About San Miguel de Allende

Founded in 1541, San Miguel de Allende with its spires and cupolas, centuries-old churches, steep cobblestone streets and stuccoed walls painted in bright tones of terra-cotta and sienna has a very old-world flavor. The March 7, 2005, issue of New York Magazine described this 16th century city as "the closest thing Mexico has to Florence."

Since 1947, when it was established as an art colony, the town has attracted many foreign artists as well as fine Mexican artists. Today, the town of approximately 75,000 people is home to at least 7,000 to 10,000 foreigners from Canada, the United States and Europe. In addition, it is a major tourist destination with Travel and Leisure Magazine listing it as number three in the top five destinations in Latin and South America in its 2007 World's Best Awards.

On May 22, 2005, The New York Times reported that "Americas searching for vacation homes are increasingly buying up property in the old section of town. But all this investment has not altered the bones of the place: the 300 year-old architecture from Spain, the heavy, carved wooden doors along narrow sidewalks, the explosion of bougainvillea over compound walls surrounding meticulous courtyards. Unlike Cancun or Acapulco, where American fast food joints and discos rule, San Miguel de Allende still feels like Mexico."

The most recent Conde Nast Traveler Reader's Choice Awards for 2007 ranked San Miguel as the number five city in the Americas as a destination which included Canada, Latin and South America.

Getting to San Miguel

San Miguel is approximately a one hour and 20 minute drive from the Leon, Mexico Airport. This international airport is served by Mexicana Airlines with flights from Chicago and Los Angeles, American Airlines with flights from Dallas and Continental with flights from Houston. There are also numerous flights from Mexico City and other cities within Mexico. The colonial city of Queretaro is an hour away and has a newly expanded airport. Continental has just started service there from Houston and American should follow suit in the near future.