Morelia, Mexico: Vacations and travel info

Description

Morelia, proud capital of the state of Michoacan, is located on a rocky hill, in the southeastern corner of the Guayangareo Valley, surrounded by rivers and hills that protect the city from the wind.

This is a gorgeous city filled with beautiful streets that are enhanced by the magnificent colonial constructions which rise as echoes of the viceroyalty era. It is a city that keeps growing and adapting itself to the needs of the modern world, without losing the essence of a valuable World Cultural Heritage Site.

Most of the elegant constructions are in the historic city center, with many beautiful facades designed in a sober baroque style. Morelia surrenders to the present, with its modern colonies, malls, golf courses and hotels, which add to a city that was originally composed of gorgeous big houses with spacious patios, arches and fountains, where women used to knit fabrics with mythical emblems in the afternoons.

If all of this wasn't enough, one of the characteristics that distinguishes Morelia from the rest of the cities in the republic, is the people. Inhabitants of Morelia are excellent hosts, warm people with a great desire to please visitors, they are always smiling and they provide excellent service to the tourist.

History

It is known that the lands of Michoacan have been populated for approximately 6 thousand years by diverse groups of humans that mainly settled in the basin of the Chapala and Cuitzeo rivers. The Nahuas, Otomies and Matlazincas were among these groups, but the dominant ones were, without a shred of a doubt, the Purepechas, also know as Tarascos.

The city of Morelia has had 3 names since its creation. During the pre-Hispanic era it was inhabited by the purepechas and was known as Guayangareo. Then, in 1541 it was titled a city by order of the viceroy Antonio de Mendoza, transforming the little town of Franciscan monks and converted natives who had settled in the area, and taking the name Valladolid. Then, in 1828 by a decree of the Second Constitutional Congress of the State, the name Valladolid was replaced by Morelia in honor of the insurgent leader Don Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon, proud son of this city.

A lot to discover

The city of Morelia has hundreds of colonial constructions, beautiful old houses and quaint streets that will free your imagination. But apart from all the hot spots and the baroque buildings of the historic center, which by the way is the second most important in the country, there are many other sites of interest in the surrounding areas you should visit, like the various archaeological sites, water parks and the Morelos National Park, a forest located 14 miles away from the city where you can camp, go horseback riding, enjoy a delicious outdoor meal, and take in the beauty of the babbling brooks.

Only 6 miles from Morelia is the Cointzio water park, a place perfect for a whole day of fun with your family or friends, since it features several tourist activities such as a swimming pool, a kids pool, green areas, a playground, a soda fountain, a ballroom for special events (that holds up to 500 people), panoramic terraces and gorgeous cabins where you can stay the night.

Further on, only 33 miles from the capital city, is the town of Patzcuaro and the island of Janitzio, where you can taste the finest white fish and admire "la Danza de los Viejitos" (the dance of the old people) which is the most representative folkloric dance of the state.

If all of this is not enough for you, very close to Morelia you will find the sanctuary of the Monarch Butterfly, a forest that turns orange and black when the butterflies arrive to reproduce, and a spectacle well worth admiring.