's Kiss Alley

The Callejón del Beso (Kiss Alley) in Guanajuato is one of the most romantic and haunted locations in Mexico. The narrow alley is so tight that the balconies on opposite sides are close enough to lean across and kiss — and according to legend, two star-crossed lovers did exactly that. A young woman and a young man from feuding families carried on a secret romance by meeting on the facing balconies. When the girl's father discovered the affair, he stabbed her on her balcony. Her lover, reaching across to hold her dying hand, kissed her one last time before she expired. The ghosts of the two lovers are said to haunt the alley, and couples who visit must kiss on the third step of the alley to receive a blessing of eternal love. Those who fail to kiss are said to suffer seven years of bad luck. Visitors describe feeling a warm presence in the alley, the scent of flowers, and hearing whispered endearments in Spanish. The alley's legend has made it one of Guanajuato's most visited locations, and its combination of romance and tragedy reflects the Mexican cultural tradition of love and death as inseparable forces.