Dolores Hidalgo

Dolores Hidalgo lies about 55 km northeast of Guanajuato City, roughly an hour away by car on Highway 110 or by Primera Plus or Flecha Amarilla bus from the Guanajuato City Central de Autobuses, with departures every 30-45 minutes; the town is also about 45 minutes north of San Miguel de Allende, making a combined itinerary practical. A morning arrival works well: the Plaza Principal and the Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores, where Miguel Hidalgo rang the church bell and delivered the 1810 Grito de Dolores, are the natural starting point, along with the adjoining Museo Casa de Hidalgo. Mid-morning is a good time to browse the Talavera ceramics workshops scattered around town, many of which sell directly from their studios at lower prices than in larger cities. Dolores Hidalgo is also famous for its unusual flavored nieves (ice cream), sold from carts around the plaza in flavors ranging from mole and tequila to shrimp and avocado; sampling a few scoops makes for a light midday stop before a simple lunch of enchiladas mineras or barbacoa at a plaza-side restaurant. The afternoon can be spent visiting the Museo del Bicentenario or continuing on toward San Miguel de Allende or back to Guanajuato City. The town suits a visit at almost any time of year, but it is at its most animated in mid-September around Independence Day, when the plaza hosts reenactments near the anniversary of the original Grito; travellers who prefer a quieter visit should plan outside that week. Because most sights cluster around the plaza, the trip requires only light walking and can comfortably be combined with either San Miguel de Allende or Guanajuato City in a single day.