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Why
San Miguel de Allende
is special
San Miguel de Allende is a small, picturesque colonial town with broad cultural
offerings.
Tips & insights on
San Miguel de Allende
in Mexico
 I
had the good fortune to live in San Miguel de Allende for a half year when I was
a child and to revisit the town in my adulthood. So I have seen it change,
gradually becoming more touristy. Still, it has retained its Mexican charm,
aura, and colonial architectural purity.
Roughly
one-seventh of the population are ex-pats from Canada and the USA, many of them
retirees. San Miguel de Allende is also the getaway home for wealthy Mexican
actors and other celebrities.
The
icon of the town is the pink-toned La Parroquia (Parish Chuch) on the main
plaza. Its facade and twin spires are "bastardized" Gothic, but nonetheless
enchanting. In 1880, the local architect relied on picture postcards of European
Gothic cathedrals as his muse when he restored the church.
San
Miguel de Allende has a quality reputation for its restaurants, art galleries
and craft shops. It also is a center for art, music, cooking and language
schools.
One
of the pleasurable activities is following your nose as you explore the narrow
cobblestoned streets lined with dwellings bearing photogenic colonial facades,
doorways and iron-wrought grilled windows.
San
Miguel de Allende is not without shortcomings. For instance, the residents have
too many cars. They clog the narrow quaint streets, even when parked. This
degrades the look and feel of the town.
For
a panoramic view of the historic center and distant mountains, go up the hill to
the El Mirador vantage point. (The photo above was taken from there.)
Wear
comfortable shoes with thick, non-slip soles because the streets in this
hillside town are cobblestoned and sometimes steep.
Many
festivals take place. Hardly a week goes by without one. The most notable is the
Fiesta of the Archangel San Miguel held near the end of September. Events
include a running of the bulls, Pamplona style.
The
climate is usually quite pleasant, though you are most likely to encounter hot
days in May, cold nights from mid-November through mid-March. However, during
the winter period, skies are typically clear. June through September is the
rainy season.
San
Miguel de Allende is 4 to 5 hour drive from Mexico City. It has no airport. The
nearest one is in Leon, 90 minutes away by car.
View my other gold,
silver & bronze medal
winners in Mexico
 
My phrase guide
for travelers
What every visitor should know.
My Mexican
cuisine guide
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