Old Palace of Justice

Wandering through downtown Morelia, you'll see that most of the buildings boast that pink quarry stone in a colonial baroque style. However, there's one that breaks the mold with a distinct elegance: the Old Palace of Justice.

If you look closely at its facade, you'll notice that it has a french air. This is no coincidence; it is the result of history and the tastes of past eras that sought to modernize old Valladolid. Today, this site is the Museum and Historical Archive of the Judiciary, and you'll be surprised to learn that it was the first of its kind in all of Mexico (opened in 2004).

🔄 A Building with a Thousand Lives Before becoming the temple of the law, this place served a wide variety of purposes. Its walls have seen it all!

1. The Town Hall: During the viceroyalty, the Civil Council (the government of the Spaniards) operated here.
2. Insurgent Mint (1812): Here's a fact for those who love the history of Independence. During the struggle, this place became the Mint. The famous copper coins with the emblem of the [Independence movement] were minted here. Southern Army, commanded by the very José María Morelos y Pavón.
3. Temporary School: It was home to the College of San Rafael and, curiously, lent its facilities to the historic St. Nicholas College in 1869 while remodeling their original building.

👷 The Makeover (1884) Why does it look different from the others? Between 1884 and 1885, a complete remodeling was commissioned to the Belgian engineer Guillermo Wodon de Sorinne. He was the one who gave it that eclectic facade with French touches that makes it stand out today, making it the headquarters of the Supreme Court of Justice of Michoacán until 2003.

⛓️ The Secret of the Back If you explore thoroughly, you'll discover that the back of the building has a rougher history. It was originally a Granary (a grain warehouse to regulate prices in times of scarcity), but in 1874, Governor Manuel González rebuilt it for use as men's prison. It was not until 1974 that this section was fully integrated into the Palace of Justice.

📍 Why visit it from Pátzcuaro? Because it's a quick, free, and visually stunning visit. Plus, it's fascinating to see the place where Morelos minted coins to finance the fight for independence, a stark contrast to the French-inspired elegance that arrived years later. It's another layer of Michoacán's rich history that complements what you see in our magical towns.