San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato – Obtrusive gates and innovative churches

A craftwork dealer, a professor’s spouse, and a retired teacher – we’ve met those three ladies in Pátzcuaro. They are all Americans living in San Miguel de Allende. Tessa isn’t at home yet, the first one on our visiting list. We decide to see the historic centre so long, which shall be very narrow. As if we haven’t had enough excitement today. But another nice police officer protects us from worth things to happen and directs us to a parking lot where we just fit under the gateway. Unfortunately the gate closes in the middle of our driver’s cabin. We don’t want to tear it off, but the young car-park attendant finds himself unable to open it again. He seems helpless and gives the impression of being a little bit too uninvolved. So I convince the gate with muscular strength to open, whereupon it doesn’t close any more. My bad conscience is limited, and when we will return later it will work again.

San Miguel de Allende has the usual density of churches. Parroquia de San Miguel is outstanding. The colonial church from the 17th century received a new facade in 1880. After studying pictures and postcards of European churches the autodidactic Indigene architect helped San Miguel achieve a completely new outward appearance. Following the example set by the Ulm Minster an unknown mixture to date of neo-gothic style and Indian elements was created.

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