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Travel + Leisure magazine has named San Miguel de Allende [san mig-EL de ah-YEN-de], Mexico, as the 2017 world’s best urban destination.
Annually, Travel + Leisure bestows the World’s Best Awards to a number of travel destinations all over the world. The publication asks its readers to share their travel experiences and rate the places they have visited based on the following criteria—landmarks, history and culture, cuisine, hospitality, and shopping experience.
On the 22nd year of the World’s Best Awards, San Miguel de Allende secured the top spot after getting a score of 92.12. The Mexican city bested other famous cities, such as Charleston, South Carolina, Chiang Mai, Thailand, Kyoto, Japan, and Florence, Italy.
It is San Miguel de Allende’s first time to win in the World’s Best Awards, but the city has previously received recognition. In 2008, San Miguel de Allende was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Unlike other Mexican towns like Cancún [kahng-KOON], San Miguel de Allende is not famous for white sand beaches. Instead, the town is known for its 16th-century vibe. Many tourists visit the town to experience colonial Mexico with its well-preserved Spanish architecture.
Some of the places in San Miguel de Allende that tourists can visit include the main plaza El Jardín [EL har-DEEN] and the parish church Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel [pa-ROH-kee-yah de san mig-EL ar-KANG-hel]. Tourists can also enjoy art galleries around the city and various shops that offer unique souvenirs and products, such as an old pharmacy that sells alternative medicine. These tourist destinations are very walkable and tourists can stroll through the town’s cobblestone streets for a fuller experience.