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San Miguel de Allende is a colonial town in the highlands of Guanajuato, built on a hillside above a dry valley and laid out in steep cobbled lanes lined with ochre, terracotta and saffron walls. It played an early role in Mexico's independence movement, takes its surname from the insurgent Ignacio Allende, and was listed by UNESCO together with the nearby Sanctuary of Atotonilco.
Days tend to begin and end at El Jardín, the shaded main square watched over by the pink neo-Gothic spires of the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel. A short walk takes in the Oratorio de San Felipe Neri, the Templo de San Francisco and Casa de Allende, the hero's birthplace and now a museum. Bellas Artes occupies a former convent with mural work inside, while Fábrica La Aurora, an old textile mill, has been turned into galleries and design studios. On the edge of town, El Charco del Ingenio protects a canyon and a botanical garden devoted to native cacti and succulents.
The town rewards slow walking, long lunches on rooftop terraces and evenings listening to the church bells. Art lovers, food travelers and couples tend to settle in for several days. Atotonilco and Dolores Hidalgo, where the call for independence rang out in 1810, make easy half-day outings, and the dry, sunny winter months are the most comfortable.
WiserMap travel guideSan Miguel de Allende Mexico Pink Parroquia and Art StudiosPlan a trip to San Miguel de Allende in Guanajuato: the pink Parroquia, El Jardín, Bellas Artes, La Aurora, Atotonilco, local food, festivals and transport.Read the guide
The pink neo-Gothic parish church that defines the town skyline, its facade added in the 1880s by local mason Zeferino Gutiérrez in front of an older colonial church. You can step inside for the altars and chapels. Come at dusk, when the spires are lit up.
The main square in front of the Parroquia, shaded by trimmed laurel trees and lined with benches, arcades and cafes. Locals, mariachis and vendors gather here all day and into the evening. It is the easiest meeting point in town and a good place to start a walk.
An 18th-century church a few blocks from El Jardín with a carved stone facade showing indigenous influence. The complex includes the ornate Santa Casa de Loreto chapel and a collection of colonial paintings. Visit in the morning, when the church is usually open.
A large colonial church on Calle San Francisco with a richly carved Churrigueresque facade and a later neoclassical tower. The interior holds altarpieces and religious paintings. Combine it with the small Jardín de San Francisco plaza right next to it.
A UNESCO-listed 18th-century sanctuary about 14 km north of town, famous for its interior covered in folk Baroque murals that earned it the nickname Sistine Chapel of Mexico. Hidalgo took its Virgin of Guadalupe banner here in 1810. Taxis and local buses make the trip.
The birthplace of independence hero Ignacio Allende, on the corner of El Jardín, now a regional history museum. Rooms cover the founding of San Miguel, colonial life and the 1810 independence movement, with period furniture upstairs. Allow about an hour.
Known locally as Bellas Artes, this arts center occupies a former convent with a large cloister and fountain. It holds art classes, small galleries and an unfinished mural by David Alfaro Siqueiros. Entry is usually free, so drop in while walking the center.
A former textile mill north of the center turned into a design and art center with dozens of galleries, studios, antique dealers and a couple of cafes. Many artists work on site. It is about a 20-minute walk from El Jardín, and most shops close on Sunday afternoon.
A long covered lane of stalls below the Mercado Ignacio Ramírez selling tin work, glass, textiles, pottery and papel picado. Prices are fair and some haggling is normal. Combine it with the food market next door for fresh fruit and quick local snacks.
A botanical garden and nature reserve on the edge of town with trails along a canyon, a reservoir and a large collection of cacti and succulents in its conservatory. Birdwatching is good here. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water, as there is little shade.
A leafy park a short walk south of the center with shaded paths, a creek, playgrounds and basketball courts. Nearby is the old public laundry area of El Chorro, where the town's spring was found. It is a calm spot for a picnic or a break from the steep streets.
A lookout on the hill above the center on the road toward Querétaro, with a sweeping view over the domes, the Parroquia spires and the reservoir beyond. Vendors sell snacks and crafts. Walk up via the steep streets or take a taxi, and come near sunset.
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