Viatura Omún

Dolores Hidalgo is the birthplace of the prolific 20th-century ranchero singer José Alfredo Jiménez. Interesting sites include the house where he was born and his tomb, in the shape of an oversized sombrero. For the full Jiménez pilgrimage, you might also want to visit his monument, anchoring a busy crossing on the Avenida Sur. The fortress-like exterior of the 18th-century Santuario de Jesús Nazareno de Atotonilco (20 minutes’ drive) hides a richly decorated baroque interior that has earned the site comparisons with the Sistine Chapel (not to mention a UNESCO World Heritage inscription). San Miguel de Allende (half an hour) spreads around the lush Jardín Allende plaza, dotted with topiary trees and overlooked by the tall Gothic spires of the church of San Miguel Arcángel. Nearby is the Museo Histórico Casa de Allende, with displays on the history of the town and the country’s independence movement.