Back

Visit San Miguel de Allende’s art galleries

Mex_SanMiguelDe_Allende_shutterstock_717940168

Stroll around the cobbled streets of colonial San Miguel de Allende, Mexico's capital of art, and explore the dozens of museums, galleries, studios, workshops which are open to the public. 

San Miguel de Allende, one of a necklet of mountain towns northwest of Mexico City founded during the era of Spanish colonial rule, is probably considered the art capital of Mexico.  A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the exquisite town is a work of art in itself. The settlement was originally the site of a Franciscan mission, but was developed by the Spanish owing to its strategic position on the route to the nearby silver mining towns and became the home to some of the richest silver barons in the country. San Miguel played a role during the war of independence but its reputation as a centre of the arts was triggered by the founding of the Fine Arts school and a course in mural painting in the 1930s.

Since then the town has been a magnet for painters, sculptors, photographers and craftsmen from all corners of Mexico and other parts of the world including the USA and many have settled here: it is now an outward-looking, friendly and peaceful place.  Nowadays there are more than 40 galleries, workshops and museums in the town, all welcoming visitors and exhibiting a huge variety of objets d’art, textiles, photographs and sculptures. If you are tempted to try your own hand at the creative arts there are plenty of courses available.

Papagaio

Your edit for Latin American inspiration

Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.

View Extraordinary Inspiration
Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Kathryn
    Kathryn Rhodes - Travel Expert

    Kathryn backpacked across Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru before joining us. She has a degree in Philosophy and French and is a keen netball player.

  • Mary
    Mary Anne Nelson - Travel Expert

    Born in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, Mary’s insider knowledge and dry sense of humour make her a highly valued member of the Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tour sales team.

  • Alex
    Alex Walker - Travel Expert

    A globetrotter since her childhood, Alex spent a year studying abroad in Guadalajara and has returned to Latin America countless times since then.

  • Hannah
    Hannah Donaldson - Travel Expert

    Having spent part of her childhood in Colombia and worked in Brazil and Costa Rica, Hannah's ties to Latin America run deep. Hannah is a much valued Travel Expert in our Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tours sales team.

  • Chris
    Chris Rendell-Dunn - Travel Expert

    Anglo-Peruvian Chris grew up in Lima and spent much of his adult life in between London and Cusco as a tour leader, before settling permanently in our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours sales team.

  • Ben
    Ben Line - Travel Expert

    Ben fell in love with Latin America on a six month backpacking trip from Colombia to Mexico in 1995. Since then he has explored most of South America, including living in Peru for a year. He is now Head of Sales.

0 1 2 3 4 5