The pink façade
The town's famous view.
Alejandro from Mexico City, MEXICO — CC BY 2.0 · Bruno Rijsman — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Bruno Rijsman — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Bruno Rijsman — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Microstar — CC BY-SA 4.0
The heart of San Miguel de Allende, a small colonial town in central Mexico on UNESCO's list since 2008, counted among the country's most beautiful for its cobbled streets and houses painted red, yellow and orange. It is named after Ignacio Allende, an independence leader born here. The square is a small garden of laurel trees clipped into umbrella shapes, with iron benches, a fountain and a bandstand. On its south side rises the pink front of the main church with its pointed Gothic towers, the town's most famous view, and around it arcaded buildings hold cafés and restaurants. The square is where the town lives: people sit under the trees, mariachi bands play in the evening, and vendors sell sweets and balloons. Streets of shops and art galleries branch off it, as the town draws artists and is home to many foreigners. The town is about 1,900 metres up, mild by day and cool at night. The square is loveliest at sunset when the façades light up, and some streets are very steep, so wear comfortable shoes.
The town's famous view.
Clipped green umbrellas.
Music on the square.
Historic centre of San Miguel de Allende
A day covers the square and main streets, but a night or two is better to see it in the evening and visit El Charco del Ingenio. It is about an hour and a half from Guanajuato.
