San Miguel de Allende Things to Do

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Of course there are many famous and beautiful murals around Mexico, mostly by Diego Rivera, and Siquieros, but at the INSTITUTE de ALLENDE in San Miguel, there are also some beautiful large wall murals worth seeing; just walk into the main entrance and go to the back wall. Unfortunately, I do not know who the artist is.

The Institute is a place to learn language and art.

To give you the best of both worlds, take a drive to the beach resorts of Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa. It is a nice break from the cool mountains to the tropical sunny beaches with lots of fresh seafood to titillate your senses. Rent a condo or stay in a small B & B or small beach hotel and while away a few hours in blissful contentment. Contact Judith Whitehead through www.paradise-properties.com.mx and I will help you plan your visit.

Ther is a directory of rentals at:

http://smamap.com/SanMiguelDeAllendeWebsites/SanMiguelVacationRental.php

For things for kids to do check the directories:

http://smamap.com/SanMiguelDeAllendeWebsites/SanMiguelOutdoors.php

-and-

http://smamap.com/SanMiguelDeAllendeWebsites/SanMiguelClasses.php

many of these places have kids programs.

Mariachi groups gather at night into San Miguel's Main Square, providing good chance for a serenade or just for listening at some traditional music.

Indeed Mariachi is from the state of Jalisco, West of the state of Guanajuato, but you will find Mariachi all throughout Central Mexico and in San Miguel as well. You will recognize Mariachi players in the Main Square from their traditional outfit (though the ones I saw did not wear the traditional large hats) and the instruments they play such as trumpets, violins and different types of traditional guitars. Just approach one of the player and hire the band to play for you.

Not a site worth remembering itself, San Miguel's park, Parque Juarez, few blocks off the Main Square right behind the Paroquia, is a pleasant place for some relax and some local-people watching. A gathering place for locals, especially seniors and youngsters. There is also a playground for kids.

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There is no much in term of sights and attractions to recommend about San Miguel: there are few churches, palaces and museums worth mentioning but none will give you memorable experience; moreover the city center is that compact that eventually you will bump into all of them anyway. You will get the best out of San Miguel just wandering the city, enjoying the colonial architecture, the cool climate, the restaurants, some shopping and ultimately relaxing at the town slow pace of life. The whole city center may be visited in one full day or less. No map needed. Some get bored after a short while, but this is up to you.

Few highlights on things "worth seeing" from my visit to San Miguel:

- As any other Mexican colonial town the life of the city center spins around the Main Square, Plaza Allende in San Miguel. You will find a tree-shaded little park with iron benches where locals, residents and tourists hangout and sit watching the coming and going. Plaza Allende becomes very lively at night with food vendors and Mariachi groups.

- The parish church and San Miguel's landmark La Paroquia, in the Main Square, is by far the most interesting and somewhat intriguing architectural piece in town. I have never seen a neo-gothic church in Mexico and likely there isn't any (see my San Miguel's Cover Page for more details). There are few other churches of some interest, displaying more traditional baroque facades, the best of which I found to be the Templo de San Francisco, right one block off the Main Square.

- The only museum in town is the Museum Casa de Ignacio Allende, the house where the War of Independence hero Captain Ignacio Allende was born and lived. It is featured the biography of Allende as well as description of history of the area. It is a small museums and the only one in town, worth a stop.

- There is a pretty nice lookout point, called El Mirador a five minute walk uphill from the Main Square. Facing the Paroquia head uphill on your left hand side and then turn right at the next main street where the traffic flows. The view is worth the effort get there.

- A kind of "off the beaten track" destination, Parque Benito Juarez, the town park, few blocks and a few-minute walk off the Main Square is a good alternative for some relax and a good option for some local-people watching. Facing the Paroquia walk few blocks just straight in front of you.

- There is a Bull Ring (Plaza del Toros) in San Miguel. You can easily spot the circular-shape building from the lookout point El Mirador. I don't know whether it still operates or open to visitors.

The view of the city and the valley one can enjoy from El Mirador, San Miguel's Lookout Point, is definitely worth the effort to get there. Facing the Paroquia in the Main Square head uphill on your left-hand side and then turn right in the next main street (Calle Pedro Vargas) where the traffic flows. It is only a five-minute walk from the Main Square and worth the walk up to the hill.

There is a wonderful Frida Kahlo exhibition located near the main plaza that I highly recommend. It showcases original letters and drawings that she did before her death. They are just released to the public this year and have been kept hidden for over 50 years. It was such an intimate experience: you really get a sense of her passionate nature, her loving obsession for Diego, and empathize with her tragedies—it was like a private journey into her soul. Her letters are beautifully written, lyrical and poetic. Even if you aren’t familiar with Frida, they play an excellent short video documentary that will help you familiarize with her. So definitely check it out!