Off the highway, between Dolores Hidalgo and San Miguel de Allende, is the village of Atotonilco, at whose parish church Father Hidalgo stopped with his disheveled independence "army" while on his way to battle the Spanish royalists. He took from the church an embroidered tapestry showing the image of Mexico's patron saint, the Virgin of Guadalupe, and made it the banner of his cause.
The plain facade of the sanctuary of Atotonilco belies the fact that it is a treasure house of religious paintings, sculptures, and examples of early Christian Indian art. Literally hundreds of art works fill the church including stone carvings, miniature murals, statuary, and even poetry,
Atotonilco means "place of hot water." The church was built in 1784 over hot springs; mineral baths are available to the public. Pilgrims come here by the thousands to do penance.
Just south of Atotonilco is the well known Mexican thermal springs resort of Taboada.
Off the highway, between Dolores Hidalgo and San Miguel de Allende, is the village of Atotonilco, at whose parish church Father Hidalgo stopped with his disheveled independence "army" while on his way to battle the Spanish royalists. He took from the church an embroidered tapestry showing the image of Mexico's patron saint, the Virgin of Guadalupe, and made it the banner of his cause.
Atotonilco means "place of hot water." The church was built in 1784 over hot springs; mineral baths are available to the public. Pilgrims come here by the thousands to do penance.
