Heading Towards Five Centuries: 492nd Anniversary of Pátzcuaro

This September 28, 2026, Pátzcuaro celebrates 492 years since its viceregal consolidation. But you know that the magic of this place is much older. Although we celebrate a date on the colonial calendar, its roots go back to ancestral times, when the Purépecha people already venerated it as the "Gateway to Heaven."

Today, as you walk through its streets, you are not just visiting a city; you are exploring a sacred settlement that has managed to reinvent itself without losing its essence.

Fact for the Experts: Why September 28th?

If you're someone who appreciates historical accuracy, you might be wondering: “Didn't he receive the title in 1537?”. And you'd be right, but here we celebrate the origin of greatness.

• The Official Title (1537): It is true that the title of “City of Mechuacan”, with its coat of arms, pavilion and royal privileges, was officially granted on October 28, 1537.

• The Reason for the Feast (1534): However, Pátzcuaro celebrates the September 28, 1534. Why? Because that was the key day when King Charles V, from Toledo, signed the Royal Decree ordering... Don Vasco de Quiroga move the capital of the province and the episcopal seat from Tzintzuntzan to Pátzcuaro.

We celebrate, then, the moment of the decision that transformed Pátzcuaro into the head and heart of Michoacán. It was the instant when “Tata Vasco” began to build his utopia.

What you will feel on this Anniversary

Pátzcuaro on its anniversary is a sensory experience that invites you to connect:

• Living History: You will walk along cobblestones that breathe history. Every doorway and every adobe wall whispers the legacy of a humanism that transformed pain into hope.

• The Sacred Lake: We recommend sailing at sunset. When the sun touches the water, you'll understand why the ancients called it... Tzacapu-Arocutin-Patzcuaro (“Where the stones are at the entrance to paradise”). That mystique remains intact.

• Authentic Devotion: In the Basilica of Our Lady of Health —Don Vasco's unfinished dream—, faith is not a spectacle, it is the daily heartbeat of the people.

A Journey Through the Treasures of the Region

Pátzcuaro It's the starting point for discovering trades that have stood the test of time. Take advantage of your visit to explore:

• Santa Clara del Cobre (35 min): Where fire and hammer continue to shape metal as they have for centuries.

• Uruapan (50 min): The capital of polychrome lacquers (maque) and overflowing nature.

• Santa Fe de la Laguna (40 min): The community that keeps alive the social structure and peace of the hospital-towns.

• Tzintzuntzan (18 min): The ancient capital of the empire and guardian of the Yacatas.

The Phrase That Defines It

The spirit of this day is encapsulated in Don Vasco's legacy: “He didn't give us bread… he gave us back the tools to create it.” His vision was the empowerment of the people through work and art, a legacy you can see in every piece of craftsmanship you take home.

Our Recommendation: Plan your visit for September 2026. Come celebrate the 492nd anniversary of the decision that changed everything. Come to Pátzcuaro and find yourself.