Sitting at nearly 2,000m in Michoacán's striking Cordillera Neovolcánica is its state capital, Morelia. Despite being named after a prominent figure in Mexico's fight for independence, in the 1820s, the city is still very Spanish in feel and look. You could even say the preceding colonial years did it proud: with many members of Spanish nobility choosing this as their home, the buildings and lifestyle that followed were among the best in the country. And revolving around these wonderful baroque façades and carved, colonial structures today are a buzzing student world, emanating from the university and the various language schools, and a vibrant cultural scene. A fierce regional pride instilled in its people also makes Morelia a hub of traditional music and dance, where no festival goes uncelebrated and where local artisans continue to show off their skills and sell their wares…this is truly one of Mexico's lesser-known honey pots but better-kept secrets.
At an altitude of 1,920m the city enjoys a pleasant spring-like climate. With approximately 80,000 students studying at its universities, and with a number of students coming to learn Spanish, the city has developed a lively social and cultural scene, boasting a great variety of restaurants and bars. Almost everything of interest is within walking distance of the central square, or zócalo, which is dominated by an impressive 16th century cathedral that took over 100 years to build. Morelia is also home to some fine collections of Mexican craftwork, such as the Museo de la Máscara, with its extravagant ceremonial and spiritual masks, and the Casa de las Artesanías, where traditional copperware, weaving and guitars are on display.
Morelia is well served by public transport, and any overland trip from the city will take you through spectacular mountain scenery, lush green countryside and small native settlements. Lago Pátzcuaro is famous for its striking Day of the Dead celebrations in November, and throughout the year local fishermen can be seen using traditional butterfly-shaped fishing nets thrown from their tiny dug-out canoes on the lake.
