House & Garden Tour
By Jennifer Hamilton
January 2, 2009 San Miguel de Allende

House & Garden Tour
Sun, Jan 4, tour departs at noon
Biblioteca Pública
Insurgentes 25
US$15 or 150 p
Breakfast at Café Santa Ana starts at 9am

Original colonial, whimsical statuary, pulpit now a bar 

1. This colonial building was purchased in 1995 and the new owners spent over a year remodeling it, retaining the original colonial architecture while restoring the 300-year-old structure. The walls are thick and the ceilings high. The house contains two indoor-outdoor living rooms, a dining area, four fountains (one a replica of the one behind the Parroquia), a breakfast room and kitchen, several bedrooms and patios.

The owner continues to build and expand and in 2005 purchased an additional lot to add onto the property. By adding seven guest rooms, bringing the total to 15, two additional living rooms, a massage room, a rooftop terrace and hot tub, this B&B has become one of the most sought-after in San Miguel. The view is exceptional.

2. This big surprise lies nestled on a narrow street, hidden behind one of San Miguel’s mysterious doors in a very Mexican neighborhood.

The narrow arched stairway at the entrance with its lighted nichos and bóveda leads through cut-glass and leaded doors to the main floor. The large sala’s French doors lead onto a patio with stepping stones, pond, fountain and whimsical statuary. Bathrooms are all spacious with walk-in closets, unique sinks and hand-painted stenciling on the walls. Black and white photographs taken and printed by one of the owners enhance the stairwell. Above, we find another sala with U-shaped table and bóveda ceiling, leading to the den and entertainment area. The romantic master bedroom showcases a huge four-poster bed. French doors lead out to the private terrazza overlooking the garden.

3. Our last house is an elegant, spacious home on the outskirts of Colonia San Antonio, yet still in Centro. Most of the artwork has been commissioned or purchased from local artists.

 Along the passageway are a guest bedroom and a master suite that encompasses an office, an entertainment area and a shady, tranquil outdoor seating area. Of special note are the coats of arms above the headboard, which belonged to Spanish Admiral Don Ramon Bonifaz and, on another wall, a parchment signed by Napoleon. The large bathroom, with its tub from Santa Clara, leads to a sizeable walk-in closet. All rooms face the patio. In the living room, two whimsical chairs of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera flank the fireplace. The room is filled with artwork and color; stone arches separate it from the dining room with its table created from the skeleton of a Guerrero pipe organ cactus. Outside are several seating areas perfect for entertaining, with arched porticos thickly covered by vines and bougainvillea. The bar was originally a pulpit. On the far end of the patio is a smaller courtyard with entertainment area, Jacuzzi and an enormous angel statue. In all there are six bedrooms, a spacious two-bedroom casita, a studio and three rooftop decks with unsurpassed views of San Miguel, perfect for that evening margarita while watching a sensational sunset. 


3rd Sunday in December for 2007
96 visitors on tour

3rd Sunday in December for 2008
137 visitors on tour

Year to Date 2007
8,488 visitors on tour

Year to Date 2008
8,642 visitors on tour