Magical town Dolores Hidalgo and Sanctuary of Atotonilco - San Miguel de Allende

Our trip was one of the best things we did here in San Miguel de Allende,. Our guide was very funny and charismatic. You should book with Alfredo.

For me, walking up to the Sanctuary of San Luca is almost a tradition. Like for many people from Bologna, it’s both a kind of outdoor gym and one of the city’s most traditional outings. Recently, however, I visited in two different situations that gave me a new perspective. The first time was with my teenage niece, and we decided to take the little tourist train. It was a very fun “tourist-style” experience. You can buy the ticket directly in Piazza Maggiore just before departure, but you need to pay attention because during the low season the train only runs on holidays. More recently, I went up with a friend who is passionate about icons. I wanted to show her the famous icon of the Madonna of San Luca, which was brought to Bologna from Constantinople in the 12th or 13th century. The day was beautiful and, although it was a working day, there were still many visitors, mostly tourists. The climb along the long portico is quite demanding but also very evocative. Paradoxically, the most beautiful view from the sanctuary is not toward the city but toward the hills of the pre-Apennines and the Apennine peaks, which on that day were still shining with snow. On this occasion we decided to buy a ticket for the San Luca Sky Experience and visit the dome. We climbed a steep spiral staircase all the way to the top, where we could admire the panorama. On one side there is the city, with its wide expanse of houses and streets stretching across the plain; on the other side the untouched hills. From the small terrace at the very top you can clearly recognize all the main landmarks of Bologna: the Asinelli Tower, the Basilica of San Petronio, and the City Hall. It was a wonderful experience — a surprise not only for my friend, but also for me.

Our guide Alex was friendly and knowledgeable. We saw and did more than the itinerary suggested. People were met at a ceramic plant and ice cream vendor were enthusiastic and engaging. We learned a lot about the history and customs of people here. Thanks again Alex!

We took this tour with Victor on February 24. We were picked up at 9:00 and dropped off before 2:00, so about 5 hours. We started at Atotonilco where we saw two churches. We then proceeded to Dolores Hidalgo to see a church and the main square. Our visit to Dolores Hidalgo included a stop at a Talavera workshop, Alfareria Contemporanea, where we purchased a piece for $1200 pesos and were told that we would be contacted with shipping information later that week. After a week with no contact, we sent a text and an email to Juan Carlos Castillo Reyes who sold us the piece. To date, we have not received a response to our text or our email. If the tour operator reads this review, we are hoping that they can reach out to Victor to find out if there is a problem with our purchase. He mentioned that Juan Carlos was a friend of his. Overall, the tour was ok. A little pricey when compared to other tours that we took in Guanajuato and Queretero during the same trip.

This tour is ideal for someone who is interested in the broader history and culture of Mexico, which I was, and about which I knew very little. Both Dolores Hildago and Atotonilo differ significantly from San Miguel de Allende and offer a distinctive contrast to the more quaint and rustic town of San Miguel de Allende. Their role in Mexican history parallel to that of Boston in US history. Our guide was was excellent and had a broad knowledge of Mexico’s history.

The tour was good, we knew the historic church, the park, the museum of independence, an area where they sell ceramics and the sanctuary of Atotonilco. The tour was not bad, the guide was friendly and communication about the tour was always very concise and friendly too. However, we feel that the cost is a little high for what is offered.

This town is a must visit. The independence of Mexico started here. There is so much history and despite the time, you can experience the old Mexico. The quesadillas and gorditas outside the church of Atotonilco and the painting on the ceilings (Capilla sixtina de Mexico) make this a great experience.

Antonio was very knowledgeable about the whole area. We had a lovely lunch and hit all the Independence sites and museums. We also had time to look at antiques which was our added request. Perfect English and a very nice SUV.