San Miguel de Allende is a postcard-perfect colonial town filled
with 17th and 18th-century Baroque buildings. Declared a UNESCO
World Heritage Site in 2008, the small city has retained its
historical charm with restrictions on construction and development.
The city centre remains much as it was 250 years ago, and the
narrow cobbled lanes are framed by yellow, orange and ochre
buildings twined with bougainvillea vines.
The city has a number of beautiful buildings including the pink
Gothic parish church, La Parroquia (one of the most photographed
churches in Mexico), the Centro Cultural Ignacio Ramiez with its
magnificent courtyard, the Casa del Mayorazgo de la Canal, which
houses the historical artwork collections of the Banamex Cultural
Center, and the richly-decorated Oratorio de San Felipe Neri
Church.
A centre of Bohemian creativity in the 20th century, San Miguel
de Allende is very popular with foreign expats and tourists in
Mexico, having been noted as a desirable retirement destination for
Americans. The city blends the relaxed atmosphere of a small town
with the cosmopolitan nature of a much larger city. Houses are
intermixed with shops and businesses, and there are a wide variety
of restaurants, art galleries, and more than 80 bars and
cantinas.
San Miguel de Allende has a lively arts community, with
productions hosted regularly at the Angela Peralta Theatre and the
Otra Cara de Mexico. The town also has its own bullring. Tourists
will also enjoy wandering the outdoor markets searching for local
handicrafts and souvenirs. The best are the Zacateros Market and
the Mercado de Artesanias.
The overall attitude of San Miguel de Allende is a festive one,
and the citizens will take any excuse to hold a festival or
celebration. The largest celebrates the town's patron saint, the
Archangel Michael. Popularly known as the Fiestas de San Miguel de
Allende, the week-long celebration includes parties, sporting
events, cultural celebrations and dance performances.