San Miguel de Allende
San Miguel de Allende on the map of Guanajuato
San Miguel de Allende is a city in the Mexican state of Guanajuato, which has about 70,000 inhabitants, and the administrative seat of the homonymous municipality of San Miguel de Allende. Since 2008, the city bears the title of World Heritage Site. Until the award of the title by UNESCO San Miguel de Allende was among the Pueblos Magicos ( "magic places " ), to which she was awarded as particularly worth seeing in 2002 because of its typical character and well-maintained.
Geography
San Miguel de Allende is located southeast of Guanajuato in the Bajío region, on the Río de la Lara.
History
In 1542 the city was founded by a Franciscan ( OFM) as San Miguel el Grande. She was already an important stop on the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro. 1826, the city of San Miguel de Allende has been renamed. This was done in honor of General Ignacio Allende, who came from San Miguel and played an important role in the fight against the Spaniards in the Mexican War of Independence. In 1880, San Miguel de Allende had 39 290 inhabitants.
Attractions
- Plaza de Allende
- Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel (Cathedral), built in pink stone and Gothic style in the 17th century and rebuilt in 1880 following the submission of Ulm Minster.
- San Francisco Church, built in Churriguera style.
- Church of San Felipe Neri, built in pink stone and rococo style.
- House of Ignacio Allende, is now a museum.
San Miguel de Allende is popular with artists, especially from the U.S., who have settled here.
On 7 July 2008, the fortified town of San Miguel has been explained together with the Jesuit Sanctuary of Jesús Nazareno de Atotonilco a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Appreciated was highlighted that both are an outstanding example of Mexican Baroque and exchange between Spanish and Latin American culture.
Sons and daughters of the town
- Ignacio Allende (1769-1811), Mexican insurgent and revolutionary
- Juan José de los Reyes Martínez Amaro (El Pípila ) ( 1782-1863 ), Mexican miners and national hero
- Federico Montes Alanís (1884-1950), Mexican politician and Ambassador
- Pedro Vargas (1904-1989), Mexican singer