Location: Morelia
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What to do and see in Morelia, Michoacan: The Best Things to do Good for a Rainy Day
Morelia (Spanish pronunciation: [moˈɾelja]; from 1545 to 1828 known as Valladolid) is a city and municipality in the north central part of the state of Michoacán in central Mexico. The city is in the Guayangareo Valley and is the capital and largest city of the state. The main pre-Hispanic cultures here were the Purépecha and the Matlatzinca, but no major cities were founded in the valley during this time. The Spanish took control of the area in the 1520s. The Spanish under Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza founded a settlement here in 1541 with the name of Valladolid, which became rival to the nearby city of Pátzcuaro for dominance in Michoacán. In 1580, this rivalry ended in Valladolid’s favor and it became the capital of the colonial province. After the Mexican War of Independence, the city was renamed Morelia in honor of José María Morelos, who hailed from the city. In 1991, the city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved colonial buildings and layout of the historic center.
Restaurants in Morelia
1. Santuario de Guadalupe y Exconvento de San Diego
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 593 reviews
Reviewed By riskyone - Austin, United States
Such a beautiful place both inside and out. Truly the focal point of the historic district. Please be respectful especially if something is happening inside.
2. Catedral de Morelia
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 291 reviews
Reviewed By vagabondginger - San Diego, United States
Construction of this cathedral began in 1660 and was completed in 1744 - yes, 84 years later. The towers are towering - over 200 feet high. The organ inside is impressive. This pink stone cathedral is a Unesco World Heritage Site. It is the city's shining star.
3. Centro Cultural Clavijero
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 12 reviews
Reviewed By szendeja
We were expecting to see a nice, huge and interesting old colonial building, but we got much more than that. We were surprised by the quality and cosmopolitan diversity of a great set of exhibits: a collection of paintings and other art works by artists from a notorious indigenous town from Michoacan’s Purhépecha highlands, an ensemble of paintings by a well known Michoacan painter, a surprising collection of kimonos by a Japanese fashion designer who settled down in Mexico and whose work has influenced fashion design in Michoacan, as the design of some of other pieces exhibited shows, an audiovisual exhibit on the history of French cinema, etc. It includes a small cafeteria close to the exit.
4. Conservatorio de las Rosas
5. Casa de la Cultura de Morelia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 95 reviews
This cultural center is a gathering place for artists and musicians and offers a variety of classes.
Reviewed By Lipstickkids - Vancouver, Canada
This was so amazing, we had to return the same day to have another look. It truely is wonderful to view the current exhibition of posters and murals
6. Templo de Santa Rosa de Lima
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 62 reviews
Reviewed By jonathank918 - Princeton, United States
We stumbled upon this church by accident, and were very glad we did. Its humble exterior conceals a gorgeous interior, with ornate wood carvings and lots of gold leaf. Don't miss this.
7. Museo Casa Natal de Morelos
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 157 reviews
Exhibit documents and belongings of Generalisimo Morelos: documents with his holographic signature, coins that the hero ordered to mint and several paintings related to it, standing out those made by the Michoacan artist Alfredo Zalce. It has an audiovisual room for conferences and musical events; Likewise, it is the headquarters of a small cinema-club, which offers a free service. It also has a library, public consultation, bibliography, mainly of history and literature. As a special attraction, it presents an animated and animated effigy of the Servant of the Nation, who has been part of his "Feelings of the Nation". The Casa Natal de Morelos is a beautiful house with a Baroque style inside and a neoclassical facade. It was born on September 30, 1765, the hero of the Independence Don Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon. The original house where the Servant of the Nation was born no longer exists, because it was demolished in 1888 and is only known by an old lithograph. The current estate is
Reviewed By R5457FCsandys - Albuquerque, United States
José Maria Morelos, of course, is the city’s namesake. Before this 1828 acknowledgement of his stature as a revolutionary hero, it was Valloladid. We went first to his birthplace, the Casa Natal de Morelos, a modest house in which his mother had only a single room. More impressive and informative was the Casa de Morelos, the more elegant house a couple of blocks away, that he inhabited in the years before the revolution. This museum was filled with information about Morelos himself and about Colonial Mexico and the Mexican Revolution. The artifacts were interesting, but the thorough explications are the real draw. Walking through and reading the placards was like getting a semester-worth of Mexican history in two hours.
8. Museo Michoacano de las Artesanias
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 210 reviews
Reviewed By Parrotharcourt - Philadelphia, United States
When I am in Morelia, I always stop by this wonderful shop featuring the best handicrafts in Michoacan. All their items are of top quality, and I usually buy a rebozo in the hard-to-fine Patzcuaro style. There are also gorgeous jewelry, china, glassware, musical instruments, Michoacan ceramics and clothing to tempt you. In my opinion, you haven’t seen Morelia if you don’t spend some time in this amazing store.
9. Museo del Dulce
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 295 reviews
Reviewed By alex_ayla - Morelia, Mexico
If you're a candy lover, you are going to love this place, in this museum you can taste and also watch how they do the typical candies from Michoacan, also they show you a little movie aboout the history of how the store became a museum, it´s really amazing
10. Planetario de Morelia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 24 reviews
