San Miguel Allende Home / San Miguel Allende

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• 8 -Aug

San Miguel de Allende is a colonial town in the highlands of central Mexico . More than 100,000 people reside in or around the city. Over the last five years, the expatriate community has almost doubled in size and Americans, Canadians and Europeans number approximately 8000 full time residents. Tourism is a major industry here and tens of thousands of people visit San Miguel each year.

Founded in 1542, San Miguel El Grande was originally an important stop on the Antigua Camino Real, part of the silver route from Zacatecas. But the city’s historical claim to fame came about through a series of odd connecting events. On September 16, 1810 , the Mexican War of Independence against Spain began in the nearby town of Dolores (now known as Dolores Hidalgo) when Padre Miguel Hidalgo issued his famous “Grito”—a shout heard throughout Mexico . In San Miguel, General Ignacio Allende joined forces with Hidalgo , leading the insurgent forces to several victories.

However, soon afterwards these two leaders were captured and beheaded by the advancing Spaniards. Both of these men became martyrs to the Mexican people and by 1821, Mexico had won its freedom from Spain .

A few years later, in honor of its native son, the town was renamed San Miguel de Allende.

By the early 1900’s, as the mineral wealth decreased, San Miguel de Allende was in danger of becoming a ghost town. Then in 1926, it was declared a national monument (no new style buildings or billboard signs) and by World War II, the first group of Mexican celebrities and foreigners began to buy land in the city known as “the Forge of National Independence.” Beginning in the 1950’s, the Instituto Allende, a US accredited art school, made education grants available to war veterans and San Miguel began to acquire an international reputation as a cultural center.

San Miguel de Allende, now almost 500 years old, is more popular than ever. Its superb year-round climate, colonial architecture and cobblestone streets, the wealth of art institutions and galleries, and the dozens of excellent restaurants have made the city an excellent place to retire or purchase second homes.

As we enter the 21 st century, the Patrimonio of Mexico has at long last been recognized by magazines, newspapers and broadcast media as the cultural gem that it is—a monument not just to the heritage of Mexico , but to Mankind.