Introducing Dolores Hidalgo
Dolores Hidalgo is a compact town with a pretty plaza, an extremely authentic ambience and an important history. It has acquired pilgrimage status for Mexicans; the Mexican independence movement began in earnest in this small place. At 5am on September 16, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo, the parish priest, rang the bells to summon people to church earlier than usual and issued the Grito de Dolores, also known as the Grito de Independencia. His precise words have been lost to history but their essence was ‘Death to bad government and the gachupines!’ (‘Gachupines’ was a derisive term for the Spanish-born overlords who ruled Mexico.)
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Today, Hidalgo is one of Mexico’s most revered heroes. Dolores was renamed in his honor in 1824. Mexicans swarm here for Independence Day (September 16), during which time accommodation prices can more than double.
The town’s centro histórico is worth a day visit from San Miguel de Allende, not only for its interesting independence-themed museums, but also for its colored Talavera ceramics and handmade ice-cream.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
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