Discover Morelia: Festivals, History, and Stunning Architecture in Michoacán’s Captivating Capital
The beautiful Morelia – capital of Michoacán, a state in central Mexico that extends from the mountains of the Cordillera Neovolcánica to the Pacific Ocean – has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991 thanks to its delightful, perfectly preserved colonial historic center. The city has over 700,000 inhabitants (more than 800,000 if the entire urban agglomeration is considered) and is located about 40 km northeast of Lake Pátzcuaro and less than 300 km west of the capital Mexico City.
History of Morelia
Morelia was founded in 1541 in a particularly fertile area, once a possession of the indigenous people of Tarascan ethnicity.
The first Europeans to settle there were some Spanish noble families and men of religious orders, who were responsible for the construction of palaces, convents, and churches. The name of that first settlement was Valladolid, inspired by the Spanish city of the same name, but it was changed in 1828 in honor of José María Morelos y Pavón, who played a very important role in Mexico’s fight for independence.
What to See in Morelia
The historic center of Morelia maintains its ancient Spanish colonial appearance; even the new buildings feature limestone facades inspired by that style, which blends with the influences of pre-Hispanic culture and local traditions. If you look closely, its charm lies precisely in the meeting of the two cultures. The city stands on a plateau at about 1920 meters above sea level and its center is the area most visited by Mexican and foreign tourists, although never too numerous. Stone buildings, long porticoes, and cobbled streets run throughout the historic center, where there are dozens of museums, restaurants, hotels, outdoor cafes, and even a renowned university.
Must-Visit Attractions in Morelia
- Cathedral: The heart of Morelia is the cathedral, officially known as the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Lord of Morelia, built between 1660 and 1744 in various architectural styles, ranging from Baroque to Neoclassical, including Herreresque. It is considered by many to be the most beautiful in all of Mexico. The spectacle offered by the view of the cathedral is even more impressive at night, when the building, with its two very tall bell towers (70 meters), is illuminated and dominates the adjacent Plaza Melchor Ocampo.
- Palacio de Gobierno: In front of the cathedral, on Avenida Madero Oriente, there is the Palacio de Gobierno, dating back to the 18th century, which in the past was the seat of a seminary. Today it houses the offices of the local government. Inside you can admire some murals made in the 60s by Alfredo Zalce.
- Museums: Among the best museums in Morelia we point out the Museo del Estado de Michoacán (Calle Guillermo Prieto 176) and the Museo Regional Michoacano (corner of Calle Allende and Calle Abasolo). In the latter you can admire splendid pre-Hispanic artifacts and the famous mural entitled Cuauhtémoc y la Historia, painted by Alfredo Zalce on the steps of the baroque palace that houses the museum. Finally, the Museo de Arte Colonial (Calle Benito Juárez 240), houses some rooms full of sculptures and paintings of a sacred nature.
- Centro Cultural Clavijero: Among the most significant buildings in Morelia is Palacio Clavijero, built between the 17th and 18th centuries around a large central patio that housed the headquarters of the Jesuit school of San Francisco Xavier. Today it houses a cultural center where temporary exhibitions are held.
- Mercado de Dulces y Artesanías: Right next to the Palacio Clavijero (entrance from Jardín Manuel Altamirano or Calle Valentín Gómez Farías), it is the ideal place to buy all kinds of local sweets, including the colorful ates de fruta (fruit jellies), but above all all kinds of handicrafts made by the locals.
- Biblioteca Pública Universitaria y Fondo Antiguo: In the same block as the Centro Cultural Clavijero and the Mercado de Dulces y Artesanías, inside the adjacent former Templo de la Compañía de Jesús (corner of Avenida Madero Poniente and Calle de Nigromante), is the beautiful Biblioteca Pública de la Universidad Michoacana. Even if you don’t need to borrow any books, go in and take a look: the building is very beautiful, built in the 17th century to house the Compañía de Jesús and today it houses thousands of books and ancient texts in its hall with a frescoed domed ceiling.
