Is San Miguel de Allende Still the BEST City in the World? 🇲🇽 MEXICO

Is San Miguel de Allende the best city in the world or too expensive and another example of gentrification ruining Mexico? Twice Travel and Leisure named it the best city so I took a day trip from Guanajuato to find out. San Miguel de Allende is controversial. Many people say gentrification is so out of control that only wealthy Mexicans and rich expats can afford to live here. But the city is also rich in history and culture, so we wanted to see if there's a non-gentrified side worth experiencing. We started at a local market outside the UNESCO heritage zone, about a 15-minute walk from the bus station. We had huaraches at El Huarache Veloz for 60 pesos each. Huaraches are oval-shaped corn tortillas that can be fried soft or crispy, topped with any meat (or mushrooms), salsa, cheese, and onions. We got the soft version with chicharron prensado and chicken. Next, we explored Colonia Guadalupe, a neighborhood with beautiful street art. San Miguel de Allende became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, which means no street art is allowed in the historic center, but outside that zone you'll find murals throughout Guadalupe. We stopped for coffee at a local spot where cold brew and lattes were 70 pesos each. Americans and Canadians have been coming to San Miguel de Allende since the mid-1900s. Artists were drawn here for the beautiful soft light, and the city still has that artistic heritage with great handicrafts. We visited La Aurora, a former textile factory converted into galleries and artisan shops. It's interesting if you're looking to buy art or home decor, but not essential if that's not your thing. The main attraction is La Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel, the most photographed church in Mexico. It was built in 1709 but completely redesigned in 1890 by a local stonemason (not an architect) who was inspired by postcards of European cathedrals. He used Gothic lines with local design elements in gorgeous pink stone. It's unlike any other church in Mexico. San Miguel de Allende was founded in 1542 as a stop on the silver trading route from Zacatecas to Mexico City. It was renamed to honor Ignacio Allende, a hero in the fight for independence, and was the first city in Mexico to gain independence. We visited on a Monday, which turned out to be an independence holiday, so several cultural landmarks were closed. Overall, the city was better than expected. The market was great, the neighborhoods were beautiful, and the main plaza was impressive. If I came back, I would hire a guide to get more substance and historical context while walking around. 💖 HOW I TRAVELED HERE + WHERE I STAYED & OTHER DETAILS 💖 you can help support the channel using my affiliate links at no extra charge to you! ⛴️ SMA Tours: https://viator.tpo.li/gCmctZyI 🛌 We stayed in this hotel: https://agoda.tpo.li/WpUj76AK 💰 BANKING: I travel non-stop and I use Wise as my primary bank card to pay the lowest fees and best transaction rates. To get the first transfer free use my referral code here: https://wise.com/invite/ihpc/ayngelinab You can also support my work at   / ayngelina   where I share tips that don't make it into videos and behind the scenes content. // MY EQUIPMENT // I travel light and use two small cameras. Most of my food /eating shots are on this: https://amzn.to/3ymnPfE For stable walking or market shots: https://amzn.to/4dui6n7 Drone: https://amzn.to/2Y2tg1n Mic: https://amzn.to/3ycmJTP Travel Tripod / Selfie Stick: https://amzn.to/3SxPkcS // GET THE BEST FOOD + TRAVEL TIPS // SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/FoodTravelNews Like the music? Here's what I use: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referra... My travel insurance: https://bit.ly/nomadcoverage Onward Tickets: https://onwardticket.com/ayngelina Protect Yourself With a VPN: https://bit.ly/MY-VPN // MORE ABOUT ME!// Hi I'm Ayngelina. I'm Canadian and my full time job is my site BaconisMagic.ca it's all about the best food around the world and how to make it at home. You can also find me here: Find me online Instagram:   / ayngelina​​​​​   Facebook:   / baconismagic   Blog: https://www.baconismagic.ca 00:00 San Miguel de Allende 00:41 Mercado San Juan de Dios 01:53 Huaraches 05:48 Colonia Guadalupe 08:15 Kaffi 11:45 Fabrica La Aurora 12:46 Quick History of SMA 14:34 Pink Cathedral 15:58 Is SMA Worth Visiting? #sanmigueldeallende #mexicanfood #mexico