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Cultural and Historic ImportanceThe Laja river basin is the home of the historic colonial towns, San Miguel de Allende and Dolores Hidalgo, the cradle of Mexican Independence. It lies in the heart of arid central Mexico. San Miguel de AllendeSan Miguel de Allende, population 85,000, was founded by Fray Juan de San Miguel in 1542; called “the heart of the Mexican colonial cities,” it is one of the foremost tourist destinations in Mexico, noted for its history, its climate (on a high mountain plain), its colonial architecture, its landscape, and many fiestas. The city’s buildings and private homes, including magnificent structures from the 18th century, have attracted both Mexican and foreign tourists for decades. Dolores HidalgoDolores Hidalgo, population 40,000, is a small city north of San Miguel. On September 16, 1810, Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, the town's priest, began the war for independence and at 5:00 a.m. woke the city to deliver his famous "Grito de Dolores," declaring Mexico's Independence from Spain. Home Previous Top of Page Next Salvemos al Río Laja A.C. |
