Sights
Morelia
is a lovely city and worth several days of wandering around. The
heart of Morelia is at the zócalo/plaza, called the Plaza
de los Mártires ("Plaza of the Martyrs"), in memory of
citizen defenders who were executed in 1830 for taking part in the
War of Independence. You'll find Morelia's history ensconced in
the splendid buildings surrounding this large square.
Constructed
of quarrystone, the Catedral gives off a pink glow and has
two ornate towers 200 feet high. The Catedral was begun in 1660
and completed 84 years later.
The
baroque Palacio Federal is a masterpiece worth visiting.
It was often referred to as the foundation of the ancient city,
and was used for a variety of purposes (including the storage of
grain) over the centuries.
Convento
de las Monjas, established in 1590 as a Dominican Convent, was
adopted for use as a music school for boys in the late 1700s. Today
Conservatorio de Música de las Rosas is still a music school
and the center for the Boy's Choir of Morelia.
Moved
from Pátzcuaro in 1580, the Colegio de San Nicolas
was originally founded in 1540 by Vasco de Quiroga. It is said to
be one of the oldest institutions of learning in the Americas and
was the precursor of what is now the University of Michoacán.
Named
in honor of Jesuit leader Francisco Clavijero, Palacio Clavijero
was completed in 1660 as a Jesuit college.
In 1767 the Jesuits were booted out of Mexico, and today it is used
as the state library.
All
sweets-lovers should take a stroll through the Mercado de Dulces
or "sugar" market. Just before the Day of the Dead, sugar
artists go wild creating sugar skulls, skeletons, and a multitude
of designs that bring a little laughter to this very important holiday.
One
of the smallest museums in the city, Museo Del Estado was
formerly the home of Ana Huarte, who later married Agustín
Iturbide (he called himself the Emperor of Mexico for 10 months).
You can trace the history of Morelia through the exhibits.
An
eternal torch continues to burn at the Museo Casa Natal de Morelos
in memory of native son/hero José María Morelos.
This is where he was born on 30 September 1765. The house was built
around 1650, and now is a national monument and a museum, with a
public library and well-used auditorium.
Museo Casa de Morelos was the home of Morelos from the time
he bought it in 1801. This museum provides personal history of Morelos
and information about the War of Independence and his part in it.
The
structure of Museo Regional Michoacán was built for
Isidro Huarte. One of its most interesting displays is the mural
by Alfredo Zalce, showing the "haves and have nots" (people
who have helped Mexico, and those who have not). Exhibits include
pre-Columbian artifacts, ceramics, colonial arms, contemporary and
colonial paintings, and one section that is a public library, including
a library for children.
Casa De Las Artesanías is not just a museum of state
crafts, but also houses some of the best quality crafts from all
the famous little towns and has rooms where you can observe artisans
working.
Bosque
Park is the largest park in Morelia and is officially called
Bosque Cuauhtémoc Forest. It's a pleasant place to
take a walk, away from the sights and sounds of the city.
In
another fine ex-mansion built in the early 19th century, you'll
find contemporary art of local as well as international artists
at the Museum of Contemporary Art.
The
Museo de Historia Natural was inaugurated in 1986 under the
auspices of the University of Michoacán. It is devoted to
the protection of the state's natural resources and exhibits programs
of investigation and history of the growth of ecology in the state.
At
one time the primary means of getting water to the city, the Aqueduct
continues its path over the landscape, ending at the Tarascan
Fountain. The graceful arches at one time stretched for eight
kilometers, supplying 30 public fountains where people hand-dipped
their water for home use.
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