Sights in San Miguel De Allende
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Museo Casa Allende
Near the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel is the house where Ignacio Allende was born, now the Museo Casa Allende. Recently remodelled, the museum relates the interesting history of the San Miguel area. The 2nd floor is a reproduction of Allende’s home. A Latin inscription on the facade reads Hic natus ubique notus, which means ‘Here born, everywhere known.’
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Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel
The parish church's pink 'wedding cake' towers dominate the Jardín. These strange pinnacles were designed by indigenous stonemason Zeferino Gutiérrez in the late 19th century. He reputedly based the design on a postcard of a Belgian church and instructed builders by scratching plans in the sand with a stick. The rest of the church dates from the late 17th century.
In the chapel to the left of the main altar is the much-revered image of the Cristo de la Conquista (Christ of the Conquest), made in Pátzcuaro from cornstalks and orchid bulbs, probably in the 16th century. Irish visitors will be pleased to find a statue of St Patrick, a tribute to the Irish who changed sides…
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Jardín Botánico el Charco del Ingenio
On the hilltop 1.5km northeast of town is the 88-hectare botanic garden. This wildlife and bird sanctuary, an ongoing project thanks to the efforts of local volunteers, was created by a caring local (who donated the land) to conserve a natural area around the town and to provide a recreational and ceremonial space for the community. Excellent two-hour tours (in English) depart every Tuesday at 10am (M$80). Monthly full-moon ceremonies also take place here.
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Escuela de Bellas Artes
This school is housed in the beautiful former monastery of La Concepción church, which was converted into a fine-arts school in 1938 and still offers courses. It’s worth coming here to view the murals of Pedro Martínez, plus the Siqueiros Room, which features the extraordinary unfinished mural by David Alfaro Siqueiros (it plays with your mind – we won’t spoil the surprise). The rest of the gallery – a series of rooms – holds temporary exhibitions.
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Templo de la Concepción
This splendid church has a fine altar and several magnificent old oil paintings. Painted on the interior doorway are a number of wise sayings to give pause to those entering the sanctuary. The church was begun in the mid-18th century; its dome, added in the late 19th century by the versatile Zeferino Gutiérrez, was possibly inspired by pictures of Les Invalides in Paris.
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Oratorio de San Felipe Neri
This multi-towered and domed church dating from the 18th-century is near the east end of Insurgentes. The pale-pink main facade is baroque with an indigenous influence. A passage to the right of this facade leads to the east wall, where a doorway holds the image of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad (Our Lady of Solitude). You can see into the cloister from this side of the church.
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The Other Face of Mexico
This extraordinary private collection of masks, housed in a purpose-built museum at the back of the US owners’ B&B, is worth visiting – though it’s open by appointment only (call [tel] 154-43-24). It has over 500 beautifully displayed masks, and provides a clear context of the Mexican mask tradition. The admission fee goes to charity.
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Templo de la Salud
This church, with a dome tiled blue and yellow and a big shell carved above its entrance, is just east of San Felipe Neri. The facade is early Churrigueresque. The church’s paintings include one of San Javier by Miguel Cabrera. San Javier (St Francis Xavier, 1506–52) was a founding member of the Jesuits. It was once part of the Colegio de Sales.
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Colegio de Sales
Once a college, founded in the mid-18th century by the San Felipe Neri order, the Colegio de Sales has regained its educational status; it currently houses part of the University of León. Many of the 1810 revolutionaries were educated here. Spaniards were locked up here when the rebels took San Miguel.
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Instituto Allende
This large 1736 complex, the original home of the Conde Manuel de la Canal, features several patios, gardens and an old chapel. It was used as a Carmelite convent, eventually becoming an art and language school in 1951. Above the entrance is a carving of the Virgin of Loreto, patroness of the Canal family.
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Casa del Mayorazgo de Canal
This historic house, one of San Miguel’s most imposing old residences, now houses Banamex offices. It’s a handsome neoclassical structure with some late-baroque touches. The original entrance is at Canal 4 and retains beautiful carved wooden doors based on a tapestry design.
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Capilla de la Tercera Orden
Built in the early 18th century, this chapel was part of a Franciscan monastery complex. The main facade shows St Francis and symbols of the Franciscan order.
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Templo de San Francisco
This church has an elaborate late-18th-century Churrigueresque facade. An image of St Francis of Assisi is at the top. Opening hours vary.
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Mirador
One of the best views over the town and surrounding country is from the Mirador.
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Iglesia de San Rafael
Iglesia de San Rafael was founded in 1742.
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