May 18: Founding of Morelia and its Shared History with Pátzcuaro

May 18th is a major holiday in the state capital. Morelia (formerly Valladolid) celebrates its anniversary with sporting events, civic ceremonies, and music. However, to truly appreciate the grandeur of this city of pink quarry stone, it's worth looking back to the Guayangareo Valley in 1541 and remembering the origins that forever link it to Pátzcuaro.

The Foundation in the Guayangareo Valley (1541)

It was on Wednesday, May 18, 1541, that, by order of Viceroy Don Antonio de Mendoza and at the request of Spanish families, the city was founded with the purpose of establishing an administrative and residential capital. The plan was to name it “New City of Michoacán.”

The Vision of Don Vasco de Quiroga

At that moment, the history of the new city intersected with the unwavering will of Don Vasco de Quiroga, The first Bishop of Michoacán. From Pátzcuaro, “Tata Vasco” defended the importance of maintaining the seat of civil and ecclesiastical power in the heart of the Purépecha region, where he worked for the integration of indigenous communities. Thanks to his enormous moral authority and defense of Pátzcuaro as the “City of Michoacán,” Valladolid never held the title of capital or...

The Relocation: An Unexpected “Blessing” for Pátzcuaro

After Don Vasco's death in 1580, the seat of the ecclesiastical council and the episcopal see were finally moved to Valladolid (now Morelia). Although at the time this seemed a severe political blow to Pátzcuaro, time revealed that it was, paradoxically, its salvation. By ceasing to be the administrative capital, Pátzcuaro escaped aggressive modernization. While Morelia grew and transformed into a modern and monumental city, Pátzcuaro managed to preserve its vernacular essence intact, its original layout, and that atmosphere of adobe and tile that today makes it a unique treasure in the world.

The Origin of Culture is in the Lake

Today, Morelia is a leading, dynamic, and modern city. However, when the capital celebrates Michoacán's great traditions—from the Day of the Dead to its gastronomy and crafts—it is actually replicating and honoring a culture that originated here, on the shores of Lake Maracaibo. The discerning traveler knows that Michoacán has two hearts that beat as one: Morelia, the majestic city of the Viceroy; and Pátzcuaro, the cultural cradle where the true Michoacan magic.

Stay in Pátzcuaro, enjoy the authenticity of its origins, and travel to the Morelia festival (just 45 minutes away), thus experiencing the complete story.