By: Matilde Diaz
The city of San Miguel de Allende, in Guanajuato, has received different recognitions and has even been declared the second best city in the world by Travel + Leisure magazine, and these distinctions are not only due to the kindness and hospitality of its people , the growing prosperity of the city, the quality of its services, but the urban landscape that undoubtedly make it worthy of such indications.
City founded in 1542 by Fray Juan de San Miguel with the name of San Miguel el Grande, in 1555 it was elevated to the status of a town, and for several years, it was a refuge for the Spaniards before the continuous attacks of the Chichimeca Indians. In 1862 it obtained the rank of city, and this acquired special fame during the independence stage of Mexico because it was the birthplace of the insurgent leaders Ignacio Allende and Ignacio Aldama who fought for national independence.
A relevant part of the colonial and 19th century architecture that distinguishes it and gives it fame, it is made up of some temples, the most beautiful being the neo-Gothic style church of San Miguel Arcángel that was built around 1880. In one of its chapels the image of a Christ made with orchid paste, and which came out of Tarascan hands with a strong indigenous seal. There are some paintings by Juan Rodríguez Juárez right there. Very close to this temple is the Church of San Rafael, from the 18th century, and there are others such as Santo Domingo, which was built at the end of this century, and not far from there, is the Chapel of the Hermitage and the Oratory. of the Seven Sorrows that denote popular piety.
In the square of San Francisco is the temple of the Third Order; The Church was built between 1779 and 1799, it is Churrigueresque in style with a neoclassical tower, and inside, very sober, the prestigious architect Eduardo Tresguerras worked, and it contains some paintings by the mulatto Juan Correa and Salvador Fajardo. In San Miguel de Allende there is also the Church of San Felipe Neri where there is a painting of the Virgin of Guadalupe by the famous painter Miguel Cabrera, one of the greatest of Mexican painting.
In addition, there is the Philippian cloister and the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Salud, with a magnificent Churrigueresque façade and inside, there are works by Antonio Torres, Miguel Cabrera and Xavier de Peralta. On one side is the Colegio de San Francisco de Sales, founded in 1753, and also the Temple of La Concepción. The numerous presence of churches confirms the religious vocation of the entity, and without a doubt, its love for the Virgin of Guadalupe, who was the first banner of the insurgent movement in our country.
