The Instituto Allende occupies an 18th-century colonial mansion in the south of the historic centre. Founded in 1951 as an art school, it drew generations of American artists and writers who came to study painting, ceramics, and Spanish in a beautiful and affordable city. The school is still operating, offering courses in fine arts and Spanish language, and its lush gardens and courtyard are among the most attractive spaces in San Miguel.
Even if you're not studying here, the building is worth visiting: the architecture is beautifully preserved colonial, with fountain courtyards and painted walls, and the attached gallery shows work by current students and faculty. The neighbourhood around the Instituto, in the southeast of the historic centre, is one of the quieter and more elegant parts of the city — worth a walk even without a specific destination.