San Miguel de Allende in the Mexican state of Guanajuato is a Spanish colonial city that was built on the profits from silver mining. In the middle of the 18th century, the city was at its peak. This was the time when most of its palaces, large mansions and churches were built. The population reached 30,000, compared to New York City at that time that had only 25,000 residents.
The city played an important role in Mexico's struggles for independence. It was the place where the key figure of that period, Ignacio Allende, lived and where the troops of priest Miguel Hidalgo marched, making San Miguel de Allende the first city to gain independence from Spain.
The prosperity ended when silver depreciated and the mines were closed. The city's population then declined rapidly. The beauty of this colonial city and cheap real estate began to attract artists in the first half of the 20th century. San Miguel de Allende has kept its colonial appearance and baroque architecture. Today it attracts Canadian and American retirees. English is often spoken on the streets.
The Church of San Miguel Arcángel is very unique. The façade of the two towers is inspired by the Gothic style and was built in 1880 by a local bricklayer and self-taught architect. The character of this church stands out among many in Mexico and Central America.
In San Miguel de Allende, we found the unique character of the city. It stands out in all over Mexico. It is not only the charm of the historic center with its well-preserved streets and beautiful colonial architecture, but also the fact that there are many great bars and restaurants to be found here. There is a tourist atmosphere here, but on a positive note, because mass tourism has not really discovered this place yet.
