Located in the dry prairies and deserts of central Mexico, San Miguel de Allende is a World Heritage City with a large population of artists and retirees from the US and Canada. In 1826, San Miguel was renamed in honor of Ignacio Allende, a rebel commander during the Mexican War of Independence. You could say that San Miguel was the cradle of independence because one of the main people in the struggle, Miguel Hidalgo, was the pastor of the city’s San Miguel Archangel Church.
The city prospered due to gold and silver mining during the colonial era, and its bold Baroque monuments and mansions reflect this wealth. San Miguel is a joy to photograph with bustling streets lined with houses painted in earth tones of green, yellow and red.
10 Top Things To Do In San Miguel de Allende Mexico
- Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel
- Sanctuary of Atotonilco
- Cañada de la Virgen
- El Jardín
- Charco del Ingenio
- Juárez Park
- Museo Casa Ignacio Allende (Museo Histórico)
- Centro Cultural Ignacio Ramírez El Nigromante (Bellas Artes)
- Fábrica La Aurora
- Mask Museum
Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel
In San Miguel’s main square, the Jardín Allende, the parish church is a symbol of the city and cannot be compared to any other religious building in Mexico.
The monument dates back to the 17th century, but its neo-Gothic appearance was designed in 1880 by Zeferino Gutiérrez. An Aboriginal mason and self-taught architect, he is believed to have drawn inspiration from lithographs and postcards of European cathedrals.
The interior layout has remained unchanged since the 17th century, and a plaque at the entrance commemorates independence leader Miguel Hidalgo’s time as pastor of this church.
Sanctuary of Atotonilco
The Sanctuary of Atotonlico, a Baroque church complex on the same World Heritage List as Santiago de Allende, is 12 kilometers to the north.
The temple was built by the Jesuits in 1740. It has high walls and looks like a fortress. The most important thing about the church is the frescoes and paintings that decorate the interior, which are considered to be one of the highlights of Spanish new baroque art.
The paintings are by Juan Rodríguez Juárez, while the fantastic frescoes of Jesus’ life, crucifixion and last judgment are by Miguel Antonio Martinez de ·Drawn by Miguel Antonio Martinez de Pocasangre, reflecting the intersection of European and indigenous cultures that took place. in Mexico at the time.
Cañada de la Virgen
Just 30 kilometers west of San Miguel, Cañada de la Virgen is worth every second of your trip.
Located on private land, this Otomi city flourished between the 6th and 11th centuries until it was first surveyed in 2002 and opened to visitors in 2011. The Otomi can be said to have lived their lives according to the cycles of the sun, moon and Venus, and all the monuments in Virgin Canada have been shown to correspond to astronomy.
The main monument for observing the sky is the pyramid-shaped “House of Thirteen Days”, which can be climbed. Consider visiting with a guide who will be able to explain the complex structure of the monument.
El Jardín
The square in front of the San Miguel Archangel Church is the first place to feel the pulse of the city.
In addition to the parish church, in front of the square are the Palacio Municipal and Casa Ignacio Allende, which we will visit later. El Jardín’s plan is in the French formal style, and its Indian laurel trees are even trimmed into perfect cylinders.
Stop to admire the scene on the wrought iron bench and watch the ice cream vendor and shoe shiner at work. There are mariachi bands on most days and regular musical performances at the central stand on weekends.
Charco del Ingenio
The botanical garden is located on the western border of San Miguel, on the southern shore of the Presa Colonia (reservoir). The gardens display the full variety of Mexican cacti and other succulents, many of which are endangered. Trails start at the visitor center, past lovely plant displays and remnants of the Viceroy-era irrigation system, to scenic birding.
There is an interactive garden that children can see, smell and touch, and there are regular workshops for the little ones.
Juárez Park
The landscaped Juarez Park is the largest green space in downtown San Miguel and is another place where people gather for public celebrations.
In early November, La Calaca, a five-day festival that coincides with Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead), is filled with face painting, decorated skulls, and even more vendors selling food and souvenirs. On a typical day, you’ll come across artists selling their work, while yoga, tai chi and zumba classes take place under lush greenery.
Paths wind through the green area leading to a fountain and a beautiful wrought iron stand. Around the beginning of February, the park hosts the Candelaria Flower Fair, which adds even more color with a series of events.
Museo Casa Ignacio Allende (Museo Histórico)
San Miguel de Allende was one of the places where the rebellion and struggle for independence began in the 1810s.
The building housed Spanish army captain Ignacio Allende, who fought alongside independence leader Miguel Hidalgo and led the independence forces before being captured and executed in 1811.
The museum reflects these events and presents the biography of Ignacio Allende, as well as the wider history of the city in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, starting with its birth as a mission.
Centro Cultural Ignacio Ramírez El Nigromante (Bellas Artes)
Located just two blocks from El Jardín, this cultural center is managed by Mexico’s National Academy of Fine Arts.
Originally a convent, this magnificent 18th-century building was restored as the Escuela de Bellas Artes in the 1930s after decades of inactivity. There is a notice board at the entrance explaining the current exhibitions.
The center is free to just wander around, and the cloister with its two levels of arcades is very photogenic. You’ll find frescoes by 20th-century painter David Alfaro Siqueiros and others, while the lower levels around the courtyard house galleries and studios.
Classes, seminars and workshops are held upstairs, and in the northwest corner is an auditorium that hosts performances every October during the Cervantino Music Festival.
Fábrica La Aurora
Fábrica La Aurora is just a short walk from El Jardín, an arts and culture center converted from a textile factory.
The factory operated from 1902 to 1991 and remained empty until 2004, when the first artists set up studios in the factory. Fábrica La Aurora soon became the center of San Miguel’s thriving art community, with furniture studios, art galleries and jewelry, interior design, embroidery, and antique shops.
The main attraction is the workshop gallery where you can see the artists at work and there are three cafes and restaurants around the farm.
Mask Museum
The attraction is not for profit and profits will be donated to local nurseries.
For nearly 30 years, amateur anthropologist Bill Le Vasseur has collected more than 500 ceremonial masks from around the country. Most of these works were produced in remote Aboriginal communities that Bill visited to document traditional rituals.
One strange thing about these masks is that they are usually only used once at an event and then destroyed or sold. Many amazing works are accompanied by photos, videos and informative descriptions.
Bill and his wife Heidi are usually available to answer any questions you may have.
