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Explore the Historic Streets of San Miguel De Allende, Mexico
Explore Magical San Miguel
San Miguel de Allende, in central Mexico, feels magical. Spend a day walking through this World Heritage Site's hilly historic district and get lost in the old-world charm. Here are our favorite stopping spots throughout San Miguel. Pictured: A balloon seller brightens up the Jardín Principal. "El Jardin," as it's called, is the central plaza in San Miguel de Allende, the center of life in the city.
Photo courtesy of Steve Collins
See the Sun Rise Over an Ancient Pyramid
Watch the sun rise at Cañada de la Virgen, an ancient pyramid 25 kilometers from San Miguel. The pyramid is aligned to the rising and setting sun on certain cosmically significant days in the Otomi calendar.
Photo courtesy of Coyote Canyon Adventures
Grab Breakfast With San Francisco
Visit a statue of the Saint Francisco, who looks out at Corregidora from his second story perch in El Pagaso, a popular café and great place to grab breakfast. Local art adorns the walls.
Photo courtesy of Steve Collins
See La Parroquia from Calle de Aldama
The impressive La Parroquia, the largest church in San Miguel, sits adjacent to El Jardin in the heart of the historic El Centro. The architecture of the 17th century religious building is baroque with an unexpected neo-Gothic façade.
Photo courtesy of Steve Collins
Purchase Colorful Mexican Handcrafts
San Miguel is filled with shops and stands selling local handcrafts. You can take one of these colorful skulls or statues commemorating the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) people home with you.
Photo courtesy of Steve Collins
Visit an Art School in a Former Convent
Centro Cultural Ignacio Ramírez “El Nigromante," part of the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes, is located in a former convent from circa 1765 that was turned into an art school in 1938. Classes offered include drawing, painting, ceramics and weaving.
Photo courtesy of Steve Collins
Soak Your Cares Away
Take to the waters at La Gruta or one of several other hot springs outside San Miguel. La Gruta features outdoor pools, as well as an underground one.
Photo courtesy of Diego Labrada
Discover Colorful Street Art
Mexico is about color. As you walk around San Miguel, you’ll discover street art and great signs. Pictured here, Loco Perro (Crazy Dog) on Refugio, now closed, once sold homemade dog food.
Photo courtesy of Steve Collins
Ole! Visit an Old Bullring
The Plaza de Toros Oriente, located in San Miguel de Allende’s picturesque El Centro, is the site of one of the oldest bullrings in Mexico.
Photo courtesy of Deanna Fainelli of urban flavored fine art
Party at El Grito
A fierce carved head greets visitors to El Grito (The Scream). This hip club, opened in 1998, caters to chic, young Mexicans. This truly late-night spot is only open on Friday and Saturday nights starting at 10 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Steve Collins
See the Illuminated Opera House
The stately Teatro Angela Peralta, at the intersection of Mesones and Hernández Macías in El Centro, glows at night. The stately opera house was opened in 1873.
Photo courtesy of Steve Collins
About Billie Frank
Billie Frank is a freelance travel, food and feature writer based in Santa Fe New Mexico. Her blog, Santa Fe Travelers, is a treasure trove of information on the oldest capital city in the USA. Billie is also co-owner of The Santa Fe Traveler, a trip-planning and tour business.
Read more about Billie Frank here.
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