SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE, GTO.El nombre de San Miguel de Allende se deriva de los nombres de Fray Juan de San Miguel, fundador de la poblacin y de Ignacio Allende, caudillo de nuestra Independencia nacional.Fundada el ao de 1542 por Fray Juan de San Miguel, cuando en aquel entonces era un pueblo que careca de agua, por lo que se le abasteca de un manantial cercano llamado Izquinapan que traducido al castellano significa "Ro de perros", y el cual es hoy conocido como "Manantiales del Chorro".El 18 de julio de 1561 el Virrey Don Luis de Velasco (padre), autoriz al alcalde mayor de la jurisdiccin que concediera una cantidad de hectreas para la cra de ganado, y las caballeras de tierra solicitados por los vecinos y moradores. Adems, a los indgenas que habitaran en ella se les perdonara el tributo y seran gobernados por sus propios jefes para evitar rebeliones futuras.La poblacin fue elevada a la categora de ciudad, el 8 de marzo de 1826 (durante el primer sistema federalista), por decreto del Congreso Constituyente, con el nombre de San Miguel de Allende.En el siglo XVIII y primera dcada del siglo XIX, San Miguel era un centro mercantil, industrial y agrcola de mucha importancia, actividades que se incrementaron con los fundos mineros de Guanajuato, San Luis Potos y Zacatecas.El Comit de Patrimonio Mundial de la UNESCO (2008) aprob la inscripcin de la ciudad de San Miguel de Allende en el listado internacional en la categora de Bien Cultural, bajo el rubro de Ciudad Histrica.Al ser electa esta ciudad del Bajo, Mxico con 10 sitios reconocidos, es el pas con mayor nmero de bienes culturales en tal listado internacional.San Miguel de Allende alcanz su apogeo en el siglo XVIII, poca en la que se construyeron numerosos edificios religiosos y civiles de estilo barroco mexicano. Algunos de ellos son obras maestras del estilo de transicin entre el barroco y el neoclsico. Por su parte, el santuario de Jess Nazareno de Atotonilco, construido por los jesuitas a unos 14 km de San Miguel, data tambin del siglo XVIII y es uno de los ejemplos ms hermosos de la arquitectura y el arte barrocos de la Nueva EspaaFather Juan de San Miguel, a Franciscan missionary who was born in Spain, founded San Miguel de Allende in 1542. The original settlement of San Miguel was an Indian mission near the present railroad station, and was named for Father Juans own patron saint. It was known as San Miguel Viejo. During the later part of the 16th Century, the settlement was moved near the springs of El Chorro. The town flourished with farming, ranching and tanneries. San Miguel Viejo became San Miguel Grande.The heroes of the independence movement were born in San Miguel Grande: General Ignacio Allende, Father Miguel Hidalgo, Jos Mariano Jimnez, and Juan Aldama. Allende joined forces with Father Hidalgo (the parish priest in nearby Dolores). On September 16, 1810, Father Hidalgo delivered his Cry of Independence speech (El Grito). The cry led to revolution.On March 8, 1826, the Guanajuato state government honored Allendes heroism by renaming San Miguel El Grande to San Miguel de Allende. In 1926, it was declared a national monument that preserves the historical nature of this colonial town.With the establishment in the 1950s of the Instituto Allende, an art and language school, the foreign population began to grow in San Miguel. Now it is known as a haven for artists, writers and students of language, cooking and the arts. It is also known for its colorful fiestas, bullfights and as a destination for those attending the Day of the Dead and Easter ceremonies. As a major cultural center, San Miguel hosts many events including the International Short Film festival, the Guitar Festival and the Chamber Music Festival. In 2008, San Miguel was designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It has consistently been voted by the readers of Conde Nast Traveller as one of the top ten travel destinations. You will find San Miguel de Allende charming, courteous, friendly and remarkably well-preserved. We hope that this book will help you to enjoy and learn about San Miguel and its surrounding areas such as Guanajuato, Pozos, San Gabriel, Dolores Hidalgo and Quertaro. We invite you to return and experience some of the beautiful festivals that are unique to our town.During the late 1700s, San Miguel de Allende was situated at the crossroads of the lucrative silver trade in Mexico. The Dragones of San Miguel, an elite calvary of the queens army, garnered much influence and power in business and trade throughout the region. The Dragones eventually began questioning the heavy taxes imposed on the Mexican people, and formed alliances with influential leaders in the church, including Father Hidalgo, to seek independence from Spain. General Ignacio Allende, head of the army and leader of the Dragones, worked closely with Father Hidalgo to spark one of the movements that eventually led to the Mexican Independence of 1810.

