| Reviews and photos of San Miguel de Allende attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for San Miguel de Allende sightseeing. San Miguel de Allende Map |
 | San Miguel de Allende Things To Do | Tips 1 - 10 of 37 |  |
 Statue of Fray Juan de
San Miguel by karenincalifornia
In 1542, the good Fray conducted an expedition to locate a place that would serve as a religious center for converting the native people. The Copuce natives, who weren't favorably inclined to conversion, burned the first settlement down to the ground. The location was then moved to a hillside with a spring. The settlement grew around the spring and became the town of San Miguel. To this day the spring provides water to the city. Leave a Comment Directions: A monument to Fray Juan de San Miguel stands in front of La Parroquia, the large cathedral that is the centerpiece of the town.
|
 La Parroquia, San Miguel
de Allende, MX by karenincalifornia
The original La Parroquia was much smaller and built at the turn of the 18th century. It endured various modifications that changed its appearance. In the late 1800s, much or the structure was demolished and rebuilt in its present pseudo gothic style.
The architect of this structure was Zeferino Gutierrez. As the story goes, he based his design solely on some picture postcards from France. This was his only exposure to Gothic architecture! Leave a Comment Directions: Town center
|
 Casa de Allende, San
Miguel de Allende, MX by karenincalifornia
From 1808 to 1810, Ignacio Allende presided over the San Miguel revolutionaries. The uprising was massively popular with the San Miguel residents. In 1810, Allende and his compatriots achieved their goal of freeing the town from Spanish rule.
Pictured here is Casa de Allende, the former residence of Ignacio Allende, which is now El Museo Historico de San Miguel. A statue honoring Ignacio Allende stands in the corner of the building. Leave a Comment
|
 Portals Jardin Principal, San
Miguel de Allende by karenincalifornia
So if you are wondering why this city has such a long name, it is because it is named after two people - the patron saint, San Miguel and Ignacio Allende, who led the town to independence from the Spanish Crown.
Stroll through the town and soak in its 17th - 19th century ambience. The town center has not changed much since independence was achieved. Leave a Comment
|
 San Miguel de Allende by karenincalifornia
By 1750, the town had earned the reputation of being one of the most important and prosperous centers of New Spain.
Class divisions nevertheless existed. Indigenous people and those of mixed race lived in adobe huts in the outskirts of town ("los barrios"). Leave a Comment
|
 18th century mansion in
San Miguel de Allende, MX by karenincalifornia
In the 1700s, San Miguel had a strong self-supporting economy, thanks to local textile, ranching, agricultural and mining industries. Its economic independence from Mexico City and the Spanish Crown contributed toward its prosperity, at least for a while during this particular century. Leave a Comment
|
 School children in parade, San
Miguel de Allende by karenincalifornia
We asked about the occasion, and we were told the town was celebrating the birthday of Igancio Allende, who led the town to independence from the Spanish Crown in 1810. Leave a Comment
|
 Jardin Principal by Royal63Leave a Comment Address: Between Correo and San Francisco streetsDirections: Just follow site of the large, towering Parroquia church steeple. Then you'll see the Jardin square.
|
 Great architecture by Royal63Leave a Comment Address: Canal StreetDirections: About a block away from the Jardin Prinicipal, heading down the hill
|
 La Parroquia by chauncenetta
A memory of La Parroquia: one night long ago , I was in an upstairs bar located next to the church.
A man was strumming a guitar
and a woman began to sing.
The song was mournful and
While singing she began to weep.
At the same time
the bells of La Parroquia
began to peal the notice of midnight.
There was no other sound,
the air was deathly still, time stopped,
but for her voice,
the guitar,
her weeping
and the church bells. Leave a Comment Address: Off the main jardin.
|
More San Miguel de Allende Tips |
|
