Dedicated to Saint James the Greater, this 18th-century cathedral is one of the most emblematic buildings in Saltillo and the tallest in northern Mexico.

The town of Villa Ocampo, located beside the Bocas River, was an old Jesuit mission that was part of the Spanish Crown's evangelization efforts in the northern viceroyalty. Initially, its role was to provide a place for travelers along the Royal Inland Road to rest and seek shelter as they journeyed toward the northern settlements of Nueva Vizcaya.

One of the first mining towns established north of Zacatecas was the town of San José de Avino, discovered by Captain Francisco de Ibarra in 1554. However, its exploitation began several years later, around 1630. Despite this, it was abandoned for long periods and was re-exploited around 1730 by the Basque José de Echaez. It was during this time that the name "Real de San José del Avinito" was formally adopted.

Jesuit missionaries were the founders of the mining towns of San Antonio de Cuencamé and Mapimí. This religious order was also responsible for spreading the veneration of the Señor de Mapimí in these areas, which became one of the most important religious traditions in Nueva Vizcaya since the 18th century.

The town of Nombre de Dios is considered the oldest settlement in Durango and is a significant point along the Royal Inland Road due to its contribution to the colonization process of northern Mexico.

The silver mines of San Demetrio were discovered in 1566, located 5 kilometers from the Real de Fresnillo. This discovery led to the surrounding area being populated with agricultural and livestock ranches, which later evolved into prosperous haciendas. By 1621, the site was officially named Real de San Demetrio de los Plateros.

The establishment of the mining district Noria de San Pantaleón in 1556 was the result of the work being carried out in the San Martín mines, located in the present-day state of Zacatecas. These mines were important producers of lead, which was required in the region's mines as it was necessary for smelting metals.

The Hacienda of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores de El Carro, formerly known as Hacienda de Espíndola de Ciénaga Grande, was part of the Ciénaga de Mata estate and was located within the jurisdictions of Aguascalientes, Charcas, and Sierra de Pinos.

According to a report by royal officials from Zacatecas in 1731, the town of Noria de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles was a processing hacienda owned by Bachelor Rodrigo de Guzmán y Ramírez de Prado. Due to the presence of a nearby spring, it enjoyed a degree of prosperity.