El1 de noviembrede2013fue nombrada por la revistaCondenast Travelercomo la mejor ciudad del mundo junto con otras 24 ciudad que son reconocidas por su gran aportacion cultural, belleza arquitectonica, y lugares de diversion.San Miguel cuenta con numerosas iglesias catlicas con fachadas hermosas de cantera, pero la ms espectacular, la Parroquia de San Miguel Arcngel, Convertida en el smbolo de la ciudad; esta interesante mole de cantera rosa, fue construida en el siglo XVIII con una portada en estilo barroco. Hacia 1880 se le sobrepuso la nueva fachada neogtica, realizada por el maestro Ceferino Gutirrez, en la que sorprende la genial disposicin de arcos ojivales, columnas y nichos con esculturas estilizadas.

SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDEPoblacin fundada en 1542 con el nombre de San Miguel el Grande, por fray Juan de San Miguel, recibi la categora de ciudad el 8 de marzo de 1826. En el siglo XVIII y la primer dcada del siglo XIX, la ciudad se convirti en importante centro comercial, industrial y agrcola, gracias a los fundos mineros (fincas rsticas) de Guanajuato, San Luis Potos y Zacatecas, pues era paso obligado para el traslado de la plata hacia la ciudad de Mxico y punto de abastecimiento de toda clase de mercancas destinadas a las poblaciones de la regin.Atotonilco, tambin patrimonio mundial.San Miguel el Grande (como se llamaba originalmente) fue fundada por un monje franciscano en 1542. Era una importante parada en la ruta de la plata de Zacatecas.Cuando la Guerra de la Independencia Mexicana comenz en el pueblo cercano de Dolores(ahora conocido como Dolores Hidalgo), el 16 de Septiembre de 1810 con el acto que ahora se celebra como "El Grito", el ejrcito militar que creca rpidamente lleg a San Miguel el Grande. Dolores Hidalgo es conocido como "La cuna de la Independencia" mientras que a San Miguel lo llamaron "Fragua de la Independencia Mexicana" porque aqu fue donde elGeneral Ignacio Allendese uni al ejercito como principal teniente delPadre Miguel Hidalgoy condujo al ejrcito a varias victorias. Allende no pudo disfrutar de un Mxico independiente de la opresin espaola pues lo capturaron durante una batalla y fue ejecutado. Sin embargo, l es ahora un hroe nacional y el pueblo se renombr como "San Miguel de Allende"en 1826 en honor a sus heroicas acciones.Mientras la abundancia mineral disminua, San Miguel se haca popular por ser un lugar tranquilo y bello para vivir y una atraccin para los adinerados por sus aguas termales naturales. El actor mundialmente famoso Cantinflas, frecuentaba SanMiguel en los cincuentas y sesentas trayendo con l un sequito de estrellas de cine y cantantes.Para el ao de 1900, el pueblo estuvo apunto de morir. Habiendo sido declarado como monumento nacional en 1926 (sin letreros luminosos, ni edificios modernos), el viejo centro histrico an conserva la elegancia colonial de su abundante pasado.Fue despus de la Segunda Guerra Mundial que San Miguel comenz a revivir como atraccin turstica, mientras que muchos GIs descubran que sus becas educacionales se extendan ms en Mxico en la escuela de arte acreditada por EE.UU. El Instituto Allende, fundado en 1950.San Miguel de Allende es mundialmente famoso por su clima templado, su arquitectura colonial, y la gran poblacin expatriada, la cual se estima esta en un rango de 9,000-10,000 extranjeros. De los cuales, la mayora son Estadounidenses, con un buen porcentaje de Canadienses, y unos pocos Europeos y de otras nacionalidades. Mucha gente ha elegido jubilarse aqu, y as la gran comunidad de extranjeros ha trado un buen nmero de conveniencias que normalmente no encontraras en un pueblo de este tamao:

