El Jardín — officially the Plaza Allende — is the social centre of San Miguel de Allende, the square where the Parroquia towers over a shaded garden of Indian laurel trees and cast-iron benches. The square fills up every evening: retirees reading on benches, vendors selling mangoes, tourists at the café tables along the north and west sides, street musicians setting up, and families doing the evening paseo that has been San Miguel's tradition for generations.
The square is ringed by important buildings: the Parroquia on the east, the Presidencia Municipal (city hall) on the north, and the old Hotel Vianey on the south, now converted to residences. The marimba band that plays on Sundays under the trees is a San Miguel institution. The square is at its best on weekend evenings when the combination of the lit Parroquia, the cool highland air, and the social energy of the city comes together in a way that makes you understand why so many people decide to stay.