January 1, San Miguel de Allende began its one-year tenure as the American Capital of Culture 2019.
The designation was made in Barcelona in August of last year by the International Bureau of Cultural Capitals.
According to the San Miguel Times, the benefits include the “repositioning of the city worldwide with the emission of 8,000 spots in 45 countries around the world, which translates into advertising for $US2 million.”
With a population of around 170,000, San Miguel was declared a UNESCO Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008, thanks largely to its colonial architecture and importance in the country’s struggle for independence.
In 2017, Travel & Leisure magazine named San Miguel the “best city in the world” for its quality service, friendliness, gastronomy, cleanliness, shopping experience, and mobility, as well as its cultural contribution, architectural beauty and places of entertainment.
San Miguel is the fifth location in Mexico to have received the Capital of Culture designation. The others are Merida (twice, in 2000 and 2017), Guadalajara (2005) and Colima (2014).
The International Bureau of Cultural Capitals has been accredited by the Organization of American States (OAS) since 1998 to promote tourism and generate cooperation among the world’s capitals.