Mexico has 31 places declared World Heritage Sites and in the company of the Sanctuary Jesús de Nazaret de Atotonilco, the majestic city of San Miguel de Allende is one of them displaying its glorious past of our country and pride of Mexicans. A cosmopolitan city considered a jewel of colonial architecture, San Miguel de Allende is one of the few towns that time seems to have stopped to preserve its monuments and captivate any visitor.

State: Guanajuato

Coordinates:
20º54'55 "N 100º44'38" W

Altitude: 1907 meters above sea level

Area:
km²

Time Zone: Central Standard Time UTC-6

Population: 139,297 inhabitants (INEGI, 2010)

Area Code: 415

Walking through the cobbled streets tourists can see numerous and magnificent convents, churches, houses, gates, gardens, museums built between the 16th and 20th centuries.

As a strategic point in the famous silver route that ran from Zacatecas to Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende was founded in 1542 by the missionary Juan de San Miguel who gave it the name of San Miguel el Grande in honor of his devotion to the Archangel Michael. In colonial times this city was the spearhead of economic development in the region and the establishment of a powerful aristocratic class whose livelihood was mining.

In 1826 in honor of one of the most famous heroes of the War of Independence, Ignacio Allende, the city took its present name of San Miguel de Allende.

At the beginning of the 20th century its excellent climate, the friendliness, hospitality of its people, and its abundance of culture turned it into an attractive resort ideal for the artistic and bohemian community.

Getting There

San Miguel de Allende is located in the central-eastern territory of Guanajuato, bordered on the northwest by the city of Dolores Hidalgo, north with the city of San Luis de la Paz, northwest with the city of San José Iturbide, south with the city of Comonfort, southwest with the city of Santa Cruz de Juventino Rosas, on the east it shares a border with the state of Querétaro.

By Air: The Guanajuato International Airport (also called Bajio Airport is located on highway Silao – León 5.5 km) and receives flights from Mexico City, Monterrey, Ciudad Juarez, Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, and Guadalajara as well as the U.S. cities of Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Atlanta.

Queretaro International Airport (QRO) also receives international flights. Getting to San Miguel de Allende from any of these airports can be done by bus, taxi, or a shuttle service offered by several local companies.

Distances from San Miguel de Allende to other destinations in Mexico

Celaya, Guanajuato: 50 km. Guadalajara, Jalisco: 347 km. Querétaro, Querétaro: 69 km. Mexico City, D.F.: 294 km. San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosi 175 km. Oaxaca, Oaxaca: 722 km. Puebla, Puebla: 387 km. Morelia, Michoacán: 189 km. Acapulco, Guerrero: 644 km. Veracruz, Veracruz: 657 km. Manzanillo, Colima: 652 km.

Climate

Its average temperature ranges between 16°C and 22°C. The climate in the town is dry, warm with moderately warm and rainy summers while the winters are cool. The humid temperate climate is predominately to the west of the city. The dry climate or steppe ranges from the northern region of the municipality to the south of it. The semi-warm climate with summer rainfall occurs in the central and southern part of the city. The rainy season begins in June and lasts until mid-October.

What to Pack

When you visit this beautiful place it is recommended that you pack comfortable clothing and shoes to walk around on its cobbled streets and elegant clothes for dinners and outings at it has many restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Pack warm clothes in the winter like a sweater or jacket for mornings and evenings in the spring and autumn and a camera.

Activities and Tourist Attractions in San Miguel de Allende

San Miguel Archangel Parish : Built in 1555 in a neo-Gothic style, it is definitely an icon of the city.
Parish of Our Lady of Health (Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de la Salud.) Oratory of San Felipe Neri.

Nigromante Cultural Center : Its official name is Ignacio Ramirez El Nigromante in honor of the famous intellectual of the city. A venue that serves as museum, gallery, and concert hall.

Allende Institut : Place for teaching. Allende House Museum: exhibiting personal items, weapons, furniture, and clothes of the leader of the Independence.

City Hall: Museum to remember the historical facts of Independence. Mayorazgo de la Canal House: Also known as the Palacio de los Condes. Inquisitor's House: A building that recalls the presence of the Inquisition in New Spain.

The Lavanderos: One of the oldest neighborhoods of the city.
Convent of the Conception (Convento de la Concepción): Also known as the Convent de las Monjas, preserves inside its four walls pictorial pieces of great beauty.
Teatro Angela Peraltar: Theater of neoclassical architecture is now the scene of the International Festival of Guitar, Chamber Music, and Jazz.

City Public Library: Contains a huge bilingual bibliographic collection (Spanish and English).

El Cortijo Spa: A special place to enjoy rich mineral springs.

Botanical gardens: El Cante Botanical Garden: dedicated to Mexican flora, particularly to such amazing and diverse botanical families such amazing and diverse, and ones that are little known. 
El Charco del Ingenio Botanical Garden has an extensive collection of cacti and other succulents from Mexico, many of them rare, threatened, or endangered.

Paseo del Chorro : This spring was very important for life in San Miguel de Allende, because for centuries it catered to the population of the vital liquid.
Sanctuary Jesús de Nazaret de Atontonic, a World Heritage Site.

Mirador de San Miguel de Allende where are the house of Pedro Vargas and the effigy of the Mexican tenor in a sculpture.

La Gruta Hot Springs.

Activities: biking, ATV, motocross, Spas and relaxation in sweat lodges.

Feasts and Festivals in San Miguel de Allende

The January 21 marks the birthday of Ignacio Allende and Unzaga.
 It highlights the Fest of Candlemas and the purification of the Virgin Mary on 2 February.

March: The first Friday of March is the Señor de la Conquista (Lord of the Conquest) with native dances throughout Mexico.
 Also in this month the Cuban Music Festival is held.

During Palm Sunday (Easter) an important pilgrimage coming from Atotonilco to San Miguel de Allende, carrying the image of the Señor de la Columna.

In the month of April the Puppet Festival is held.

In May they celebrate the Festival of Universal Brotherhood, a showcase of the various embassies in the world with exhibitions, crafts and cuisine.

In June they celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi, where mothers dress their little ones as little Indians (blanket, poncho and sandals).

In July the Guanajuato International Film Festival takes place.

In the first half of August the Festival of Chamber Music is celebrated.

September 15 and 16: Celebration of Independence Day in Mexico.

September 29: The celebration of Michael the Archangel featuring a fight between the Moors and Christians.

From October 31 to November 2: San Miguel de Allende celebrates the Day of the Dead with many events. In the main garden in front of the Parish there are dozens of dead altars and there are parades and costume contests of Catrina.

December 12: celebrations of the Virgin of Guadalupe, Mexico's patron saint.
This month is also the Jazz and Blues Festival.