Colonial Cities of Mexico
Join us and explore some of the beautiful colonial cities of Mexico. The colonial era of Mexico spanned the 16th to 19th centuries. The great mining towns in the heartland of Mexico accounted for two-thirds of the world's silver production in the 18th century. This accumulation of great wealth enabled the colonists to build beautiful churches, private homes and glorious gardens, many of which are very well maintained today. Led by Anthony Aiello, Director of Horticulture and Curator at the Morris Arboretum, this trip will explore wonderful historic cities and private gardens including San Miguel de Allende, beautiful haciendas near Mineral de Pozos and the colonial city of Guanajuato.
Thursday, October 9
San Miguel
Flight from Houston to Leon, Mexico on Continental Airlines departs Houston at 12:15 pm, arrival at Leon Airport at 2:22 pm. Meet your local guide to transfer you to the beautiful city of San Miguel de Allende. Travel time from Leon to San Miguel is 1 hour and 15 minutes.
4:15 pm – Arrival to the beautiful Casa de Sierra Nevada. This is the best hotel in town and has been recently sold to Orient Express, where they have added a cooking school and spa. It is a former Archbishop's 18th century palace and decorated with colonial and antique furnishings, situated one block from the historic district. Casa de Sierra Nevada consists of five magnificently restored colonial houses, which were built in the 16th century.
Cocktail reception and dinner at Casa Sierra Nevada. Welcome from your study leader Tony Aiello and orientation.
Overnight at Casa de Sierra Nevada
(R,D)
Friday, October 10
San Miguel
Breakfast at Casa de Sierra Nevada on your own.
Morning walking tour of historical San Miguel de Allende. On the walking tour you will lean about the colonial history of San Miguel, visit La Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel, the original Parish church, Museo Casa Don Ignacio Allende, a beautiful example of colonial architecture, and wander through Jardin Principal and Parque Benito Juarez. The Parque Benito Juarez was restored by ex-patriots who currently maintain it.
After the walking tour, the group will have lunch in the beautiful courtyard of the Antiqua Villa Santa Monica.
There will be a wonderful House and Garden Tour for the group given by the volunteers from the of the Biblioteca de San Miguel de Allende. These tours are given every Sunday in San Miguel de Allende and all proceeds benefit local children in need of urgent medical care. Though this tour will be a private tour for the Arboretum group.
Return to hotel.
Remainder of the afternoon and dinner on your own. Options include relaxing at the Casa Sierra Nevada spa, shopping around Jardin Principal or enjoying and afternoon siesta. Prior reservations must be made at the spa and are at an additional cost. Restaurant suggestions for dinner will be given.
Overnight at Casa de Sierra Nevada.
(L)
Saturday, October 11
San Miguel
Breakfast at the Casa de Sierra Nevada on your own.
Morning walking tour at the Jardin Botanico El Charco del Ingenio, one of the most comprehensive botanical gardens in Mexico which contains more than a thousand different types of cacti as well as a large variety of orchids. This is the setting for the Botanical Gardens, dedicated to the preservation of Mexican flora, with its surprising variety of families and species. The director, Mario Mendoza will take the group around.
In addition to the restoration of native vegetation, El Charco del Ingenio maintains an extensive botanical collection of Mexican plants, many of which are rare or in danger of extinction. Consisting of mainly of cacti (of which Mexico boasts the greatest diversity in the world) and other succulents, these plants have been collected from many parts of the country, or propagated in the nursery here at the gardens. A large portion of this collection is housed, along with aquatic species and native fish, in the Conservatory of Mexican Plants, a greenhouse specially designed for their display. This is a bit of a hike and will take about 1.5 hours to slowly go through the gardens. Options always available to shorten the hike and good walking shoes are required.
Return to the Casa Sierra Nevada for lunch on your own either at the hotel or around Jardin Principal.
Afternoon free to wander around San Miguel OR for those with a desire, there will be a visit to the Artesian market.
Meet in the early evening for reception at home and garden of San Miguel de Allende Garden Club member.
