This stunning coffee-table book is a photographic journey through the history, culture and day-to-day beauty of life in San Miguel de Allende. This magnificently preserved 480-year-old Spanish Colonial city, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008, is considered by many to be one of the most picturesque towns in the world. Sitting at an elevation of 6,400 feet on a vast plateau in the Sierra Madre mountains, San Miguel is enveloped by luminous skies, richly colored walls, lush gardens, bustling markets, joyous festivals, an extraordinary array of galleries, exquisite shops and performances by world-renowned musicians and dance troupes that color the life in San Miguel. Long time residents, architects Cathi and Steven House, have lovingly captured the beauty of San Miguel’s 17th century architecture, its people, festivals and charming cobblestone streets, shared in more than 700 masterful images and accompanying text to present the heart and soul of this impressive city.

“This fifth book by Cathi and Steven House San Miguel de Allende: the soul of Mexico reflects in marvelous form the splendid magic, art, and emotion in every corner of San Miguel. The essence of one of the loveliest cities in Mexico is presented full of poetry, charm and beauty... because San Miguel is a jewel and colonial reliquary recognized throughout the world.”
—Laura Obregón Baranda, Poet Laurate of Mexico

“Cathi and Steven House’s acute and humane seeing of people and environment is now directed to a place where they have long lived and worked, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. They are alive to the colors and energy of the Mexican culture of San Miguel -- the festivals, the holy days, the markets and always the people. Their love for the town and its people are evident in every photograph.”
—Steven D Lavine, Los Angeles

“Cathi and Steven House’s 30-year love affair with San Miguel leaps from the pages of a kaleidoscope of colorful and profoundly engaging images. It is an intimate, lovingly, and keenly observed study of a deeply spiritual culture and community. Faces and costumes, arts and traditions are an authentic expression of the enduring human spirit, embedded in the enchanting manifestations of a younger, colonial era, its streets and architecture, plazas and gardens, holy days, and religious festivals. Cathi and Steven’s stunning book is a declaration of love for a city you will fall in love with as well.”
—Hartmut Gerdes, San Francisco

“In San Miguel de Allende, the soul of Mexico, Cathi and Steven House capture what makes this small city in the heart of Mexico so special. Their words and images are lovely; their stories and photographs of people, places and events are a stunning combination of warmth and curiosity. As passionate architects, Cathi and Steven explore the world with creativity and mindfulness, an amazing, passionate couple who live life with gusto.”
—Jan Rife, San Diego

“Steven and Cathi House have turned their unerring photographic eye on San Miguel de Allende in their new book San Miguel de Allende: the soul of Mexico. Too many beautiful photographs to absorb in one sitting, so be prepared to spend many an evening with this book in your lap while planning your next vacation or reliving your last.”
—Daniel Rueffert, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

“Ancient wisdom says that in our ancestral cultures a building was not considered finished until it was danced, sung, cooked, played music, or prayed. This book tells us, through the eyes of Cathi and Steven House, how this ancient heritage has permeated through the centuries until today and they show us with their exquisite photographs what the soul of San Miguel de Allende is like. It is a book that you can enjoy with all your senses.”
—Higinio Arana, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

“There are cities in the world that are singularly memorable for their iconic architecture, rich culture, religious significance, poetic landscape or other noteworthy and valuable qualities. A few combine one or two of those and are even more significant. Cathi and Steven House have revealed a place that is a rich tapestry with all of those qualities and more, in their exquisite book; San Miguel de Allende: the soul of Mexico. The writings and incredible photographs capture a timeless ‘place,’ made up of its people, sense of community and cultural intensity that is both poetic and photogenic.”
—Jack Davis, Denver, Colorado

“San Miguel de Allende, the Soul of Mexico is a beautiful book with hundreds of photographs capturing the colors of what we experience every day on the streets - the magnificent colonial architecture, beautiful faces, the gardens, the markets and all the many holidays, both solemn and joyous. Anyone who lives in San Miguel or who has visited will love this book for all its many gorgeous memories.”
—Colleen Sorenson, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

“What a magnificent compendium of art and architecture, that let’s us partake of a unique moment to view into a hidden colonial village in the high desert plains of central Mexico. This tome portrays the history, depth, variety and colorfulness of the atmosphere of a popular destination and introduces all of us to why San Miguel’s insiders love being here.”
—Michael Raven & Christine Swanson, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

“This is a wonderful book. Steven and Cathi House share their love for the people, art and culture of San Miguel de Allende. This warmth is shown on every page and in every extraordinary photograph. We are the beneficiaries of their passion as we travel through these pages to the magical San Miguel de Allende, experiencing Steven and Cathi’s intense feelings for this place.”
—Paul & Julia Edmunds, Davidson, North Carolina

“San Miguel is truly a photographer’s dream. Colorful local arts and crafts, a city awash in colorful streets, homes and facades. parades, dances, celebrations, and cultural events of every sort fill this town, and the House’s have captured all these details in their own unique light. The Houses are well known San Francisco architects with a very keen eye, who chose San Miguel de Allende, many years ago, as their home away from home. We can only be thankful they’ve turned their astute design sensibility and their discerning eye toward their favorite place on earth.”
—Gene Johnson, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

“The photos in this book tell a marvelous tale of travels and images of people from lands near and far and open up so many intriguing insights. They are truly a rich collection of a multitude of places and customs rarely seen by outsiders; the ability to pierce the veil of these fascinating cultures is a tribute to keen eye and insight. The reader feels bound into their world, a world of magic, a world of wonder.”
—Paul Guerin & Jean Bush, Mill Valley, California

