Nestled in the eastern part of Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende is a vibrant city offering picture-postcard views of dramatic spires and distant mountains. The city is always abuzz with cultural festivals, art exhibitions, music performances and a thriving nightlife.
San Miguel de Allende presents a captivating fusion between history and culture. The name of this Mexican city is derived from two notable personalities – a 16th-century friar named Juan de San Miguel and a revered martyr named Ignacio Allende. A walk along the cobbled streets of the city’s historic centre will lead you to beautiful stone facades and Spanish-style buildings turned into museums. Stop by the rose-hued Church of St Michael the Archangel to get a closer look of its neo-Gothic steeples that peek over all the other structures around the public square, El Jardin.
There’s a lot to see and do in this charming city – from admiring the distinctive architecture and dome of Las Monjas Temple to learning about the life of Ignacio Allende at the Historic Museum of San Miguel de Allende. You can also plan a visit to the UNESCO-listed complex of the Sanctuary of Atotonilco to see awe-inspiring sculptures, inscriptions and frescoes that cover the ceiling and walls of this place of worship.