Atotonilco

Atotonilco is a religious center in San Miguel de Allende filled with detailed paintings covering walls and ceilings throughout. The interior displays biblical scenes and religious figures created between 1740 and 1765, showing the Mexican Baroque art of that period.

The center began in the 18th century under Father Luis Felipe Neri de Alfaro as a place for spiritual retreat. It became an important pilgrimage destination and shaped religious practice in the region for generations to come.

The place reflects a blend of Spanish and indigenous artistic traditions visible in its colorful wall paintings that cover nearly every surface. Visitors can see how religious subjects were mixed with local elements to create a distinct Mexican form of expression.

The place opens daily in the morning and closes in the late afternoon, with guided tours available in several languages. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes and allow time to view the detailed wall paintings without rushing.

The site is visited by pilgrims who have come here for centuries seeking moments of private prayer and devotion in the chapels. This unbroken tradition has kept the place as a living center of faith to this day.