Time of visit: November 2021

Duration of visit: 2 days

Mode of transportation: by rental car, from CDMX

Review and experience

Alas, we fell to the tourism trap of San Miguel de Allende. Okay, I'm half-joking. Yes, the town is filled with tourists and the commercialism of SMA is rampant, but its charming and colorful buildings, the magnificent Baroque-style cathedral, and its hilly and winding cobblestone streets certainly do have their magical draw for visitors.  It was nice to come to SMA after spending a week in the bustling metropolis of Mexico City. Everything in SMA just felt so quaint and quiet, so it was a well needed respite from the exciting chaos of CDMX.

In terms of its basis for WHS inscription, I would say that SMA falls in the middle of the 7 colonial cities that we've visited to-date. It really isn't as unique and authentic as Mexico City (as the mothership of Mexico's colonial towns), Guanajuato (with its distinctive tie to the important mining history of Mexico), and Puebla (as I believe one of the earliest), but it truly was a lovely town to spend several days in, as everything was so catered to visitors, as serve as our home base for exploring the several other WHS nearby. If cartel activity weren't as rampant, we would have certainly made the trip to Morelia and Monarch Reserves as well from SMA!

On our way to Guanajuato as a day trip, we made a short detour to the Sanctuary of Jesús Nazareno de Atotonilco. The architecture was unique, and the murals surrounding the walls and ceiling of the church was absolutely breathtaking - well deserving of its name as the Sistine Chapel of Mexico!  Along with the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, this was our star attraction and experience for this WHS. I do think it's a little funny that the SMA and Santuary were listed together - they're very different sites, and it makes me wonder if the commercialism of SMA had to be offset by this gorgeous church. If that were the case, they might as well have thrown in the Canada de la Virgen archaeological zone as well... Oaxaca certainly made that happen with Monte Alban! Finally, for any visitors of SMA, a day trip to Guanajuato is well worth the effort. Please go!