San Miguel de Allende

San Miguel de Allende is a famous "little city" in Mexico. Famous, not only for its history, but also for its expatriate population of artists, the city of about 80,000, high in the mountains (6400 ft) is home to a large artist colony, 2 art institutes, many galleries, and a big theater community. No wonder I was anxious to see it!

It is a colonial city, named a national monument in the 1920s, so there are no neon signs or modern buildings and---get this: no stoplights! During the 1940s, the area became a tourist attraction because of the hot springs in the area and after World War II, American veterans discovered that their GI bill money went further at the art institutes here. Word got around and Americans began to visit, then move here and now retirees are joining them.

I am sure that Fray Juan de San Miguel, the Franciscan monk who founded the city in 1542 would be a bit surprised if he saw his city now! The town, like many others in the area, was a stopover from Zacatecas on the silver route to the mines.

The Mexican War of Independence began in a nearby town (Dolores Hidalgo) and General Ignacio Allende, who lived in the city (then known as San Miguel el Grande) joined the army and led it to several victories. He is now a national hero and the city was renamed for him in 1826.

As you know from other ramblings on my blog, in every city and town in Mexico the church and plaza are central features there. San Miguel de Allende is no different.



The Parroquia de San Miguel Arc Angel is a pseudogothic church overlooking the main plaza. Legend has it that the architect who added the facade had never seen a real Gothic cathedral and made his drawings from pictures. How true that is, I don't know but that is what they told me!

The altar of the Parroquia.

The plaza.

An Indian woman makes and sells her things on the plaza.

A street in the city.

I am showing you these doors because, not only were they very beautiful but they also had exquisite doorknockers on them and also, something else that I have never seen in Mexico: mail slots! The mail slots actually say "Correo" (mail)!!! Regular mail is not a common thing in Mexico and I have see only one actual mailbox and these were the first mail slots I have seen!

This is the (?) or a policeman for the city. I'm not sure if he was dressed up for a picture or if he always looks like that! But it does make for a nice photo, verdad?

We were only able to spend a few hours in San Miguel de Allende but I am so pleased to have seen it. Perhaps one day, Mr. Neat and I can return as tourists and really get to know the beautiful city.

Hasta luego.