New Year in Colonial Mexico

Previous Day Prev P    
Next Day Next N    

Monday, 30 December 2002 - Arrived in San Miguel de Allende, and checked into Masion Virreyes near the main plaza. Enjoyed breakfast in the courtyard, explored the town's charming streets and historic churches including the pink sandstone La Parroqulia and the ornate Oratorio de San Felipe Neri admired neoclassical and churrigueresque architecture in plazas and side streets, and took in sunset views from the hotel roof overlooking the city's skyline.

Mexico 2003
San Miguel de Allende was founded in 1542 by Friar Juan. It was the point where the Franciscans converted the region's inhabitants to Christianity. After an original name of 'City of the Dog People' it was renamed San Miguel de Grande. After the revolution the city was renamed San Miguel de Allende after the military insurgent hero Ignacio Allende.

In San Miguel we stayed at the Masion Virreyes. It was just off the main plaza on a busy street. The rooms were comfortable and all faced into a main patio.
Mexico 2003
Breakfast was served in a second patio with the price of the room and was great.
Mexico 2003
Another shot of the hotel patio.
Mexico 2003
This is the view from the roof patio of the hotel. We are looking west at the Church of the Conception. The view was great - as we took many pictures of the church at sunset.
Mexico 2003
Only an hour later the same view from the roof.

Hotel info:
Masion Virreyes
Address: Canal 19, Centro
Phone: 415 152-0851
E-mail: mansionvirreyes@prodigy.net.mx
Web:

Mexico 2003
La Parroqulia dates from 1683 and has undergone a few changes. Originally it was quite simple. The rustic neolithic facade was built in 1890 by local stonemason Ceferino Guteierrez. He modeled it after postcards of European Cathedrals. He only used the top half of the cathedrals since the spires begin at the foot of the church. Instead he built a great spire coming right out of the ground. It is pink and tan sandstone.
Mexico 2003
Oratorio de San Felipe Neri originally built by the mulatto population in the 17th century. To entice St Phillip Neri to preach the town gave it a makeover. It houses paintings by Cabrera and beautiful neoclassic altars. The four figures on the facade are St Dominic, St Peter, St Paul of Tarsus, and St John the Evangelist.
Mexico 2003
The inside of Oratorio de San Felipe Neri is very ornate. There are several paintings about the life of San Felipe Neri, founder of the Oratorio church in Rome.
Mexico 2003
The Church of St Francis was constructed beginning in 1779 and finishing 20 years later, the facade is churriqueresque in style and has a neoclassic interior. Inside are paintings depicting the life and death of St Francis. Interesting is that the statue at the top is St Francis and he is the height that a depiction of Christ just below the statue.
Mexico 2003
Typical San Miguel street off the Jardin.
Mexico 2003
Since most if not all the roofs are flat with a raised edge they all have drainage spouts. Most are simply pipes off the roof but here someone has added a dog figure to funnel the water - like a gargoyle.
Previous Day Prev P    
Next Day Next N    

Top
Top    
  Cal and VA | Adventures | Mexico 2003
        © Cal and Virginia Ann Holman
All Rights Reserved 2000-2025 Do not use without permission.
Privacy Policy - Terms
Modified last on 2025-12-26