7 Best Shopping in San Miguel de Allende and the Heartland, Mexico

A 10-minute walk from the center of town, Fábrica La Aurora, which was established in 1902, was the principal source of fine-quality muslin in the region until competition forced its closing. It reopened in 1990 as exhibition spaces for dozens of art galleries and antique- and modern-furniture showrooms; also, many local artists have opened studios here.

The concentration of art galleries draws visitors in huge numbers, especially during the monthly art walk, Friday beginning at 5 pm. If you're shopped out and hungry, head for the Food Factory, with its old-world character and comfortable sofas under a covered patio. Or pick up a snack at the outdoor Café de la Aurora coffee shop.

Artes de México has a huge selection of Mexican crafts, including ceramics, tin, paper, iron, and wooden items, at reasonable prices.

Casa Michoacana, located near Fábrica La Aurora, offers gorgeous, high-quality handicrafts from the state of Michoacán, one of Mexico's most prolific producers of popular art.

Painter Daniel Rueffert paints landscapes and Mexican scenes with bold brushstrokes and bright colors that capture the essence of Pozos, where he lives, and the surrounding countryside.

The simple figurative acrylic paintings of Juan Ezcurdia, who can often be found working in his gallery in Fábrica La Aurora, are playful yet powerful, and often feature humans and animals. Look for iguanas drinking beverages through a straw, stylized humans riding bikes, and other fun and cheerful images.

Make a sharp right just inside the entrance to Fábrica La Aurora to find one of San Miguel's most intriguing galleries. The oil paintings, including hyper-realistic still lifes, landscapes, and unusual portraits, as well as charming sculptures and modern art pieces are always fresh and innovative, often provoking contemplation. There's a couch in a long, narrow lobby overlooking the sculptures for tired or crabby spouses.

Open daily, Skot Foreman sells the work of Salvador Dalí, Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Peter Max, M.C. Escher, Ansel Adams, and other lesser known but collectible artists.