The Ex Hacienda del Chorrillo is what remains of the industrial operation behind Taxco's colonial silver wealth. José de la Borda built this hacienda on the northern edge of town to process the ore extracted from his mines in the hills above. The silver went in as rock, was crushed, amalgamated with mercury, and came out as bars. The hacienda was the mechanical heart of Borda's fortune, and the money it produced eventually funded Santa Prisca.
The complex has survived in reasonably good condition. The stone processing equipment, aqueduct channels, and storage buildings give a clearer picture of what silver mining actually looked like in the 18th century than anything inside the museums. It is on the northern side of town, uphill from the center, and the walk there takes you through quieter streets away from the tourist circuit. The surrounding gardens have been partly restored, and on a clear day the views back over the town toward Santa Prisca's towers are excellent.