09 · 13 · 23 Michoacan's Magical Villages and Tourist Attractions Share with twitter Share with facebook Share with mail Copy to clipboard There are plenty of reasons to visit Michoacán: semi-virgin beaches, colonial architecture and families that preserve their ancestral customs. Additionaly, let's remember that Michoacán is considered the cradle of Mexican cuisine thanks to its unique flavors and expertise. Juan O'Gorman painted “La historia de Michoacán” in 1942, a mural located in the Gertrudis Bocanegra Library in Pátzcuaro. The painting shows the creationist worldview of the Purépecha people, the pre-Columbian era and the Spanish conquest, important figures for the flourishing of the Tarascan state, such as Don Vasco de Quiroga and heroes of the War of Independence such as Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, as well as the wealth and value of its people. As if that were not enough, due to its geographical location, it has a great diversity of climates, ecosystems, flora and fauna. It's one of the most diverse places of the nation, and one of the states with the most water resources. That's why the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) proclaimed the following declarations: "Pirekua, traditional song of the P’urhépecha", "Traditional Mexican cuisine - ancestral, ongoing community culture, the Michoacán paradigm" and "Morelia, Creative City of Music". In addition, the Secretary of Tourism highlights nine magical villages within its territory. Get to know them! Cuitzeo del Porvenir It is a very important cultural center influenced by cultures such as the Teotihuacan, Toltec and Purépecha, before the arrival of the Spaniards. Cuitzeo, which means "place of clay jars", is a paradise with cobbled streets, red tile roofs and quarry ornaments. In this magical village, considered one of the most beautiful in the Tarascan state, you can visit the Former Convent of Agustino de Santa María Magdalena, a building from the 16th century that combines Renaissance, neoclassical, Gothic and Baroque aesthetics. You can also visit the Archaeological Zone of Tres Cerritos, which was a religious area of the Purépechas, composed of a central square and a temple. Another one is the Archaeological Zone of Huandacareo (La Nopalera), located northwest of Lake Cuitzeo. Jiquilpan de Juárez "The city of jacarandas", Jiquilpan de Juárez takes its name from the Nahuatl "Xiuquilpan" which means "place of indigo". It is the town where the former president of the Mexican Republic (1934 - 1940), Lázaro Cárdenas del Río, was born. A place with many open spaces, chapels, cobbled streets, gardens and bridges. Its festivities are held from December 25 to February 2. Some of them are the Paseo del Niño Dios con la danza de los negros.In addition, in the Lic. Gabino Ortiz Public Library, you can admire the mural by José Clemente Orozco, "La Alegoría de la Mexicanidad" from 1940, a piece where the artist expresses his feelings about the Mexican Revolution. Other attractions are: Templo del Sagrado Corazón, Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, Templo de la Virgen de los Remedios and La Casa de Piedra. Paracho de Verduzco Its greatest appeal are the guitars. Paracho comes from the Chichimeca word that means "offering". Since the 16th century, it's been known as the guitar capital of the world. It is composed of nine villages: San Jerónimo Aranza, Santa María Cheranhahtzincurín, Santa Cruz Tanaco, San Bartolomé Cocucho, Santa María Urapicho, Santiago Nurío, San Miguel Pomacuarán, San Mateo Ahuirán and San Pedro Paracho. It is a magical village and promoter of cultural and recreational activities such as the Festival Internacional de globos de Cantoya, during the third week of July; the Feria Internacional de la Guitarra, organized at the beginning of August; and the Feria Nacional de la Guitarra, in October. A place full of music that will allow you to explore spaces such as La Casa de la Cultura, Templo de San Jerónimo Arantza or Templo de Santiago Apóstol de Nurio (Purépecha Novohispanic Art). Pátzcuaro It is a great destination to enjoy the Day of The Dead on November 1 and 2, perhaps its mysticism lies in the meaning of its name: "the gate of heaven". Pátzcuaro is considered one of the main Tarascan religious centers because it is believed that the gods ascended and descended there. A place where Purépecha traditions coexist with Baroque and Neoclassical churches. A place of cobbled and steep streets, founded by Don Vasco de Quiroga. Pátzcuaro has more than 500 years of history. It is a village where the aforementioned mural "La historia de Michoacán" is located, in the Gertrudis Bocanegra Library. Some of the places we can visit are: Antiguo Colegio de San Nicolás, Templo del Sagrario, Teatro Emperador Caltzontzin, Palacio de Huitziméngari, La Casa de los Once Patios, La Basílica de la Virgen de la Salud and more. Santa Clara del Cobre It is a community which traditions stem from copper. Santa Clara del Cobre is a town of goldsmiths, a profession promoted by Don Vasco de Quiroga, also considered a tribute to the Purépecha kingdom. From its beginnings until today, working with precious metals is the economic activity that carries out the entire population from women to men and girls to boys. The magic village of Santa Clara del Cobre is a town that shines with its own brilliance. You will be enchanted by the Quiosco de la Plaza Principal, which has a copper roof, the Public Library, Capilla de Indios, Capilla de la Huatápera, Reloj Solar, Museo Nacional del Cobre, el Parque Zirahuén Forest & Resort, and more. Tacámbaro de Codallos It is known as the Balcony of Tierra Caliente, this magical village is surrounded by a belt of wooded hills. In its center we find narrow streets, white houses, red brick roofs and hidden squares. From 2012, Tacámbaro, which in purépecha means "Place of Palm Trees", was integrated into the program of the Secretary of Tourism: Magical Villages. Among its attractions are: Capilla de Santa María Magdalena, Catedral de San Jerónimo, Casa de Mariquita, Las Cascadas, Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Fátima, Parque ecológico Cerro Hueco, Centro Cultural Amalia Solórzano, where the story of Lázaro Cárdenas and his family is also told. We can also enjoy festivities such as Fiesta de San Jerónimo on September 30; Las Vírgenes Refugiadas in October, an event with ceremonies, music and food; and Feria de Tacámbaro in April, to name a few. Tlalpujahua de Rayón Located about an hour from Morelia, among the thick forests of pine and fir, Tlalpujahua de Rayón, a name that comes from Nahuatl and means "land of tezontle", is a beautiful village nestled in a mountain. In addition to its natural appeal, its charm lies in the creativity of its artisans, who manufacture ornaments all year round. From October to December, it's celebrated the Feria de la Esfera, a exhibition of spheres and ornaments alluding to Christmas. Some of the tourist attractions are: Museo Mina Dos Estrellas, Torre del Carmen and Presa Brockman. Its virreinal architecture is a delight accompanied by local cuisine that offers barbacoa, corundas and uchepos. Tzintzuntzan Called "place of hummingbirds", Tzintzuntzan is located in northern Michoacán, approximately 30 minutes from Pátzcuaro. It was one of the most important Purépecha capitals during pre-Hispanic times. Its architecture is accompanied by pre-Hispanic pieces called janamus, in purépecha. Embedded slab engravings in virreinal constructions. These ornaments can be seen in the pyramids of the archaeological zone and in the convent of San Francisco, a place that currently preserves the olive trees of the mid-16th century, planted by Don Vasco de Quiroga. You can also discover places with great history and design such as Antiguo Hospital de Indios, Centro Ceremonial Purépecha, Museo Ex Convento de Santa Ana, Plaza Principal and Las Yácatas, a space where five temples back from the 13th century coexist, built on a terrace of stone blocks. Discover more of the state's wonders through official sites and find out why Michoacán is #TheSoulofMexico.
