San Miguel de Allende is a town located in the cool, central highlands of Mexico, known for its colonial architecture and the number of foreign expatriates.
San Miguel de Allende is a town of just over 602,000 residents located in the central highlands state of Guanajuato.
History of San Miguel de Allende
The town was founded in 1542 by its namesake, Fray Juan de San Miguel, a Franciscan monk. The “de Allende” portion of the name was added in 1826, after one of its native sons, General Ignacio Allende, was captured and beheaded during Mexico’s war for independence against Spain.
The town was originally a stopover on the Antiguo Camino Real.
The town was declared a national historic monument in 1926, in an effort to restrict development and preserve the town’s colonial character.
In 1938 an art school, the Escuela Universitaria de Bellas Artes, was started in San Miguel by Peruvian artist Felipe Cossio del Pomar, and the position of Art Director was offered to American writer and artist Stirling Dickinson. This school was the first step in establishing the city as a haven for artists.
San Miguel de Allende received a boost when American GI’s discovered that their education grants bought more in Mexico, and Life Magazine did a story on this attraction in its January 5, 1948 edition.
The town continued to grow and became a popular place for American expatriates during the 1960s.
Travel to San Miguel de Allende
Visitors to the city can fly into either the Mexico City or the Leon/Guanjuato airports. The bus ride from Mexico City is about 4 1/2 hours, while a taxi or bus from Leon takes about 90 minutes.
Attractions in San Miguel de Allende
The town offers a number of public and private art studios, cooking classes, and language schools, drawing an upscale clientele as well as the budget travelers.
The thermal springs located nearby remain a popular attraction, as does the walking tours of the colonial architecture of the town. La Gruta is a private park that has 4 hot springs along with a blue canal leading to a grotto pool.
Crafts are available in the local markets as well as specialty shops, and locally made jewelry is often worn by celebrities in the American film and music industries.
Mexico’s largest film festival, the Expresion en Corto International Film Festival, is held here during the final week of July, and screens more than 400 films in venues that are open to the public.
On Tuesdays a flea market opens on the outskirts of town, offering everything imaginable, from fresh food, to bicycle parts, to live animals. The market is an excellent place to visit with locals as well as pick up a bargain or two.
Hotels in San Miguel de Allende
There are a number of accommodations to choose from in town, ranging from hostels, such as Hostel Alcatraz, located just a few minutes from the town’s main square, to the individual rooms outfitted with antiques and folk arts at Casa Luna, located in a restored 300 year old Colonial mansion.
For travelers who enjoy history and culture, but in an upscale environment, San Miguel de Allende is an excellent choice for a vacation.