Supposedly, he relayed design concepts to the building crew by drawing with a stick in the sand, but this is hard to believe given the church's elaborate spires and ornamentation. Near the southwest corner of El Jardin lies the Casa de Ignacio Allende, the birthplace of the town's namesake. The building now houses a museum and gallery dedicated to the national hero. Further west of the plaza you can find Bellas Artes, one of the two major schools of San Miguel. Once a convent, it now serves as a place to educate artists.
Visitors can view the school's rotating exhibit gallery or dine on the patio.
Just beside Bellas Artes, you'll notice the Iglesia de la Concepcion, also designed by Gutierrez. On the other side of town sits the Iglesia de San Francisco, an excellent example of the extremely elaborate Spanish baroque style known as churrigueresque architecture. While these sites shouldn't be missed, the best part of the city is simply the old-world ambience. In the markets and galleries you can browse centuries-old styles of Indian crafts, including San Miguel's famous metalwork, or view contemporary works by international artists. Outside of town, you can explore the mountains and high desert, or simply contemplate them with a sunset view from the El Mirador lookout at the southeast end of town.