Iglesias (Churches) of San Miguel de Allende

   One of the many compelling reasons to visit San Miguel de Allende is to explore its churches.  There are over 42 churches within its city limits, many of them centuries old.  They each have their unique history and architecture.  
   San Miguel's oldest church, dating from 1542, lies a about a mile outside the city, where the first community of indigenous people settled.  When a good source of water was discovered further up the hill a few years later, everyone moved to the area that has since become the city's current location.  
  Today, San Miguel's most famous structure and the symbol of the city is its parish church, La Parroquia.  A Gothic design of pink granite (almost Disneyesque) dating from 1880, it's plaza, El Jardin, is the center of activity in the colonial old town where in the evening mariachis play, young people flirt, and tourists snap photos. 
   The city's many churches are a photographer's delight.  While I was there, I never tired of trying to get just the 'right shot' of these colorful architectural structures.  Reading about them and learning their rich history made them even more compelling for me.  Here's some of my favorite photos:

That's Max in front of San Miguel's oldest church, which dates from 1542 and lies a few miles outside the city.

A detail of the carving above the door shows two angels hovering over a (parishoner's?) face.  The church was built by the Spanish to help in converting the indigenous Chichimeca Indians.

The original ofrenda (altar for offerings) used by the first parishioners now sits alone in a field with San Miguel in the distance.

Templo de Inmaculada Concepción de las Monjas

Templo de Inmaculada Concepción de las Monjas

This old church is no longer open, but its four bells, graduated in size from small to large, must have made an imposing sound at one time.

Nuestra Señora de la Salud Iglesia.  In front of this church is the Plaza Allende (see below) where there's always activity--children playing, music, vendors selling snacks.

The Plaza Allende, in front of the Salud Church (above), is a central plaza in the old town.  A block away stands the Templo de San Francisco.

Oratorio of San Filipe Neri

   San Miguel created its Oratorio in 1712 when it invited a famous preacher from the town of Patzcuaro to deliver a series of Lenten sermons.  Don Juan Antonio Perez de Espinoza did such a good job that the Miguelinos invited him to stay and built this church.

Max and I enjoying my friend, Marlene's, roof garden.  Behind us are just a few of the church spires we could view--and hear!  Each morning there would be a concert of bells.

Night view of San Miguel's most famous landmark - its parish church, La Parroquia.

La Parroquia at twilight.  The church fronts on El Jardin, a central park and meeting place for San Miguel residents and tourists alike. 

There were torrential rains on the night of Corpus Christi, which fell on June 23 in 2011.  The streets emptied out, leaving La Parroquia standing solitary and beautiful with its lights and banners.