Walking aimlessly and exploring the side streets of San Miguel can be as interesting as arriving at the destination of any of the historical sites. At every turn, there seems to be something to catch the eye, from a quiet, cool courtyard filled with flowers seen through the opening of a large carved door that is slightly ajar, to a fantasy house built by a local merchant decorated with statues of real or imagined animals. There are shops selling glassware, decorative tin, wood furniture, paintings, Mexican silver jewelry, and embroidered clothing. There are shops with some quality Mexican antiques and tacky shops with wall-to- wall tee shirts, wall hangings with glow in the dark pictures of San Miguel landmarks, plastic toys and statues of saints to hang under a car's rear view mirror.

The Parish of San Miguel Arcangel, ( La Parroquia)
Located on the Main Square
Built in the late 17th century on the main square, the façade of the church was totally renovated in the 1870s by Zeferino Gutierrez, a self-educated stonemason who found his inspiration in picture-postcard reproductions of European churches. The pink-stone Gothic spires are visible from almost any point in the city, making it the primary landmark in San Miguel and one of the most famous churches in Mexico. A statue of St. Michael the Archangel, namesake of both town and church, adorns the main altar.

La Biblioteca de San Miguel de Allende
Insurgentes #25 (btwn Reloj and Hidalgo)
The bilingual library, which sponsors an assortment of cultural events, was founded by Helen Wale in 1954. Today it houses one of the largest collections of English language books in Mexico. One event which they sponsor is a House & Garden tour, every Sunday at noon. This tour leaves from the biblioteca.

The Main Plaza
Located in the center of town Great place to people watch, have coffee and relax. The day begins in El Jardín with the clanging of the many church bells in the town either telling you the time or calling you to mass. Little San Miguel has fifteen churches and six patron saints. The morning newspapers (Spanish and English) are being sold, and a vender with cart is there with sweet cakes and coffee for the early risers. You may have your shoes shined while watching the children in crisp uniforms and little backpacks pass through on their way to school. Many residents arrive to check out the blackboard for messages from friends, available rentals, or news of anything else that may be happening locally. Buses begin to line up for the daily excursions to sites of interest nearby, while other buses take the curious on tours to some of the interesting and eclectic houses of local residents and foreign retirees.

From El Jardín, it is possible to walk to any and all parts of the city easily.. At this time, the roosters are still crowing to the morning sun, gardeners pruning bushes, shopkeepers sweeping sidewalks in front of the stores, and there is always the faint smell of wood-stoked cooking fires in the air. On selected mornings, the park is enhanced with masses of colorful flowers and green garden plants as dozens of growers from small farms in the countryside use the park as a nursery to sell plants. Across the street from the park is the outdoor lavanderia, or washing place, fed by El Chorro, a natural spring. Where once the women may have used the waterfall and rocks by the stream they now use a row of cement tubs to clean the clothes. It is said that some of them have washing machines at home, but they much prefer the gossip and laughter of the women gathering at the fountain.

Allende Museo
Cuna de Allende #1
Home of Don Ignacio Allende, her and martyr of Mexican independence. Houses pre- Columbian archaeological pieces and weapons and items from Mexican War of Independence.

Instituto Allende
Teatro Angela Perlata
Mesones 82; 152-2200
Events scheduled year round, including dramas, lectures and dances. The beautiful theater, which is worth a look even if there is no performance, was designed as an opera house and inaugurated in 1873 with a performance by the famous soprano Angela Peralta, known as the Mexican Nightengale.

El Mercado Ignacio Ramires (Central Market)
For a taste of the daily life of the community, a trip to the central market, El Mercado Ignacio Ramires, is a good place to begin. There is nothing touristy about the activity here. There are stalls with fruits and vegetables, sugars and spices, meat and poultry (alive and dead), kitchen utensils, pungent chilis large and small, bread, house plants, bird cages with singing birds, leather sandals, cowboy hats, tamales, baked goods, and tasty blended juice drinks called licuados. Surrounding the mercado are tables divided by colorful cloth separations selling clothes, inexpensive jewelry and painted pottery that are geared to the locals as well as the tourist.

Fabrica La Aurora
Located on the northern end of town
The city is full of art and photo galleries, most in the city center but some are located in this high-end design complex which was once a textile mill. Many artists have studios in Fabrica La Aurora and open up to the public on Thursdays.

Mitu
Antiques, Furniture & Decoration Articles
Pila Seca # 3 & Sollano # 32
Tel: 044 (415) 117-9431

Mercado Ignacio Rairez
Located in front of Oratorio de San Felipe Neri.
This is the city’s main market and is filled with both foods and goods.

Gallery Arte Mexico – Galleria Carlo Muro
Zacateros 81A
Tel: +52 (415) 154-8531
www.artesmex.com

One of San Miguel's newest and most handsomely appointed galleries, Galería Carlos MuRo has been especially designed by Thor Kaufman of ERA for the display of photographs and paintings, art in hand wrought copper, and sculpture.

Casa de la Inquisitor
Lamps, pillow covers, carpets, furniture, iron hardwear.
Aldama #1; 154-6868

Casa Maxwell
Textiles, rugs, vases, folkart, table linens.
Umaran #3 and Canal #14; 152-0247.

Casa Maria Luisa
Home accessories that have a vintage look and spirit.
Canal #40; 152-0130

Evos
Custom-made sofas, chairs, home accessories and Spanish colonial furniture. Two locations.
Hernandez Macias # 55, 152-0813, San Francisco #36, 152-7765.

La Antigua Casa Canela
Fine candles, pottery, religious items, furniture.
Umaran #20; 152-1880 or 152-3428.

Sollano 16
Imported luxury home accessories from Europe and Argentina.
Sollano #16; 154-8872.

Zocalo
Brilliant collection of folkart and pottery.
Hernandez Macias # 110;152-0663.

Icpalli
Pottery from Gorky Gonzales of Guanajuato.
Correo # 43; 152-1236.

La Casa del Vidrio
Thick handblown glasses and vases made here in San Miguel at the Guajuye factory.
Correo #11; 152-0102. Factory and store outside town; Lupita #2; 152-7030

Vitral & Disenio
Vases, mirror frames made from tile mosaics, Tiffany-style lamps.
Zacateros #49; 152-4879.

Arte San Gabriel
The closest of the famed Dolores Hidalgo vendors of traditional talavera.
Dolores Hidalgo Highway, 14.2 miles from intersection of highways 51 and 57; 418-185-5037.

La Zandunga
Fine, hand-made wool rugs by a local designer.
Hernandez Macias #129; 152-4608.

Bazar El Viejo Oeste Antiguedades
Religious items, doors and colonial furniture.
Hernandez Macias # 121; 152-7571.

Bazar Unicornio
Good collection of old retablos and some new retablos.
Hernandez Marcias # 80, 152-1306

Casa Reyna
A diverse array of small and large Mexican antiques.
San Miguel to Celaya Highway #7, just past El Pipila Glorieta; 152-3747.

STILL MORE VISHAL
La Diligencia Antiguedades
Art and decoration, furniture and religious artifacts.
Hern Era, Assortment of young, hip accessories.
Zacateros #39; 151-8030.

Diva
Designer boutique with a chic line of clothes and accessories.
Hernández Macías #72; 152-4980.

Girasol
Flowing jackets, skirts and pants often seen on ex-pat women here..
Zacateros #28; 152-3070.andez Macias # 118; 152-162