San Miguel de Allende

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.

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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