San Miguel de Allende esta ubicado en la regin montaosa del centro de Mxico, es parte del Bajo y del estado de Guanajuato. Esta "baja" regin en realidad esta a 3000 metros, pero se conoce por ser un rea relativamente plana rodeada de montaas.Poblacin se estima de 9,000-10,000 extranjeros. De ellos la mayoria son Estadounidenses, con un buen porcentaje de Canadienses, y unos pocos Europeos y de otras nacionalidades.Patrimonio de la HumanidadEn San Miguel el Grande, el general Ignacio Allende originario de este bello pueblo, se uni al padre Miguel Hidalgo es su lucha por conseguir la independencia, es por eso que este hermoso lugar lo llamaron la Fragua de la Independencia Mexicana

Durante su visita a Mxico en 2004, elDalai Lamaconsagr la reserva de El Charco del Ingenio como una de las cinco zonas de paz as declaradas en distintos puntos del pas, consistentes en espacios libres de violencia, dedicados a la conservacin de la naturaleza y al desarrollo comunitario.

Histricamente, la ciudad es importante por ser la cuna de Ignacio Allende, cuyo apellido fue aadido al nombre de la ciudad en 1826, as como el primer municipio declarado independiente del gobierno espaol por el naciente ejrcito insurgente durante la Guerra de Independencia de Mxico.Sin embargo, la ciudad decay durante y despus de la guerra, y en el comienzo del siglo 20, estaba en peligro de convertirse en un pueblo fantasma. Sus estructuras coloniales barrocas / neoclsica fueron descubiertas por los artistas extranjeros que llegaron y empezaron institutos de arte y culturales, como el Instituto Allende y la Escuela de Bellas Artes. Esto le dio a la ciudad una reputacin, atrayendo a artistas como David Alfaro Siqueiros, quien fue maestro de pintura.Esto atrajo a estudiantes extranjeros de arte, sobre todo antiguos soldados estadounidenses que estudian en el G.I. Bill despus de la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Desde entonces, la ciudad ha atrado a un gran nmero de jubilados extranjeros, artistas, escritores y turistas, lo que ha cambiando la economa del rea, de la agricultura y la industria al comercio y servicios para los visitantes externos y residentes.Para la dcada de1900, San Miguel de Allende estuvo a punto de convertirse en un pueblo fantasma. En1926fue declarado monumento histrico por el Gobierno mexicano, por lo que desde entonces el desarrollo en el distrito histrico est restringido para conservar el carcter colonial del pueblo.Durante la dcada de1950, San Miguel de Allende se convirti en un lugar turstico conocido por su bella arquitectura colonial y sus fuentes termales. Despus de laSegunda Guerra Mundial, San Miguel comenz a revivir sus atractivos tursticos cuando muchos soldados norteamericanos fuera de servicio descubrieron que los servicios educativos de instituciones deEE. UU.acreditaban al Instituto Allende (fundado en1950), por lo que se garantizaba la educacin de su familia, dado lo cual empezaron a pasar largas temporadas en esta ciudad.By 1900, due to the decline in silver mining, San Miguel de Allende was in danger of becoming a ghost town. However, showing great forethought, the Mexican Government declared San Miguela National Historic Monument in 1926. Development in the historic district has been restricted in order to preserve the town's colonial character. This act was pivotal to the growth of the beautiful city we know today.American ex-servicemen first arrived in 1946 to study at the art school. By the end of 1947, Life magazine assigned a reporter and photographer to do an article on this post-war phenomenon. A three-page spread appeared in the January 5, 1948, edition under the headline GI Paradise: Veterans go to Mexico to study art, live cheaply and have a good time. This was possible when apartments rented for $10 dollars a month, rum was 65 cents a quart and cigarettes cost 10 cents a pack. As a result of the publicity, more than 6,000 American veterans immediately applied to study at the school.In 2002 was declared a Pueblo Magico and in 2008, San Miguel and the nearby sacred town of Atotonilco achieved Unesco World Heritage status.2010 is a very important year for Mexico for two reasons: the 200th anniversary of Mexico's fight for independence from Spain and the 100th anniversary of its revolution.Ruta 2010 - Route 2010:Will mark several routes along highways throughout Mexico that were traveled either during Mexico's War of Independence or the Mexican Revolution. The routes will be marked with special signs and there will be historical information as well as historical information available along the way. Six routes have been chosen, three from the independence movement and three from the Revolution. The road between San Miguel de Allende and Delores Hidalgo is one of those routes.