Dinner at El Campanario, across from the old bell town.
Overnight at Casa de Sierra Nevada.
(D)
Sunday, October 12
San Miguel, Pozos, San Miguel
Breakfast at the Casa de Sierra Nevada on your own.
Morning visit to homes and gardens to the small mining town of Mineral de Pozas. Mineral de Pozos, usually called Pozos, was a fabulously wealthy mining city for centuries, with a population of well over 50,000 people in its heyday. It's located in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico, less than an hour's drive from art center San Miguel de Allende. Many of the old mines, homes, and community buildings are now ruins... beautiful ones. Today Pozos has under 5,000 people. About a dozen foreigners live in and around Pozos full-time.
Lunch will be at Posada del las Minas. This 19th century mansion was restored by proprietors Dave and Julie Winslow, who have renovated it into a lovely colonial style hotel, which includes beautiful gardens and fountains.
Leaving Pozos we will travel through the hillsides and see old mining ruins and a beautiful Joshua Tree forest.
Return to Casa Sierra Nevada around 2-2:30 pm for free afternoon. Cooking classes at Sazon are available, part of Casa Sierra Nevada, but must be pre-arranged at an additional cost.
Dinner on your own, suggestions will be made.
Overnight at Casa Sierra Nevada.
(L)
Monday, October 13
San Miguel
Breakfast at the Casa de Sierra Nevada on your own.
Morning visit to the Santuario de Atotonilco, founded in 1740 as a spiritual retreat. This is a goal for pilgrims and penitents from all over Mexico. The sanctuary has six chapels and statues, folk mural and paintings. The paintings are remarkable. This is a very important religious and historical shrine for Mexico, designated as a UN World Heritage Site.
There will be a guided tour of the site followed by a picnic lunch. (There is an option for those that want to remain at the hot springs near the Santuario after lunch. This should be determined the day prior).
Return to San Miguel and visit another beautiful garden and home for afternoon tea.
Back at the Casa Sierra Nevada around 2:30-3 pm for an afternoon siesta or spa.
6 pm – Gather in the reception area of Casa Sierra Nevada for personal escort to dinner. The Estudiantinas, wearing their Elizabethan clothing, will sing and play music for the group as they lead them down the narrow alley ways of San Miguel to La Capilla for dinner.
6:30 pm – Dinner at La Capilla. La Capilla, or the old chapel, is attached to La Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel and has a great upstairs terrace. This is one of the most beautiful views of San Miguel de Allende.
Overnight at the Casa Sierra Nevada
(L,D)
Tuesday, October 14
San Miguel - Guanajuato
Breakfast at the Casa de Sierra Nevada on your own
There will be an early morning transfer west through the beautiful Mexican hillside to the colonial town of Guanajuato. After central Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico coast, Guanajuato was one of the first areas of Mexico colonized by the Spanish, in the 1520’s, for its rich silver deposits. Guanajuato's colonial architecture is very well preserved along with over 35 old churches in its capital alone. Its mines are still among the richest-producing silver mines in the world (historically one of the largest). Home of artist Diego Rivera, this city is full of art and music and home to the International Cervantino Festival.
The morning will be spent wandering the downtown area and ending up at the Templo de Valencia. Dependant on the schedule of the Cervantino Festival, we hope to attend an orchestral concert in the Templo de Valencia. This will be determined when the schedule is produced in the spring of 2008. Lunch will follow at Casa del Conde de la Valenciana. Time permitting there will be an optional visit down into the surrounding silver mines for those adventurous few.
Afternoon arrival to the Villa Maria Cristina luxury boutique hotel located on the beautiful Ave. Presa de la Olla. There will be a private farewell dinner in the lovely outdoor courtyard.
Overnight at the Villa Maria Christina.
(L,D)
Wednesday, October 15
Guanajuato Leon Airport - Home
Breakfast at the Villa Maria Cristina on your own
Transportation to the airport provided. Group flight from Leon Leaves at 12:20 pm, therefore we depart from Guanajuato no later than 10 am.
Flights back home.