San Miguel de Allende

San Miguel de Allende is the seat of the municipality of Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico, a historic town founded in 1542 that has become an attractive tourist destination for wealthy Mexico City residents and has a large American and Canadian expatriate community full of primarily retirees. It is at 6,140 ft above sea level, 170 miles from Mexico City and 60 miles from the state capital of Guanajuato. Famous worldwide for its mild climate, thermal springs and colonial era architecture, San Miguel de Allende has attracted a large community of foreign residents.

English is spoken every where. There is no problem getting around town. You don’t need to speak spanish.

In this small city of 1400,000, 13-14,000 foreign residents are here at any one time, 8,000 of these on residency visas.

Of these foreign residents, 70% are from the United States, 20% are from Canada, and the remaining 10% are from 31 other countries. If the 8,000 foreign residents who are on permanent residency visas, foreigners make up 5% of the SMA population.

 

In the 1950s, San Miguel de Allende became a destination known for its beautiful colonial architecture and its thermal springs. After War World II San Miguel began to revive as a tourist attraction as many United Sates GIs discovered that their education grants stretched further in Mexico at the U.S.-accredited art schools, the privately-owned Instituto Allende, founded in 1950, and the Bellas Artes, a nationally chartered school.

San Miguel de Allende was also named a Pueblo Mágico in 2002. In 2008, San Miguel was designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

San Miguel is a magical place. A colonial jewel tucked into a bowl-shaped hollow in Mexico’s central highlands, its rumpled cobblestoned streets are lined with antique buildings painted as many colors as an over-made-up grande dame. Stucco walls with beautiful bougainvillea, pale blue plumago, lemony lantana flowers. Carved doors with brass knockers, the most beautiful patios, and tinkling fountains, with lush gardens.

Most are attracted by the arts and the beauty of the town, coming in daily from all over the world, to visited this enchanting town. Many come and never leave. There’s something that keeps people here.

There’s amazing breathe taking view every where you look, with great food and interesting people. Always new faces of people visiting.

Everyone here is happy and kind. People stop to talk to you and are interested in what you are saying.

There are great little hidden restaurants with a great feel of antique look and modern cuisine. There are always things to do. There are Events, and celebrations all the time.