San Miguel de Allende Historic Center

The historic centre of San Miguel de Allende, in the state of Guanajuato in central Mexico, is a compact grid of cobbled streets climbing a hillside at about 1,900 metres. Together with the nearby Sanctuary of Atotonilco, it forms a UNESCO World Heritage site. The centre revolves around the Jardin Principal, the main plaza, where benches shaded by trimmed trees face the pink neo-Gothic Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel, whose spires dominate the skyline. Around the plaza and along streets such as Calle Canal, Calle Mesones and Calle Hernandez Macias, visitors find colonial mansions painted in ochre, terracotta and cobalt, with carved wooden doors and flower-filled courtyards. Other landmarks include the Templo de San Francisco, the Oratorio de San Felipe Neri, the Bellas Artes cultural centre with its murals, and the Santa Ana market with local food. The Mirador overlook at the edge of town provides a wide view of the roofs and the church. The town has a large art community, with galleries, craft shops and rooftop bars, and its evenings are lively with live music in the plazas. Walking the centre takes a half day, though many visitors stay two or three days to explore galleries and day trips. Mornings are the quietest time for photography, and weekends and Mexican holidays, especially in September, bring many visitors from Mexico City. Walking in the centre is free, while museums and some churches charge small fees. Cobbles are uneven and the slopes are steep, so comfortable shoes are important. Evenings are cool at altitude even in warm months, and the rainy season runs from June to September with short afternoon storms. Restaurants range from market stalls to fine dining, and prices are higher than in most Mexican towns. Day trips from the centre include the Sanctuary of Atotonilco, the hot springs along the road to Dolores Hidalgo and the nearby Guanajuato city, all reachable by taxi or bus within an hour.