San Miguel de Allende

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San Miguel de Allende is one of the most charming cities that we encountered in our travels. Known as “San Miguel” for short, its mild climate, thermal springs, and U.S.-accredited art schools have made it a popular destination for vacationers as well as North American retirees since the fifties.

Founded in 1542 by a Franciscan monk, San Miguel de Allende is known for its churches, beautiful colonial architecture, and art and craftwork, its large expa-triate population, safety, and cleanliness. The town had an important role in the Mexican War of Independence (1810–1821). Native son General Ignacio Allende was a leading player—his house can be visited in the downtown area—and the town was renamed in his honor in 1826.

Locals boast that San Miguel is the fiesta capital of Mexico. The main festivities are in honor of the city’s patron, St. Michael, on September 29 and last well into October, but Holy Week parades and a wealth of Easter-related traditions are also outstanding tourist activities. Excellent craft markets and boutiques, as well as a superb cactus garden and developing eco-tourism, including visits to the old mining town of Mineral de Pozos, add to the town’s appeal.

Musical concerts, classes, activities, and charitable work involving the substantial foreign community (some estimates put this at 40 percent) have helped San Miguel maintain a steady growth over the past few decades, with a sharp upsurge in the last four years. The presence of one of the largest and most diverse expatriate communities in the country makes the town accessible and welcoming for outsiders, with English widely spoken and higher standards of living than are found in most other Mexican cities.

San Miguel is both “walking-friendly” and safe—even women alone at night feel comfortable—with the only caveat being that the cobblestones become very slippery during the summer’s rainy season. This is a genuine concern for senior visitors and elderly retirees who should use sturdy footwear and walk with care when streets are wet.

The city’s connections with the sixties’ counterculture lives on with its offerings of spiritual retreats, natural health products, yoga centers, homeopathy, acupuncture, new age literature, and a wide acceptance of alternative therapies.