- Statue of Pito Pérez: In front of the entrance to the José Rubén Romero Theater, the sculpture of Pito Pérez was placed in 2018, a picaresque character, a friend of alcohol, a bit of a scoundrel, an amoral anti-hero incapable of adapting to society and its conventions, an enemy of social injustice, and endowed with a certain poetic ability. He is the protagonist of the novel “La vida inútil de Pito Pérez” written by José Rubén Romero and published for the first time in 1938. Part of Pito’s adventures take place right in the streets of Morelia.
- Museo Casa Natal de Morelos: Judging by the number of monuments, statues, plazas, and quotations scattered throughout the city, the most famous figure in the history of Morelia can only be José María Morelos y Pavón. The house where he was born on September 30, 1765 is now the Museo Casa Natal de Morelos (Calle Corregidora No. 113), which displays personal objects, documents, and old photographs. The residence he purchased in 1801 on the corner of Avenida Morelos and Calle Soto y Saldana has been transformed into the Museo Casa de Morelos, which illustrates his role in the independence movement.
- Colegio de San Nicolás de Hidalgo: One block west of the plaza is the Colegio de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, where José María Morelos began his studies; a foundation for the Universidad Michoacana is located here, while on the first floor the Sala de Melchor Ocampo celebrates the name of another Mexican hero born in Michoacán.
- Fuente las Tarascas and Calzada Fray Antonio de San Miguel: At the eastern end of Madero Oriente is the Fuente las Tarascas, a fountain depicting a tray of fruit held by three Tarasca women. From the Fuente extends the Calzada Fray Antonio de San Miguel, a romantic promenade lined with old buildings, which ends at the narrow callejón del Romance, lined with pastel pink buildings partially hidden by creepers.
- Plaza Morelos: The pedestrian path leads to Plaza Morelos, in the middle of which stands the Estatua Ecuestre al Patriota Morelos, sculpted by the Italian Giuseppe Ingillieri between 1910 and 1913. On the northeastern edge of the square you can see the Santuario de Guadalupe, a baroque church built between 1708 and 1716, flanked by the less ostentatious former Convento de San Diego, built in 1761 as a monastery and later transformed into a Law School.
- Acueducto: The ancient and scenic aqueduct of Morelia was built at the end of the 18th century and remained in operation until the beginning of the 20th century. Fortunately, it has been very well preserved and can be admired with its 253 arches that follow one another along the avenue of the same name (Avenida Acueducto), in the area of the Fuente de Tarascas, in the easternmost part of the historic center.
Events in Morelia
In addition to the usual national holidays, Morelia hosts numerous events every year that attract both tourists and residents. The anniversary of the birth of the city is celebrated every September 30th with a parade and a fireworks display that shortly precedes the start of the International Film Festival of Morelia, a major film showcase that takes place in October. Equally prestigious is the Festival Internacional de Música, an event dedicated to classical music scheduled for mid-November, although for the inhabitants nothing comes before the Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, celebrated on December 12 at the former Convento de San Diego.
Climate of Morelia
Despite the altitude of almost 2,000 meters, Morelia’s climate is temperate, characterized by hot and rainy summers and mild and dry winters. The hottest period coincides with the months of May and June, when the maximum temperatures average around 28°C. The coolest month is January, with highs still above 20°C and lows around 6-7°C. Precipitation is almost absent from November to the end of April, but in summer rains fall heavily between July and August.
How to Get to Morelia
Morelia is 27 km from the only major airport in Michoacán: the Aeropuerto Internacional General Francisco Mujica, located in the municipality of Álvaro Obregón and served by flights to/from numerous Mexican destinations, but also to some US and Canadian cities. The bus station is located about 4 km northwest of the center, along Perif. Paseo de la República. From here you can reach in a relatively short time (traffic permitting) Mexico City (4 hours and 30 minutes), Guadalajara (4 hours), Lázaro Cárdenas (a city on the coast, 5 hours’ drive), Pátzcuaro (about 1 hour), Querétaro (3 hours and 30 minutes), Uruapan (2 hours), and other locations in the state.
From the Terminal de Autobuses to the historic center you can take a combi (collective van—ask for information on routes and stops inside the station), or a taxi.
