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San Miguel de Allende
On the way to our 7th colonial city, we visit "El Santuario d'Atotonilco".
It's often compared to "the Chapelle Sixtine" in Roma, but its style is very different.
Decdicated to Jesus Of Nazareth, this 18th century sanctuary is fantastic with all its walls covered with murals.
It also played a very important role in the history of mexican independency, as Hidalgo decorated his banner with the portrait of the Virgin of Guadalupe taken out of this church.
We spend 5 days in San Miguel de Allende, to rest and enjoy the carnaval (we also had a nice campingsite)
The carnaval is not spectacular but kids and adults keeps throwing eggs filled with confetti on everyone's head during 5 days. Nice and gentle atmosphere.
We also update our website and enjoy the sunny days ( 30° C)
A world Heritage city since 2008, San Miguel de Allende is a quiet town with an exceptional architecture.
In 1542, an evangelization mission was established here, then abandonned in 1551 before the creation of the actual "San Miguel".
The discovery of silver mines and its strategic position on the road to Mexico were two reasons to settle garnisons here to ensure security of the ore gargo.
From the 17th to the 18th century, San Miguel is one of the most flourishing town in the region. It's the golden age for the spanish families who build their palaces, without forgetting the very powerful "catholic world" to which they offer chapels and churches!
But a wind of independance is now blowing...This is the end of these "all power families" living out of the underground fertility.
In 1826, the city changes its name to honour the heroe of the independance "Allende", and starts its decline as the mining extraction begins to falter.
Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel : This little chapel built in the 16th century and enlarged during the 17th and 18th, represents the symbol of the city with its two towered facade.
Its bell tower has a little something of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
The other monuments and the yellow and ocre houses in every streets make us feel comfortable in this town.
The city also houses a large community of american artists and veterans from the Vietnam war.
Guanajuato
End of the afternoon, we arrive in our 6th colonial city.
We wander in the historical center, very rich in colonial buildings and coloured houses.
To reach the center, we take a combo (minibus) whose route passes through steep and narrow streets which plunge underground into tunnels that were once used for mining production and that are now used as underground urban roads. As impressive as frightening...
Capital city of the Guanajuato State, the town is named " The pearl of the colonial cities".
Built on silver mines, it enriched a lot of spanish families from the 18th century on, and became the largest silver producer in the world before a major decline.
The historical center of Guanajuato has been a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1988.
Strolling is here a tradition : it's called " callejonear". A group of musicians composed by students of the Universities, accompanies the visitors through the streets and stops in some places to sing and dance once night falls.
Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Guanajuato : Baroque style 17th century church, its interior style has been changed into neoclassical in the 19th century.
Single parish until 1957when it was elevated at the rank of Basilica, its construction was entirely financed by miners.
Teatro Juarez : Built in 1872, its architectural style is eclectic. Its interior of roman inspiration displays 8 bronze statues representing greek muses.
Its interior is just spectacular, made of coloured stucco of moorish influence (One says it's been inspired by the Alhambra of Granada).
Museo iconografico Del Quijote : Very beautiful and original collection of paintings, sculptures and art works related to Don Quijote de la Mancha.
A solo singer and her pianist highlighted our visit in this lovely palace.
Templo de San Diego : Built in the 17th century in a Baroque style, it has a very sophisticated churrigueresque style facade.
Jardin de la Union : It's the heart of the city and a meeting place. That's where the mariachi perform for the tourists seating on terraces of bars or restaurants.
Of course , we also visited a lot of smaller churches and lovely little squares less noisy than El Jardin de la Union...
That's also her that we see our first foreign tourists.
Since our arrival in Mexico, tourists were very scarce.
Very often, we've visited museums or site with someone turning the lights on and off just for us...
ROAD BOOK 044
MAVROS ODYSSEE