A few blocks from the cathedral and main city square of San Miguel de Allende, the boutique hotel of Casa De Sierra Nevada is a mixture of 16th to 18th century Spanish colonial buildings. Its 33-rooms and suites are spread amongst nine Colonial mansions, including: Casa del Parque, a fort in the 17th century and then a customs house catering to the silver trade; and Casa Principal, the former residence of San Miguel de Allende's Archbishop in 1580 and an official historical landmark.
Each casa, which features two to six guest rooms or suites, is unique. Many feature outdoor courtyards with fountains, small gardens and al fresco corridors that create a true residential feel. Centuries old architecture and individually designed buildings and guest rooms combined with award winning service are just some of the reasons that Casa de Sierra Nevada was named as one of the "Top 10 hotels in all of Mexico and Central America" in Condé Nast Travelers' World's Best Awards and Travel + Leisure magazines coveted T+L 500.
Accommodation
Each of the hotels 33 rooms is individually designed, and many feature private patios or secluded entrances. White stucco walls, bovedas (curved ceilings), dark wood accents, Talavera tile baths, polished copper sinks and wood burning fireplaces evoke the rich architectural history of San Miguel, while original paintings by local artists accent walls, and hand woven textile throws and rugs provide warmth and texture.
Dining
The hotel features two restaurants. The more relaxed restaurant, in Casa del Parque, is known for its regional Mexican cuisine and evenings filled with the boleros of a local trio. The space is divided into four sections: a bar, the main dining room, the patio overlooking the garden of the house, and the private Salón Don Ignacio.
The restaurant at Casa Principal provides a relaxed elegance where guests can enjoy continental cuisine with regional influences as well as entertainment by a live pianist or trio. At the front of the restaurant is a lounge with windows that open to the street to provide a relaxing spot to watch locals returning home from work or heading to the plaza to meet up with friends.
Meetings
The hotel's conference centre, located near the swimming pool, can host groups of up to 30 people, while private dining rooms at Casa del Parque and Casa Principal provide intimate meeting or dinner settings. Just 10 minutes from the hotel is the La Loma Ranch, which can be used for meetings, events and special programming including horseback riding, carriage rides/instruction, Spanish dressage exhibitions and bull fighting exhibits.
Location
San Miguel de Allende sits at an altitude of 6,400 feet above sea level. Founded in 1542, the cobble-stoned streets of this colonial city are lined with palasios (dating from the 16th to 18th century) that today are a mixture of personal residences, galleries, restaurants and boutiques. Many palasios have adobe walls and enclosed patios lush with jacaranda trees and bougainvillea. Said to capture the "real Mexico", the main plaza is still the social pulse of a city where bullfighting season is awaited with much anticipation. Siesta takes place from 2p.m. to 4p.m. daily, firewood is delivered by burros, and most mornings you can see ladies gather by a spring fed lavage in front of the Casa del Parque to wash clothing and exchange the latest news.
During colonial days, San Miguel, then called San Miguel El Grande, was the wealthiest town in silver-rich new Spain. Today, its authenticity, architecture and temperate high desert climate continues to draw visitors and new residents – San Miguel boasts more than 2,000 resident artists and over 12,000 expatriates from the United States, Canada, and Europe who now call this charming colonial town home. This blend of cultures has resulted in a bevy of options for visitors. On an average day, one can take in a foreign film, a reading by a visiting author, a guided trip to the market followed by a lesson with a chef on cooking, or an almost limitless list of courses offered at the Instituto Allende or Bellas Artes, including: Spanish, painting, photography, etching, jewelry making, and history courses. In addition, there are fiestas, which seem to be celebrated almost every day, numerous historic sites, galleries and boutiques for treasure hunting and the simple pleasure of strolling the streets and discovering the town's more than 42 public fountains and hidden courtyards.
Named a National Monument in 1926 by the Mexican National Institute of Anthropology and History, is it any wonder that San Miguel de Allende has been lauded in numerous publications, including: Architectural Digest, The New York Times, Newsweek, Washington Post, Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, and Departures, to name a few.
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