San Miguel de Allende (Guanajuato)

By Liza Prado & Gary Chandler

MONUMENTAL: San Miguel de Allende cityscape (Pablo de Aguinaco/courtesy, Mexico Tourism)

Declared a National Monument in 1926, San Miguel de Allende is an architectural gem with cobblestone roads, classic 18th-century casonas (mansions), and beautiful churches (including one with a Gothic facade). It also is known as an artists' haven and one of the best places to learn Spanish, making it an especially popular stop for travelers and home for expatriates. For the town's cultural calendar, pick up Atención San Miguel, a weekly English-language newspaper, or check it out online at: www.atencionsanmiguel.org.

Inside Tip: El Jardín, the main plaza, is the center of activity in San Miguel; it's a perfect place to idle under the laurel trees, listen to church bells toll, watch street artists perform, and get a feel for the town.

Liza Prado and Gary Chandler are the authors of numerous guidebooks to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, including Yucatán Peninsula and Cancún & Cozumel , both published by Moon Handbooks.

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Last Updated: 15 Sep 2010
Published: 12 Jan 2007
The details, dates, and prices mentioned in this article were accurate at the time of publication.