San Miguel De Allende – The City’s Long, Rich Culture

By Author: Vikram Kuamr
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Founded in 1542, San Miguel de Allende has a rich and vibrant history. Under the Spanish rule starting in the early 16th century, this beautiful city was the first to declare independence from Spain during the Mexican War of Independence. If you want to take step into the past, then this is the perfect place to do so. The city’s oldest neighborhood, known as El Charro, hasn’t changed much in the last 250 years. This prompted UNESCO to name this area as a World Heritage Site in 2008.

Located in the state of Guanajuato, this historic area of Mexico is a popular tourist destination. Tourism accounts for more than a third of the income and jobs in the city, with 8.4 million dollars incoming each year from foreign visitors. Glass and brass products are popular keepsakes, with many designed by world famous artists. In fact, art is what gave the city a revival during World War II. Many United States soldiers returning from the war travelled here to use their Montgomery GI Bill at one of two exceptional art schools: The Escuela de Bella Artes and the Instituto Allende. Today, several American universities, such as the University ...
... of Texas-Pan American offer study programs in Spanish, arts, literature, and creative writing.

The festivals here are reflective of the Mexican culture, full of religious significance. The Angel’s Feast day celebrates the Archangel Michael. Lasting a week, this festival is often called the Fiestas de San Miguel de Allende and is full of parties, cultural and sporting events and dance. Another very popular festival is Sanmiguelada. This is quite similar to the “Running of the Bulls” that occurs in Pamplona, Spain each year.

Holy Week is very important to the people of San Miguel de Allende. It begins with an exhibition of altars that are dedicated the Virgin of Sorrows. After reenactments of Pontius Pilate’s judgment of Jesus, the Procession of Silence begins. With huge local participation, this procession moves through the city with a haunting silence.

Popular attractions include several stunning churches, including the Oratorio de San Felipe Neri Church, which was built by Juan Antonio Perez Espinosa in 1712. Following a Baroque style of architecture, the pink sandstone is surrounded by stunning displays of vegetation. Numerous works of Miguel Cabrera can be found inside, including one of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

The Plaza Civica or Civic Plaza is considered to be the original center of town. An equestrian statue of Ignacio Allende, whom the city is named after, is located here. This is one of the main shopping districts in the city and is extremely popular with locals and tourists alike.

For accommodations, you will find several hotels San Miguel de Allende to choose from. Some are rustic interpretations of the history here, while others are luxurious resorts set high on the hills surrounding the city. These hotels San Miguel de Allende often feature condos and apartments for extended stays. If you want to enjoy all that this wonderful city has to offer, make your reservations today!

Author Bio.

El Caracol Resort offers luxury accommodations in San Miguel De Allende. Experience all that this great city has to offer in complete comfort at one of the finest Hotels San Miguel De Allende has to offer.