San Miguel de Allende is the principal city in the municipality of San Miguel de Allende, situated in the far eastern region of Guanajuato, Mexico. Located within the Bajío region, the town is positioned approximately 274 km from Mexico City and about 97 km from the state capital of Guanajuato.
The city's name originates from a combination of the names of a 16th-century friar, Juan de San Miguel, and Ignacio Allende, a martyr of Mexican Independence who was born in a house overlooking the central plaza. Historically, the town served as a critical epicenter during the Chichimeca War (1540–1590), where the Chichimeca people resisted the initial phases of Spanish colonization.
In modern times, an old section of San Miguel de Allende is designated as a World Heritage Site. The town remains a significant destination for international tourism and serves as a popular residence for many people from abroad.