House & Garden Tour
Sun, Apr 26, tour departs at noon 
Biblioteca Pública
Insurgentes 25
US$15 or 150 pesos
Breakfast at Café Santa Ana starts at 9am

House & Garden Tour
By Jennifer Hamilton

High above the town, a bronze angel statue and stained glass windows

1. This beautiful home is located high above the town in Los Balcones and from the terraces offers a beautiful view of San Miguel and its surroundings.

 Built in the late seventies (many additions and changes have been made over the years) it has an ultra-modern kitchen, a formal dining room (the huge table is an ancient door), several salas and three bedrooms. The master bedroom upstairs is flanked by two bathrooms. Fine antiques, sculptures and paintings give the home a warm feeling. The owner created the impressive photographs throughout. Nearly every room has a bóveda (vaulted) brick ceiling which neatly mirrors the brick floors. The two gardens are magnificent, with plants, flowers, vines and statuary; the one on the west side offers views over San Miguel, the lake and hills.

2.. Most of the artwork in this elegant and spacious home was commissioned or purchased from San Miguel artists.

Alongside the passageway are both a guest bedroom and the master suite encompassing an office, entertainment area and a private outdoor seating area with fountain, beams and climbing vines offering additional shade and tranquility. Of special note are a parchment signed by Napoleon and the coats of arms above the headboard which belonged to Spanish Admiral Don Ramon Bonifaz. The bathroom with its copper tub from Santa Clara de Cobra is generously proportioned with a separate shower and sizeable walk-in closet. It faces the outside patio. Whimsically placed in the living room flanking the fireplace are two chairs of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, with cushions especially made to blend in with the backs of the chairs. The room is rife with artwork and color, stone arches separate it from the dining room with its table base created from the skeleton of a pipe organ cactus. Several outside seating ar

eas have beautifully arched porticos on three sides thickly covered by vines and colorful bougainvillea. The bar was originally a pulpit widened to accommodate the amount of bottles and glasses needed for big-time entertaining! On the far end of the patio is a smaller courtyard with an entertainment area, Jacuzzi and enormous bronze angel statue. At the southern wall is a false door. Three rooftop decks offer unsurpassed views of San Miguel and are perfect for that evening margarita while watching a sensational sunset. 

3. This beautiful home is a surprising gem hidden behind an inconspicuous door on a small street.

A long walkway leads through the garden with its huge, ancient tree, past the indoor/outdoor pool/billiard room, outdoor shower and swimming pool. The spacious master bedroom is bonded with an equally capacious bathroom, its shower enclosed in glass bricks. Up a curving stairwell with its stained glass windows, one enters the living and dining areas, both with beautiful arched ceilings and dramatic chandeliers designed and made in San Miguel. Local craftsman Salvador Orozco created the spectacular dining table and an intimate bar area leading from the living room area is adorned with a fanciful painting of San Miguel. The kitchen is tiled in rich colors, with an outstanding view to the west. A wraparound veranda provides additional space for entertaining and offers views of many of San Miguel’s downtown church domes.