The city has been known by various names since the Spanish founded the settlement. It was called Izcuinapan by the indigenous peoples. The Spanish originally called it San Miguel el Grande and sometimes San Miguel de losChichimecas.Before the arrival of the Spanish in the early 16th century, there had been an indigenous settlement at Izcuinapan (place of dogs). A small chapel was built and a village started near the indigenous village.The arrival and colonization provoked the locals. The Chichimecas began attacking Spanish travelers in the area and in 1551, theGuamarepeople attacked the village proper. This and continuous water supply problems caused the original location to be abandoned and moved.The village was officially re-established in 1555 at a place with two fresh water springs (called Batan and Izcuinapan) and with terrain better suited for defense. The two springs supplied all of the town's water until the 1970s.By the mid 16th century, silver had been discovered inZacatecasand a major road between this area and Mexico City passed through San Miguel. Indigenous attacks on caravans continued and San Miguel became an important military and commercial site. To quell these attacks as well as rebellions against Spanish rule, the viceroy in Mexico City granted lands and cattle to a number of Spanish to have them settle the area.Eventually, major roads would connect the town with the mining communities inSan Luis Potosas well as Zacatecas and the rest of the state of Guanajuato. Serving travelers' needs and providing supplies to mining camps made the town rich. One particular industry was textiles. Locals claim that theserapewas invented here.[5]By the mid 18th century the city reached its height, when most of its large mansions, palaces and religious buildings were constructed. Most still remain.[4][8]The town was also home to the area's wealthy hacienda owners.The town's apogee came during the transition period between Baroque and Neoclassical architecture and many of the mansions and churches have both influences.The prominence of the city declined at the beginning of the 19th century, mostly due to theMexican War of Independence. However, it played an important early role in this conflict.When this conspiracy was discovered, the warning to Hidalgo and Allende passed through this town and ontoDolores (Hidalgo)just to the north. This prompted Hidalgo's "Grito de Dolores" assembling the insurgent army on 15 and 16 September 1810. The new insurgent army first came to San Miguel, stopping at a religioussanctuary in Atotonilcojust outside. Hidalgo took a standard bearing an image of theVirgin of Guadalupefrom here to use as a symbol. Then the army entered San Miguel proper, to name officers and to free prisoners in the local jail.While there was no other military action in the area, economically the town waned as agriculture suffered and the population declined. This continued for most of the rest of the 19th centuryThere was some economic recovery near the end of the 19th century during the rule ofPorfirio Daz. During this time, dams,aqueductsand railroads were built. However, decline returned with the end of mining in almost all of the state of Guanajuato. Between this and the beginning of the Mexican Revolution, San Miguel almost became a ghost town._______________________Despite their rural location, both schools would find success after the Second World War. U.S. veterans studying under the G.I. Bill were permitted to study abroad, and these schools took advantage, attracting former soldiers as students. Enrollment at the schools rose and this began the town's cultural reputation.[5]This attracted more artists and writers, includingJos Chvez Moradoand David Alfaro Siqueiros, who taught painting at the Escuela de Bellas Artes.[3][12]This, in turn, spurred the opening of hotels, shops and restaurants to cater to the new visitors and residents.[5]Many of the American veterans who came to study in San Miguel would later come back to retire, thus beginning the towns reputation as an American enclave in Mexico.