PARROQUIA DE SAN MIGUEL ARCÁNGEL

Dominating the central plaza, the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, commonly known as "La Parroquia", is a historical and architectural symbol of the city, and indeed of Mexico as a whole. Its history dates back to 1555, when the Villa de San Miguel el Grande (now Allende) was founded. Initially designed in the shape of a Latin cross with a main nave, a crypt and two side chapels, it withstood an earthquake before being repaired and completed in 1709. At the turn of the ^17th century, a new Baroque building was erected by architect Marco Antonio Sobrarías. Its neo-Gothic style lasted until the end of the ^19th century, when the stonemason Don Zeferino Gutierrez Murioz, renowned for his remarkable architectural work, built a new façade between 1880 and 1990, at the request of a bishop. Inspired by old postcard images of Cologne Cathedral in Germany, he used the pink quarry extracted from the nearby extinct Palo Huérfano volcano to give the building its distinctive color. As part of the project, the towers erected between the ^17th and ^18th centuries were dismantled and replaced by the structures that remain today. As a result, the portal, alcoves, choir windows, atrium, clock tower and altars inside the building were altered.

Today, the exterior features a neo-Gothic façade, while the underlying structure is more Mexican Baroque. To the right of the parish, a statue pays homage to Fray Juan de San Miguel, founder of the town, which was named in honor of St. Michael the Archangel. Inside, you'll discover a rich collection of artistic works. The main altarpiece, adorned with neoclassical motifs, shines with its gold leaf covering, at the center of which stands a statue of St. Michael the Archangel. The elegant altar is carved in red marble imported from Italy. An adjacent chapel houses the Cristo de la Conquista, a ^16th-century sculpture from Pátzcuaro. The parish walls are adorned with paintings from the ^17th and ^18th centuries, including some by the illustrious Juan Rodríguez Juárez. At the entrance, a commemorative plaque pays tribute to Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a figure of independence, and his brother José Joaquín, who officiated several masses here.