The town of Atotonilco is located 17 km from San Miguel de Allende. Its splendid sanctuary, whose construction began in 1740, was founded by Father Luis Felipe Neri and served as a house for spiritual retreats. It is one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture and art in New Spain. It features six chapels, the most notable being the Calvario Chapel, which is large in size and decorated with frescoes. The walls and vaults of the sanctuary display murals from the late 18th century with symbolic imagery, including depictions of sinners’ penances and scenes from the life of Christ. Particularly noteworthy are the frescoes by Antonio Martínez Pocasangre, a painter born in San Miguel. In 1810, Father Miguel Hidalgo took from this sanctuary the banner bearing the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, which became the flag of the Insurgent army. This complex has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