[13]These Americans have been credited with saving the townThe growing attraction of the town and its colonial buildings created a vibrant real estate market, which until recently has not been affected by Mexicos economic ups and downs. Many of the old "ruins" of colonial houses have sold. This has prompted the very recent creation of mortgages on San Miguel properties financed by U.S. mortgage companies for American and Canadian buyers. Prior, house purchases were done in cash, which made property out of reach for many. The last peak of real estate sales came in 2007, with 180 units sold with a median price of 250,000 USD totaling 45 million.At the entrance of the city are statues of Ignacio Allende, Juan Aldama, Miguel Hidalgo and Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez, with one of the Archangel Michael in the center.[17]While the outlying areas of the town and municipality have changed over time, the historic center remains much as it was 250 years ago.Many of the larger structures have large front doors which used to be used by horses and carriagesAt night, many wander the narrow streets with relative safety.[20]The people on the streets are a mix of Mexicans, foreigners and indigenous. Its cultural and artistic reputation has brought many people from Mexico and abroad here to live.[21]Several publications have named it one of the top 10 places to retire.Since the 1920s, steps have been taken to preserve the historic centers charm. The first set of protections was put into place by the INAH when it was declared a national monument. This required that all restorations and new construction conform to the area's colonial architecture.[2][9]To preserve the citys trademark colonial look, a civil society regulates the renovation and maintenance of the city, especially its historic center. This includes aspects such as traffic, garden spaces and even the kinds of social events that may be held. Recent designation as a World Heritage site, along with the religious sanctuary in nearby Atotonilco, also puts restrictions and protections into placeEstimates of foreign residents range from 8,000 to 12,000 with about 7,000 of these from the United States alone.[11][19][20][25][26]This makes San Miguel one of the largest American communities in Mexico,[11][26]large enough to warrant its own U.S. consulate to provide services such as notary and passport.[27]The large foreign presence has established a number of institutions here. The most noted one is the Biblioteca Publica, which has the second largest English language book collection in Mexico, located in the former convent of Santa Ana.The oldest part of the town is the El Chorro neighborhood. This is where the village of San Miguel was moved to in 1555. The Nahuatl name for the area was Izcuinapan or place of dogs, and according to legend, dogs led Juan de San Miguel to this area to find this spring. This area is the home of the Parish of San Miguel, the Jardin Principal or Main Garden and an earlier church called the San Rafael or Santa Escuela Church.The current parish church of San Miguel (Parroquia Sn. Miguel Arcngel) is unique in Mexico and the emblem of the town.[18]It has aNeo-gothicfacade with two tall towers that can be seen from most parts of town. Built in the 17th century with a traditional Mexican facade. The current Gothic facade was constructed in 1880 byZeferino Gutierrez, who was an indigenous bricklayer and self-taught architect.LA PARROQUIA ORIGINALDe forma casi inmediata a la fundacin de la villa de San Miguel el Grande hoy, de Allende- (1555), se construy el templo parroquial. Segn un documentode 1649, la iglesia de San Miguel el Grande se derrumb tras un grave deterioro. Hacia 1680 y 1690 la parroquia se encontraba nuevamente en ruinas, por lo que se puso en marcha otro proyecto arquitectnico que culmin aprox. en 1709, pero con una apariencia de estilo barroco, totalmente distinta a la fachada de estilo Neogtico que apreciamos hoy da.

