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

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.

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.

Tranvía Bus Tours. This group of guides can lead city tours, trolley tours, and also tours to Pátzcuaro, the monarch butterflies, or other Michoacán destinations. 443/166–2642.

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.

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.