Magical town Dolores Hidalgo and Sanctuary of Atotonilco - San Miguel de Allende

Dolores Huerta tour

Our trip was one of the best things we did here in San Miguel de Allende,. Our guide was very funny and charismatic. You should book with Alfredo.

Response from the operator: Thank you very much for your kind feedback. We are delighted to hear that this was one of the highlights of your trip. We will gladly share your comments with Alfredo. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again.

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Rediscovering San Luca: From Tourist Train to the Dome

For me, walking up to the Sanctuary of San Luca is almost a tradition. Like for many people from Bologna, it’s both a kind of outdoor gym and one of the city’s most traditional outings. Recently, however, I visited in two different situations that gave me a new perspective. The first time was with my teenage niece, and we decided to take the little tourist train. It was a very fun “tourist-style” experience. You can buy the ticket directly in Piazza Maggiore just before departure, but you need to pay attention because during the low season the train only runs on holidays. More recently, I went up with a friend who is passionate about icons. I wanted to show her the famous icon of the Madonna of San Luca, which was brought to Bologna from Constantinople in the 12th or 13th century. The day was beautiful and, although it was a working day, there were still many visitors, mostly tourists. The climb along the long portico is quite demanding but also very evocative. Paradoxically, the most beautiful view from the sanctuary is not toward the city but toward the hills of the pre-Apennines and the Apennine peaks, which on that day were still shining with snow. On this occasion we decided to buy a ticket for the San Luca Sky Experience and visit the dome. We climbed a steep spiral staircase all the way to the top, where we could admire the panorama. On one side there is the city, with its wide expanse of houses and streets stretching across the plain; on the other side the untouched hills. From the small terrace at the very top you can clearly recognize all the main landmarks of Bologna: the Asinelli Tower, the Basilica of San Petronio, and the City Hall. It was a wonderful experience — a surprise not only for my friend, but also for me.

Response from the operator: Hi! thank you for sharing your experience! We're glad to hear you had such a memorable and enriching visit. It sounds like a truly special day. We appreciate your feedback and hope you continue enjoying wonderful travel experiences!

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A SUPER TOUR

Our guide Alex was friendly and knowledgeable. We saw and did more than the itinerary suggested. People were met at a ceramic plant and ice cream vendor were enthusiastic and engaging. We learned a lot about the history and customs of people here. Thanks again Alex!

Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re delighted to hear that Alex made your experience enjoyable and informative, and that you were able to discover even more than expected. It’s wonderful to know you connected with the local artisans and vendors as well. We truly appreciate you choosing our tour and hope to welcome you again on your next visit!

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We took this tour with...

We took this tour with Victor on February 24. We were picked up at 9:00 and dropped off before 2:00, so about 5 hours. We started at Atotonilco where we saw two churches. We then proceeded to Dolores Hidalgo to see a church and the main square. Our visit to Dolores Hidalgo included a stop at a Talavera workshop, Alfareria Contemporanea, where we purchased a piece for $1200 pesos and were told that we would be contacted with shipping information later that week. After a week with no contact, we sent a text and an email to Juan Carlos Castillo Reyes who sold us the piece. To date, we have not received a response to our text or our email. If the tour operator reads this review, we are hoping that they can reach out to Victor to find out if there is a problem with our purchase. He mentioned that Juan Carlos was a friend of his. Overall, the tour was ok. A little pricey when compared to other tours that we took in Guanajuato and Queretero during the same trip.

via Viator

Cities Central to Mexico’s Independence

This tour is ideal for someone who is interested in the broader history and culture of Mexico, which I was, and about which I knew very little. Both Dolores Hildago and Atotonilo differ significantly from San Miguel de Allende and offer a distinctive contrast to the more quaint and rustic town of San Miguel de Allende. Their role in Mexican history parallel to that of Boston in US history. Our guide was was excellent and had a broad knowledge of Mexico’s history.

Response from the operator: Thank you for your review! I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found it informative about Mexico's history and culture. It’s great that Dolores Hidalgo and Atotonilco offered a unique perspective compared to San Miguel de Allende. We're also happy to hear that our guide provided you with a thorough and insightful experience. We hope to welcome you again on another tour soon! Best!

via Tripadvisor