Located in the Guanajuato state towards the Far East of Mexico, San Miguel de Allende is a popular tourist destination in Mexico, particularly amongst foreign retirees, artists and writers. The town is named after Ignacio Allende - a past captain of the...more
Located in the Guanajuato state towards the Far East of Mexico, San Miguel de Allende is a popular tourist destination in Mexico, particularly amongst foreign retirees, artists and writers. The town is named after Ignacio Allende - a past captain of the Spanish Army who played an important role in the Mexican independence movement - who was born in the city in 1769. The town was previously known as San Miguel el Grande but Ignacio Allende's last name was added to the name of the town in 1826 in his memory.
The town is home to around 130,000 inhabitants - which includes one of the largest community of Americans living in Mexico. Significant numbers of indigenous groups live outside the main town, including communities of Otomi, Nahuas, Mazahua, Huasteca and P'urhépecha. A large majority of the population is Catholic in faith.
San Miguel de Allende offers numerous sights and sounds for any type of traveller. The main attraction of the city is the well-preserved historic center which features several buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries as well as World Heritage Sites in the near vicinity. Notable landmarks include the Centro Cultural Ignacio Ramiez, Casa de Allende (Allende House) Museum, Casa del Mayorazgo de la Canal, the municipal palace as well as a number of churches.
The two main airports that are closest to San Miguel de Allende are the Del Bajio Airport Leon/Guanajuato and the Queretaro Airport. The Leon airport is located about 70 miles away from San Miguel de Allende while Queretaro airport is located about 45 miles away. The Juarez Intl in Mexico City is another major airport that is in the near vicinity and is located about 3 and a half hours away.
Finding Halal food in San Miguel de Allende can be rather difficult. There are no known Halal restaurants in San Miguel de Allende and though there are vegetarian dishes offered at some Mexican restaurants, Muslim travellers should note that most dishes require the use of animal fat – usually pork fat – and it is strongly recommended that you enquire with restaurant owners about the preparation of food prior to dining.
Access to prayer facilities in San Miguel de Allende will also be difficult. There are no known mosques in San Miguel de Allende and the best option for Muslim travellers is to use the privacy of their hotel room during prayer times. Travellers could also enquire for a private space that can be made use of during prayer times, when travelling outdoors.
A vacation can be more than just seeing new places. It can also be a way for you to learn more about a different culture, have life-changing experiences, meet new people, try unique and authentic cuisines,...
Prayer times for San Miguel de Alle..