Close by Attractions

Morelia Cathedral, about seven minutes on foot, is one of the finest baroque cathedrals in Mexico, with towers rising nearly seventy metres. On Saturday evenings, the façade is illuminated in a light show, often accompanied by fireworks. Plaza de Armas and the arcades around it fill with families and street vendors. The interior holds a remarkable organ and silver details.

Casa Natal de Morelos, about five minutes away, is the birthplace of José María Morelos, hero of Mexican independence after whom the city is named. The museum displays documents and objects from his life. Nearby, the Casa de Morelos museum shows the house where he later lived. Entry fees are modest.

The Palacio Clavijero, a former Jesuit college around ten minutes away, has a grand courtyard and hosts exhibitions. Next door, the Mercado de Dulces y Artesanías sells traditional sweets such as ate fruit paste, cajeta and candied fruit. It is one of the most popular stops in the city. Tasting before buying is usually allowed.

The Michoacán Regional Museum, about five hundred metres away, presents archaeology, colonial art and murals in a historic mansion. It provides good background on the Purépecha culture.

The aqueduct, built in the eighteenth century, stretches along Avenida Acueducto with its long line of arches. The nearby Callejón del Romance is a charming alley with flowers and fountains.

The Santuario de Guadalupe, with its richly decorated pink interior, and the Conservatorio de las Rosas, one of the oldest music schools in the Americas, are both worth visiting.

For food, try corundas and uchepos, local tamales, carnitas from Michoacán and gazpacho moreliano, a fruit cup with cheese and chilli. Plaza San Agustín offers cheap traditional dishes in the evening.