San Miguel de Allende ghost town? Curious facts about this World Heritage City

Published September 15th, 2021

The municipality of San Miguel de Allende, a must-see destination in the state of Guanajuato, has attractions that attract the attention of both nationals and foreigners. Today it is positioned as one of the most picturesque destinations in the country with its colonial streets and impressive architecture, but… did you know that there was a time when it was about to become a ghost town? Here we tell you more interesting facts about this World Heritage town. It was founded in 1542 with the name of San Miguel el Grande, and throughout its history, it has witnessed events that have given it historical relevance in the country, such as its importance in the struggle for Mexican Independence; due to this, on March 8, 1826, when it received the category of city, its name was changed to “San Miguel de Allende”, in honor of Ignacio Allende, a key national hero in the war of independence who was originally from San Miguel.

The ghost town of San Miguel de Allende
Mining being the main activity in the area, San Miguel de Allende gained importance as it was an important crossing point of the Old Royal Road, so it was part of the silver route that connected with Zacatecas, but it was after this activity lost popularity that the municipality was about to become a ghost town in the 1900s, even being declared a historical monument in 1926. This title was key to maintaining the colonial image of the municipality, and by 1950 San Miguel de Allende began its journey as a tourist destination thanks to its architecture and natural attractions.

Foreign population
For several years now, the number of foreigners residing in this municipality has been notable, which is why even properties have increased in cost since it is increasingly common for the municipality’s economy to be based on dollars. The charms of the city of San Miguel de Allende have earned it several titles that keep it at the pinnacle of tourism in the country; in 2002 it was declared a Magical Town, a title that was withdrawn in 2008 after being declared a World Heritage Site and in 2017 it was named the best city in the world by Travel + Leisure magazine. https://www.milenio.com/politica/comunidad/san-miguel-allende-datos-curiosos-historiaThe charms of the city of San Miguel de Allende have earned it several titles that keep it at the pinnacle of tourism in the country; in 2002 it was declared a Magical Town, a title that was withdrawn in 2008 after being declared a World Heritage Site and in 2017 it was named the best city in the world by Travel + Leisure magazine.