Se sabe que en 1683 se haba concluido ya el cuerpo principal de la iglesia, aunque se encontraba deteriorado un muro, adems de que le faltaba la torre y el retablo del altar mayor. La obra fu dirigida por el arquitecto Marco Antonio Sobraras de acuerdo a los parmetros, normas y estilo establecido en la poca: el barroco.

LA PARROQUIA ADQUIERE UN NUEVO ROSTROEntre 1880 y 1890, un maestro cantero de la ciudad Don Zeferino Gutirrez, (parece ser que a peticin de un obispo) construy una nueva fachada de acuerdo a uno de los estilos artsticos de la poca, inspirndose en las grandes obras arquitectnicas de estilo Gtico de la Europa Medieval. Fue por este proyecto que se derribaron las torres construidas entre los s. XVII y XVIII para sustituirlas por las que se conservan en la actualidad. Se transform la portada, los nichos, la ventana coral, e incluso el atrio, la torre campanario del reloj y los altares del interior.

Para muchos este estilo nunca ha encontrado el equilibrio con la plaza colonial que la envuelve, sin embargo, se le dot de una personalidad a "la Parroquia" que tal vez no hubiera obtenido de otra forma.Two centuries after La Parroquia was built, Mexico's first native-born bishop and San Miguel native ordered a new facade. Rather than hiring a traditionally trained architect, the local parish priest chose another San Miguel native, Ceferino Gutierrez, a mason and builder, to create what the untrained Gutierrez viewed to be a Gothic structure. Each morning the illiterate Gutierrez would draw the day's work in the sand in front of the church and his masons would add what he drew to the slowly rising towerIn front of La Parroquia and St. Rafael's (the adjoining church) rises a small monument to the first bishop of Leon, native Miguelino Jose Maria de JesusDiez de Sollanoy Davalos. Sollano was the first native-born Mexican to become a bishop in 1863San Miguel has at least 87 church bells plus numerous others in some of the public buildings. The Parroquia boasts the loudest bell in town, nicknamed "MiguelAt the entrance of the main church, there is an inscription that states that Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla and his brother Jose Joaquin served as priests here. There is another one acknowledging Gutierrezs work on the facade.[30]The interior of the church still has the original 17th century layout and interior design,[4]but the church was looted several times during Mexico's history so much of its decoration is lost. Thesacristycontains a painting depicting the founding of the town in 1542 and its subsequent move to Izcuinapan in the El Chorro neighborhood.In front of the church complex is the Plaza Allende, popularly known as Jardin Principal or Main Garden, but most often referred to simply as el jardin.Lucky visitors can find their way down to the usually locked crypt below the main altar. Aqu yacen los restos mortales de Francisco Tresguerras (arq. de la cripta), algunos de los prrocos de la parroquia, y Anastacio Bustamente (Presidente de Mxico poco despus de la guerra de independencia)In addition to the parish, other important structures, such as the Ignacio Allende House, the Canal House and the municipal palace.TheCentro Cultural Ignacio Ramiez, also called the Escuela de Bellas Artes or El Nigromante, is housed in the former Hermanas de la Concepcin (Sisters of the Conception) convent.[18]The Concepcion convent and adjoining church were founded by a member of the De la Canal family in 1775. The cultural center today is part of theInstituto Nacional de Bellas Artes(INBA) and is often referred to by locals as "Bellas Artes."One hall of the old convent has a mural by David Alfaro Siqueiros, which was not finished since the institution did not last too much.Next to the cultural center is theInmaculada Concepcion Church, locally known as Las Monjas (The Nuns). It was originally constructed as part of the convent. The church was constructed between 1755 and 1842 with an elegant cupola added by Zeferino Gutierrez in 1891, inspired by theLes InvalidesChurch inParisTheCasa de Allende (Allende House) Museumwas the home of Ignacio Allende, who was a principal protagonist in the early part of the Mexican War of Independence. The structure was built in 1759 with Baroque and Neoclassical elements, located next to the San Miguel parish church.[This kind of museum focuses on the history of the local area from the prehistoric period to the present, especially the areas role in Mexicos national history.[18]The lower floor contains exhibits about the founding of the town, its role in protecting the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro Road and more. The upper floor contains exhibits related to the of Ignacio Allende and some of the rooms are preserved as they looked when he lived there.[31]There are 24 rooms that chronicle the history of the area from the foundation of the town to the Ruta de la Plata (Silver Route), the genealogy of Ignacio Allende and the Mexican War of Independence. It remodeled as part of the preparations for Mexico's Bicentennial. The restored museum was re-inaugurated by President Felipe Calderon in 2009.TheCasa del Mayorazgo de la Canaldates from the 18th century, constructed by Mariano Loreto de la Canal y Landeta.[2]During the late colonial period, this house was the most important secular building, being home to the De la Canal family, one of the richest inNew Spain.[ Today, it houses the Casa de Cultura deBanamex(Banamex Cultural Center) which houses a collection of historic paintings and offers diverse expositions during the year.[21][31]municipal palace. It was first constructed in 1736this building was heavily damaged several times since then and little of the original structure remains. The current building has two floors. It is home to what is considered to be the first independent local government in Mexico. TheNuestra Seora de la Salud Churchwas built by Luis Felipe Neri in the 18th century. The main portal is inChurrigueresquestyle with two levels and a crest in the shape of a large seashell. The church served as the chapel of the Colegio de San Francisco de Sales next door.[31]The Colegio de San Francisco de Sales was as important as thecollege of San Ildefonso in Mexico Cityin the 18th century.[3]Both Ignacio Aldama and Ignacio Allende attended school here. Very close in the same complex is the Plaza Civica or Civic Plaza. This plaza was originally constructed in 1555 and was supposed to be the original center of the town. It is next to the Plaza de la Soledad and served as the main marketplace.Today, it has a equestrian statue of Ignacio Allende which dominates it.

