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 Nestled in beautiful countryside, charming San Miguel de Allende, Mexico (population 80,000) is located on the central plateau of Mexico in the state of Guanajuato and is the birthplace of Mexican independence. The city is 2 to 3 hours north of Mexico City by car and about a 10-hour drive from the U.S. border at Brownsville, Texas. Visitors usually fly directly to Leon, Mexico about 90 minutes away and arrange for a shuttle service to take them to San Miguel.
Founded in the early 1500s, San Miguel was declared a national monument in 1926 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. It is a charming city of cobblestone streets with Colonial-era mansions perched on a hillside above the Laja River. Roughly 10,000 expatriates call this quaint city home, and of those, the majority are U.S. and Canadian citizens (many of whom are fairly affluent). Expatriates find the same conveniences as back home but without having the inconveniences of a big city, including the noise, crowds, pollution or danger. Celebrated as an artists' community, San Miguel has a deeply rich and vibrant cultural scene. Visitors here will discover some of Mexico's best shopping, numerous, raucous religious festivals, historic monuments, centuries-old traditions and world-famous schools, including the renowned Instituto Allende which draws some of the world's best artists and craftspeople. Dozens of these artists-in-residence display their work in various shops, as well as in art galleries throughout the city. Crafts for sale include hand-tooled jewelry, pottery, woven tapestries, baskets and woodcarvings, just to name a few. And a wide range of excellent restaurants that encompass an extensive menu of delicious international cuisines, including Mexican, American, Spanish, French, Chinese, Japanese, Arabian, fast food and many others, will keep visitors out on the town night after night. Many restaurants also have live musicand/or bar service.
This Colonial city combines a unique mixture of ancestral Europe with the ancient cultures of Mesoamerica, attracting people from all over the world. During the last decade or so, San Miguel has been named as one of the best places to live in the world, so the secret has gotten out and the influence of gringo money can definitely be felt, although this is still primarily a Mexican community. U.S. immigration to San Miguel began in the 1940s when it became a hangout for artists and bohemians from around the world. Neal Casady, the model for the central character in Jack Kerouac's On the Road, died here in 1968.
Because of its national monument status and status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, new buildings that would change the character and appearance of San Miguel are strictly regulated, ensuring that San Miguel's charm will endure for years to come. With spectacular weather year-round and varied cultural offerings, San Miguel is a both a peaceful and stimulating retirement choice. The residents are friendly, and it is easy to soon feel at home here And although it is a cosmopolitan city, San Miguel still retains much of its small town ambience.
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