“The serene beauty of San Miguel’s picturesque plazas, churches and homes, combined with its vibrant cultural life, have made it a Mecca for both Mexican and foreign tourists. In San Miguel de Allende: the soul of Mexico, authors, architects and photographers Cathi and Steven House have created a vibrant book, brimming with color and life, celebrating the town where they have lived, worked, and taught for over thirty years.”
—Tony Cohan, Guanajuato, Mexico

“Soul indeed! In my many years of calling San Miguel de Allende home, never have I personally witnessed a couples’ unwavering dedication to an adopted land the way the authors Cathi and Steven have here... Always on the go with cameras in tow, the couple/team have somehow encapsulated San Miguel’s vibe and feel from every perspective, and every nook and cranny of this magical town!”
—Skot Foreman, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

“For 35 years, these authors/artists have been fully immersed in the life, the color, the materials, and the people of this place. The “soulfulness” of San Miguel de Allende, and what lessons we can learn from this, are the focus of their book.The photographs, drawings and words convey to the reader how unique and colorful this City is. Every person, every street, every tree, every detail seems to radiate the unique spirit of this rare place.”
—Joanna Karatzas & Philip Enquist, Chicago, Illinois

“The new book, San Miguel de Allende: the soul of Mexico, by Cathi and Steven House, provides the reader with a vast array of images meant to showcase the beauty of San Miguel, a UNESCO World Heritage city. It is a city steeped in history and tradition, together with cobblestone streets, colorful festivals, colonial architecture, and unique food venues. The authors highlight the artists, markets, architecture, festivals, gardens, and sacred spaces, and have captured the special character of San Miguel and its residents.”
—Joe Molinaro, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

“Short of wandering through its cobbled streets, nothing gets you closer to San Miguel de Allende than this exquisitely crafted compendium of imagery and soulful writing. Each layer of this richly complex city is explored through the lenses of two world-traveling architects, who also call San Miguel de Allende home. This studied cultural portrait is meant to shine a light on the people, events, buildings, and ceremonies that fill San Miguel with an inimitable vibrancy.”
—Corey Akers, San Francisco, California

“In this book, architects and world travelers Cathi and Steven House share San Miguel’s history and its present, ever changing state. Through its pages, you’ll wander from art to architecture, from traditions to dance, from music to religion, and more. Through beautiful words, photographs and sketches, San Miguel de Allende: the soul of Mexico reveals and explains the magic of this cobblestoned world.”
—Jan Rife, San Diego, California

“Melting pot of cultures, repository of deep-rooted traditions and intense individual and collective stories, San Miguel is a multicolored mosaic that Cathi and Steven House have portrayed with great mastery in this book. Whoever approaches these photographs that both present to us will undoubtedly have a vibrant panorama of this community of artists and dreamers, of citizens of the world, who shape this city that invents itself every day.”
—Alberto Lenz, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

“Steven and Cathi House have created a beautiful tribute to one of the world’s most magical cities. The House’s are professional photographers and architects, so they see things most of us might miss. They know San Miguel and its many traditions, so they know where to look for what is so special about it. The book is both personal and universal. It’s poetic and visually stunning. Love it.”
—Kim Malcolm, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

“Steven and Cathi are both talented photographers, with an eye for detail, and they chronicle their travels obsessively. This book – San Miguel de Allende, The Soul of Mexico, is their love letter to that place. They have lived, built, and taught there for decades, and this book is their very personal view of the town - not only the architecture, but the people, the festivals, and the markets that make up the unique character of San Miguel de Allende. In a modern world that often moves too fast, this is a window into a simpler way of life, a world of multi-generational traditions, soulful food, and celebrations with friends. The setting is extraordinarily beautiful, with a color palette that sears your eye. It is a visual and cultural treat, and you should read it!”
—T. Olle Lundberg, San Francisco, California

“As an artist, these are my three favorite things in life! Hearing Cathi speak about the images in this book, shown big on the wall behind her and then paging through the book, is a persuasive argument for becoming another ex-pat living in San Miguel de Allende! This book is a feast for the eyes! It is a book that will be revisited many times to transport you to a world of serenity and joy when you most need it. It inspires me to find similar qualities in my own creation process!”
—Jefferson Mack, San Francisco, California

“A True Joy! There is a real joy that accompanies the pleasure of paging through this beautiful book. Having spent more than 30 years in San Miguel de Allende, authors Cathi and Steven House, both gifted architects and photographers, have given us a kaleidoscope and a true reflection of the beauty of this truly magical city, a place where vivid color and fervent spirit have come to live.”
—Frank Guercio, San Diego, California

“The colors, the colonial feel, the people and all their personal beauty, are captured on every page of this extraordinary book. San Miguel is magical, and San Miguel de Allende: the soul of Mexico has that magic throughout. It’s what we’ve come to love, every minute of the day. And now when we are not in SMA, we can be reminded of its beauty, from cover to cover.”
—Bobbi Van, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

“This book is a woven celebration of an extraordinary people’s story, using architecture as its nouns and people as its verbs. It vividly portrays the whimsy of this Mexican town. It’s immersive, captivating, and enchanting. Only read this book if you feel like being intimately transported back to Mexico, experiencing all of the grit, the grandeur, and the beauty of the culture. I couldn’t imagine a more heartfelt homage to San Miguel de Allende.”
—Cole McDonell, San Francisco, California