Morelia, the historical center of Morelia (pop. 900,000) is a place to get to know on foot, as is the case with many cities in Europe. The town can be divided into distinct zones or travel routes for visiting public buildings, strolling through beautiful parks and plazas, peeking into private homes or admiring the religious art on facades and interiors of the innumerable churches and convents. Those who love art and culture will find in Morelia a sampler of the best in colonial architecture. Native to Morelia is the ductile pink stone that covers such magnificent buildings as the monumental Baroque cathedral situated beside the Plaza of the Martyrs with its many shade trees. A few steps away, the Government Palace is worth seeing. It was formerly the Seminary of San Pedro, where the hero of Mexican Independence, José María Morelos took his studies. On the second floor, the murals of Alfredo Zalce tell the history of the city.

Where is Morelia

To Patzcuaro – 57 km – 35.41 mi – 1:11 hrs.
To Guanajuato – 70 km – 43.49 mi – 1:17 hrs.
To San Miguel de Allende – 250 km – 155.34 mi – 3:15 hrs.
To Mexico City – 311 km – 193.24 mi – 3:46 hrs.
To Guadalajara – 321 km – 199.46 mi – 4:16 hrs.
To Zihuatanejo – 618 km – 384 mi – 6:00hrs.

Keeping busy

In the western part of Morelia, the Clavijero Palace is another excellent example of Baroque architecture. Here also is the Templo de las Rosas, the first conservatory of music on the continent and the Casa de la Cultura, built in 1619, one of the oldest and most impressive buildings of the city. Once a Carmelite convent, the structure now houses an excellent collection of masks.

Arches and patios with fountains and gardens are found in the private residences of the 18th century such as Casa de Oviedo and that of Prevend Casieltones.

But one of the greatest quiet pleasures of walking about the city consists of stealing a glance into the interior of Morelian gardens with their fountains and flowers where a gate has been carelessly left ajar.

To the east, a magnificent aqueduct, built in 1785 with 253 arches, marks the beginning of Cuauhtémoc Park, the largest park in the city.

Located here is the 19th- century country home where today works by Alfredo Zalce and Efraín Vargas are exhibited.

To the south, the more modern section of the city offers a convention center, which includes the Morelos Theater with seating for 1,256 persons.

Great tours and excursions

Angangüeo – Home of thousands of Monarch butterflies from November to February.

Pátzcuaro – A typical small Mexican town on the shore of Lake Pátzcuaro.

Tzintzuntzán – Ruins of pre-Hispanic buildings belonging to the capital city of the Purépecha kingdom on the eastern shore of Lake Pátzcuaro.

Quiroga – A commercial handicraft center famous for its lacquer work. It´s an ideal place to go shopping and see the wares of artisans from all over the country.

Santa Clara del Cobre – Copper workshops open to the public. Here you can watch while artisans craft the copperware for which Morelia is famous all over the world.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in or around Morelia

HISTORIC CENTER OF MORELIA

Built in the 16th century, Morelia is an outstanding example of urban planning that combines the ideas of the Spanish Renaissance with the Mesoamerican experience. Well-adapted to the slopes of the hill site, its streets still follow the original layout. More than 200 historic buildings, all in the region´s characteristics pink stone, reflect the town´s architectural history, revealing a masterly and eclectic blend of the medieval spirit with Renaissance, Baroque and neoclassical elements, Morelia was the birthplace of several important personalities of independent Mexico and has played a major role in the country´s history.