74 Best Sights in San Miguel de Allende and the Heartland, Mexico

The smaller of the city's two squares (it's also called Plaza Chica), this is Pátzcuaro's commercial center. Bootblacks, pushcart vendors, and bus and taxi stands are all in the plaza, which is embellished by a statue of the local heroine, Gertrudis Bocanegra. Nearby, a large outdoor mercado sprawls along Libertad and its side streets. At times the road is so crowded with people and their wares—fruit, vegetables, beans, rice, herbs, and other necessities of daily life—that it's difficult to walk. If you press on for about a block, you'll see an indoor market to your left filled with more produce; large, hanging slabs of meat; hot food; cheap trinkets; and locally made wool garments.

During the War of Independence, several rebel priests were brutally murdered on this site, and the plaza, known as Plaza de los Mártires, is named after them. Today sweethearts stroll along the tree-lined walks, friends chat under the silver-domed gazebo, and painters exhibit their work on sunny days.

If you're driving, you might want to make a stop at Santuario de Atotonilco, which is 10 minutes off the Dolores Hidalgo Highway. Named a World Heritage Site in 2008, the sanctuary was built by Father Felipe Neri de Alfaro in the 18th century. In 1810, Independence leader Padre Hidalgo and his troops stopped here to claim the banner of Our Lady of Guadalupe before their successful march on San Miguel. The church is completely covered in murals that have earned it the title "the Sistine Chapel of Mexico." It also houses a venerated statue of Our Lord at the Column, a bloodied Christ leaning over a pedestal, which has been credited with several miracles. There's often a smattering of stalls selling statues, rosaries, crowns of thorns, and other religious souvenirs, and you may see pilgrims wearing bridal veils (even the men) and flagellating themselves as they enter the grounds for a week's penitence and prayer.

Adorned with bronze lion sculptures and a line of large Greek muses overlooking the Jardín de la Unión from the roof, the theater was inaugurated by Mexican dictator Porfirio Díaz in 1903 with a performance of Aïda. It now serves as a venue for works presented at the annual International Cervantes Festival and throughout the year. You can take a brief tour of the art deco interior.

Michoacán's first cathedral was begun in 1540 by order of Vasco de Quiroga and completed in 1546. When the state capital was moved to Morelia some 20 years later, the church was taken over by the Jesuits. It remains much as it was in the 16th century. Moss has grown over the crumbling stone steps outside; the dank interior is planked with thick wood floors and lined with bare wood benches.

This former convent, constructed from 1727 to 1752 and attributed to the Queretano Don Ignacio Mariano de las Casas, is noteworthy for its whimsical arches and the Arab influence of its facade. Inside, the church is one of the joys of the Mexican baroque, famous for its five fantastically carved, gold-leaf altarpieces as well as its rich paintings and statues.

This 18th-century Jesuit church has an ornamented facade and an opulent interior with religious paintings. In the sacristy is an extensive collection of religious art.

Drenched in sun, bougainvillea, and flowering trees, Tequis (as the locals call it) is a pleasant stop for a day or overnight trip---it lies about an hour's drive east of Querétaro, and is also close to the region's wine country. Join the many families who come to stroll through the main square with its neoclassical Templo de Santa María de la Asunción, whose facade has been said to resemble swirls of cotton more than stone. Stop for lunch in one of the outdoor cafés under the arcades that front the plaza and visit the surrounding streets and the Mercado de Artesanías to shop for handicrafts. Tequis has a well-deserved reputation for high-quality craftwork, including wicker baskets, opal jewelry, woven goods, wood, and ceramics. The town is also known for its mineral swimming pools (many of the hotels have them) and spas.

Doing business for more since the late 1970s, this tour operator leads historical tours including San Miguel de Allende and Dolores Hidalgo, shopping tours to Léon, and the more typical half-day tours of Guanajuato, including visits to haciendas and mines.

This group of guides can lead city tours, trolley tours, and also tours to Pátzcuaro, the monarch butterflies, or other Michoacán destinations.

Founded in 1732, the university was formerly a Jesuit seminary. The original churrigueresque church, La Compañía, still stands next door. The green limestone facade of the university, built in 1955, was designed to blend in with the town's architecture.

Between the university and the church, several art galleries and one small museum associated with the center of higher learning present rotating exhibits of contemporary art.

This elegant boutique winery in a contemporary building on a mesa with stunning views toward Peña de Bernal is known both for its excellent wines and its outstanding restaurant, Envero, which is open for lunch and dinner. You can book a classic tour and tasting of two wines, which lasts about 90 minutes, or opt for the sensory experience in which you'll try three different wines blindfolded, along with small tapas to better understand the relationship foods have on wine tasting. Vinaltura makes a wide range of wines, from crisp and minerally Chenin Blanc and Gewürztraminer with floral notes to a bold Bordeaux blend called Terruño Ladera. 

Fairly close to Freixenet México and therefore popular to visit when heading there or to the nearby town of Bernal, La Redonda is one of the most prestigious and popular wineries in central Mexico. The sprawling property is laced with pathways and beautiful landscaping, and it's very accommodating of families and even visitors with dogs. You can come and sample the many varieties of wine produced here by booking a full meal in the restaurant or opting for a more casual experience in the wine garden and wine bar. La Redonda also offers overnight winery glamping experiences, and festivals and events open to the public take place throughout the year.

By the time the Spaniards arrived in the 16th century, this ancient city was already a ruin. The site's original name, Chicomostoc, means "place of the seven tribes." It was previously believed that seven different cultures had occupied the area, each one building atop the other's city. Debate continues as to whether the inhabitants of the area were related to the Mesoamericans (who occupied what is today central Mexico through northern Central America) or the indigenous cultures of what is now the southwestern United States. The site consists of the ruins of a ceremonial pyramid and a ball court; the principal draw is the rose-colored Salón de las Columnas, containing 11 massive round columns built of the same small slabs of rock. Interesting artifacts are housed in the site's impressive museum. To get here, take a bus toward Villanueva, get off at the entrance to La Quemada, and walk 3 km (2 miles). The bus ride takes about an hour and involves a long walk. Most visitors find it easier to take a taxi or guided tour out of Zacatecas.