TheBiblioteca Pblica or Public Libraryserves as the community center for San Miguel's large foreigner population. This library was established by Helen Wale, a Canadian, who wanted to reach out to local children. It is the largest privately funded, publicly accessible library in Mexico with the second largest English language book collection. The library offers free English classes for children and the "Club de Amigos" so that Mexicans and foreigners can know one another.Parque Jurez or Juarez Park. This park was established at the beginning of the 20th century on the banks of a river in French style with fountains, decorative pools, wrought iron benches, old bridges and footpaths.important market is theMercado de Artesanias, which sells a wide variety of items such as those made from wool, brass, paper mache and blown glass. There are also piatas, tin lanterns, silver jewelry and more. One figure that features prominently on merchandise is that of a frog, as the state's name of Guanajuato means "place of frogs".TheCasa de Inquisidor(Inquisitors House) is located between Hernandez Macias and Hospicio streets. It was built in 1780 with an elaborate French facade and was the seat of theinquisitionin the late 18th centuryTheAngela Peralta Theaterwas originally designed to host opera. It was inaugurated in 1873 with a performance by the most famous soprano of Mexico at that time,Angela Peralta. Today, it still hosts a variety of musical events such as the Jazz Festival and the Chamber Music Festival.Other cultural venues include the Otra Cara de Mexico (a small private museum which has a large number of masks from Mexico's traditional cultures). the bullring (On Calle de Recreo, constructed at the end of the 19th century) and the Museo de la Esquina(dedicated to traditional Mexican toys. Its collection comes from all parts of the Mexican Republic, which was gathered over 50 years' time).The Fabrica La Aurora is an old textile mill that has been converted into galleries and shops selling art, furnishings and antiques; it has a lot of open space along with a caf and restaurant.[ATOTONILCO.- With only 597 people as of 2005, Atotonilco (formally Sanctuary of Atotonilco) is not the largest community in the municipality, but it is the best known due to its religious sanctuary, which has World Heritage Site status. The sanctuary is located fourteen km outside of the main town and dates from the 18th century. It is the church from which Miguel Hidalgo took the Virgin of Guadalupe standard for his army. All of the wall and ceiling space is completely covered with little empty space. This mural work was done byMiguel Antonio Martnez de Pocasangreover thirty years.El Charco del Ingenio.- El Charco del Ingenio is located outside of the town is an ecological reserve andbotanical gardenwhich is privately funded. It is dedicated to the restoration and preservation of Mexican flora and propagates species in danger of extinction.[48]The reserve is centered on a canyon, at the bottom of which is a fresh spring which forms a natural pool. The canyon was the center of a number of myths and legends during the pre-Hispanic period.[49]There are the remains of a colonial eraaqueductand other waterworks on the property. There are opportunities for mountain biking, rock climbing, bird watching, camping and horseback riding

ATOTONILCO.- lugar de agua caliente comunidad rural sanmiguelense ubicada a 15 minutos orientacin norte sobre la carretera a Dolores Hidalgo, es el sitio donde se ubica el Santuario de Jess de Nazareno, dicho lugar es considerado una de las Iglesias ms bellas de todo Mxico, a la que tambin la gente la llama la Sixtina de Amrica, obra majestuosa atribuida al Padre Luis Felipe Neri de Alfaro y al artista plstico Antonio Martnez de Poca sangre. Fundado por el padreLuis Felipe Neri de Alfaroen el ao de 1740 quien se inspir para su edificacin en el Santo Sepulcro ubicado enJerusaln. Este Santuario dedicado a Jess Nazareno, fungi como casa de Ejercicios Espirituales deSan Ignacio de Loyola. Patrimonio Cultural de la Humanidad por la Unesco, se ubica desde su fundacin, en 1740 (siglo XVIII) contina siendo un lugar de adoracin y peregrinaje. Su gran atractivo arquitectnico ha sido cuidadosamente restaurado durante los ltimos diez aos.Cuenta con pinturas y frescos de gran relevancia, adems de tesoros de escultura barroca y dos leos que ilustran y comparan las similitudes entre los paisajes de San Miguel de Allende y de Jerusaln. Adems, este leo es uno de los registros histricos ms antiguos de la traza urbana de la Villa de San Miguel el Grande.El primer estandarte de la guerra de Independencia fue tomado de su altar principal por el Cura Hidalgo, un lienzo de la Virgen de GuadalupeLa fachada del edificio es lisa, con muros muy altos rematados por una arcada invertida. Al entrar al templo el contraste es impactante: la nave principal y todas las paredes estn decoradas con pinturas murales que representan infinidad de pasajes y personajes religiosos.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Miguel_de_Allende

PERSONAJES ILUSTRESIgnacio AllendeIgnacio AldamaJuan AldamaPedro VargasJuan Jos de los Reyes Martnez (El Ppila)

14 de Septiembre de 2014, mensaje libertario de aquella madrugada en Septiembre de 1810, donde Don Ignacio Prez, alcaide de Quertaro, fue enviado por Doa Josefa Ortiz de Domnguez a dar aviso al Capitn Ignacio Allende, que la conspiracin Independentista haba sido descubierta