Parish Church of San Miguel Archangel.
Let Fall 22 be the season to visit San Miguel de Allende. This is truly a magical destination and is now even easier to visit with more flights added. San Miguel’s delightful mix of Mexican history, culture, tradition, warmth, and hipness is as intoxicating as the many types of locally produced tequilas. Surrounded by natural beauty and history, we choose the Rosewood San Miguel de Allende as our home away from home. The narrow cobblestone streets, lined with vibrantly painted earth-tone facades and stone colonnades, wind and climb through the towns stunning architecture. The colonial charm is immense. One only needs to follow the direction most traversed to find themselves in a vast open plaza, stunning garden park, market place or other historical, religious, or architectural landmarks in this UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are hidden treasures to find throughout San Miguel, from statuesque trees populated by nesting white egrets to the smallest tequila tasting room in the world. Glimpse your first private courtyard when the opening of a heavy wooden door displaces you from the barely-there sidewalk, and your wonder will amplify. While most are too spectacular hillside private residences, many doors are open and welcoming to tourists. Shopping enclaves, stores, boutique hotels, fine courtyard restaurants, and rooftop bars now inhabit the centuries-old architecture. The streets, directly or indirectly, radiate towards the Jardin Allende, in the main square, where the monumental pink sandstone neo-Gothic Parish Church of San Miguel Archangel stands. Nearby and not to be missed is another UNESCO World Heritage site, the 18th-century Sanctuary of Jesus of Atotonilco, featuring mural work hand-painted over thirty years.
Sanctuary of Jesus of Atotonilco
The history of San Miguel is also to be found behind the massive wooded doors at Museo Historico de San Miguel de Allende and throughout the town monuments and museums. The creative arts are also an important part of the town’s history and at the Ignacio Ramírez Cultural Center “El Nigromante” historical murals and artwork are on display and they share this former convent built-in 1755, with contemporary exhibits, music festivals, and performances and creative arts classes.
Children play and shade seekers relax throughout the Jardin Allende while many opt for a seat overlooking the busy central square. In the evening mariachi band plays among the tourist on their way to find and festive evening activities and locals enjoying their picture-perfect town. San Miguel de Allende has equal footing in its historical past and the present. Considered one of the prettiest towns in all of Mexico and often awarded ‘favorite city’ by Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards San Miguel burgeoning arts, cultural and culinary scene is sophisticated.. Fine dining options abound including Bovine; Chef Paul Bentley’s meat-centric brasserie located on the second level of Codigo Postal Design collective an upscale art and shopping space. Nearby at Doce 18 Concept House fine fashion, art, drink, and dining are showcased and presented in a lively modern gallery atmosphere. A curated and exceptional collection of ceramics can be found at Trinitate. Enjoy midday pastries and sip coffee at outdoor cafes, watch the sunset from a rooftop bar while enjoying cocktails made with local mescal or tequila, stroll the handcraft or produce markets, and experience world-class dining or cozy gourmet local fare. A weekend is not enough time to experience all that San Miguel has to offer.
Inside Bovine Brassiere.
San Jose La Vista Vineyards features one of the beautiful wedding venues in San Miguel.
Globo San Miguel offers sunrise excursions over San Miguel and the surrounding area.
Beyond discovery by foot seeing San Miguel and its surrounding landscape is a remarkable sight from above. Floating in a Globo San Miguel hot air balloon at dawn was an exciting and tranquil adventure, and not to be missed. San Miguel is also a wine region and trips and tours to the wineries are great day excursions. We toured the beautifully landscaped hillside Hacienda San Jose Lavista, enjoyed the wine tastings and the opportunity to savor in the lovely countryside and expansive views. I recommend a visit to El Charco del Ingensio, San Miguel’s botanical garden and nature preserve. A natural spring-fed pool is deep center of steep canyon and their extensive collection of cacti and other succulent Mexican plants, many in danger or extinction, are planted among the native flora. The winding pathways, like the streets of San Miguel, reveal more to see at each turn all the while endearing me even more to this delightful destination. San Miguel de Allende.
Photography and Story by David Lewis Taylor.
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Around town in San Miguel. (Clockwise) Delicious baked good at El Petit Four, Peruvian cuisine at La Parada. An incredibly beautiful selection of ceramics and pottery at Trinitate.
El Charco del Ingenio is a tranquil garden, proclaimed a Peace Zone by the Dalai Lama and features views to nearby downtown San Miguel.
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