Morelia

Morelia has its name because of the desire of its people to honor its most renowned son; Don José María Morelos y Pavón. The city was given the name of Morelia, on the 18th of May, 1828 having been changed from its former name of Valladolid, which was given originally by the Viceroy Don Antonio de Mendoza when the city was founded on the 18th of May 1541. The city of Morelia does not have an antecedent as an indigenous city and its establishment in this place was decided by the Viceroy himself. In the beginning, the Spanish crown considered establishing the capital of New Spain in this place given the multiple flooding problems in Mexico City. By that time, the capital of the Spanish Empire was established in Valladolid, Spain. This is why they gave this new city the same name.

The city of Morelia has almost always had the honor of being the seat of the capital of the state of Michoacán as well as being the seat of the Cathedral and the University of Saint Nicholas. These three entities have molded the character of its people and have marked its historic role.

During Colonial times, Morelia was characterized for being a Creole city with a strong vocation for studies because the four educational entities: The University of Saint Nicholas, The Jesuit School, The Tridentin Seminary, and The Conservatory of the Roses (the first music school in America) were there. To provide an idea of the type of teachers and graduate students in these centers of education, we can mention Francisco Javier Clavijero, Miguel Hidalgo, José María Morelos and Melchor Ocampo among the most important thinkers.

A big part of the planning of the Mexican Independence was made in this city where Father Hidalgo was discovered leading this movement and he was then removed from his position of Rector and was sent to Dolores as a simple priest.

At the time of the interventions and the Reform, the liberal thinkers of the city were active fighters against the foreign forces and the conservative ideas.

The architecture of the city is a reflection and a witness of this refined and intense past. Although the architectural complex in the city of Pátzcuaro is much older, the monumentality of the historical downtown in our city is incomparable in the state, to the extent that it has received the recognition of being a Cultural Patrimony of humankind by UNESCO.

The most important architectural jewels in our city are: The Cathedral, The palace of Government, The Clavijero Palace, The School of Saint Nicholas, The aqueduct, and the church of Saint Diego. Please do not miss a visit to these places when visiting our city.