MORELIA

PATZCUARO

A stroll through the Historic Downtown is enough to reveal the majesty of Morelia; the city was founded in 1541, and during colonial times, it was the residence of many Spanish families of noble ancestry. It still retains its colonial splendor, but it also is a dynamic city, venue of a major film festival and home to the Michoacan University of San Nicolas de Hidalgo, which derived from the first School of Arts founded by Don Vasco de Quiroga. By late afternoon, the cathedral is lit, nightclubs open, the streets are full of small restaurants offering delicious local food and, during a stroll taken at night, it is not unusual to find a troubadour telling tales about the city..

This colonial city, which, when seen from the top of any mountain, looks like a puzzle made out of red tile roofs, is also a hotbed of artists and intellectuals, who found an inspiring place in which to settle. Tourists and local inhabitants come together in the restaurants facing the main plaza wanting to taste the delicious coffee or the region’s cuisine. A visit to the House of the 11 Courtyards, with its craft shops, is essential, as well as tasting the ice cream sold at the portals, and getting lost among the market stalls, and entering its Basilica, where the remains of Don Vasco de Quiroga are kept.

MORE FEATURES +

MORE FEATURES +

URUAPAN

SANTA FE DE LA LAGUNA

This is the second most important city of the state of Michoacan, and even though its Historic Downtown still preserves its colonial architecture -its cathedral and the La Huatapera Hospital are only two examples --, it is a city full of life, with more and more entertainment options. Its Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park is a heavenly place from which we are able to contemplate the region’s natural wonders, lush trees, exotic flowers and even palm trees. The locals are expert in lacquer or shellac, a technique used for producing beautifully crafted trays, cups, masks and boxes.

It is a pleasure to sit in the square and watch the local way of life: women dressed in traditional costumes, parishioners going in and out of the colonial church, as well as the bustle of the vegetable and flower stands. Vasco de Quiroga founded the first hospital of the state in this town, and even today, the town still preserves and exhibits some of the objects that belonged to the illustrious clergyman. For many years, its inhabitants have manufactured glazed pottery, and the objects are almost as beautiful as the experience of talking with those who make them.

MORE FEATURES +

MORE FEATURES +

SANTA CLARA DEL COBRE

CUITZEO

Here, a pot is much more than a cooking utensil. It represents the history of a city which has made copper its identity: the raw material for objects that range from a simple pot to the most baroque decorative creations. Even though there is a place called the Copper Museum, where outstanding objects are shown, it is best to visit the family workshops, inside little white houses with red tile roofs, in order to be able to see how each object is made and to get to know the customs of the hospitable inhabitants.

A stroll through the cobbled streets of this Magic Town -thus declared by UNESCO --, constitutes traveling back in time, taking an ancestral journey that shows the region’s and state’s cultural roots Picturesque tile roofed houses with while walls, as well as the welcoming shade provided by the lush tress that inhabit it, are the stars of the beautiful postcards portraying this town located on the shores of the lake sharing its name, where we are able to see how the corners full of history, architecture, peace and joy shine.

MORE FEATURES +

MORE FEATURES +

TZINTZUNTZAN

PARACHO

The archaeological site located in this area offers a glimpse of what used to be the capital of the Tarascan culture. Its pyramidal structures contrast with the Franciscan ex-convent located on the town’s square, surrounded by olive trees that were planted by Vasco de Quiroga himself. A few steps away, we find the handicraft market, where local artisans work on wood; along its streets we can also find palm leaf workshops, with which the local inhabitants create religious figures and even complete zoos (complete with fantastic animals).

In this town of great anchorage and Pre-Hispanic origin, the sound of the guitars and the violins which are manufactured here with great excellence, may be the most magnificent craft that can be seen around its streets, highlighting the traditional and religious legacy offered upon them by Don Vasco de Quiroga, perhaps not knowing that the town would be branded for posterity. Here, life is devoted to the craft of making fine glittering objects out of different woods; the string instruments are the most sought after by tourists and internationally famous musicians.

MORE FEATURES +

MORE FEATURES +