House of Culture of Morelia

🎭 From Ruin to Palace of the Arts 🖌️

If you're passionate about buildings that tell stories of "renaissance," this is the place for you. North of Morelia's Historic Center stands the imposing House of Culture, hosted in the Former Convent of Carmen.

It is one of the oldest buildings in the city (its construction began in 1596 😱), but the most surprising thing is not her age, but everything she had to endure to arrive beautiful to our days.

🏚️ A Turbulent Past It's hard to believe seeing its clean, art-filled courtyards today, but this majestic building hit rock bottom. After the Reformation Laws, the monks were expelled, and the place was used in ways that nearly destroyed it.

• It was the headquarters of the First Cavalry Corps.

• Was garbage truck parking (unbelievable but true!).

• It served as foreigner bus terminal .

• Y hasta bodega de comerciantes.

Fortunately, between 1974 and 1980, the government rescued the property and the architect Arturo Ramírez Bernal He led a titanic restoration to restore its dignity.

🎨 Explore its Corners: The New Use Today, walking through here is to discover how art took the place of monastic life. It's fascinating to see the transformation of the spaces:

• The Cells: The small rooms where the friars slept are now administrative offices or classrooms.

• El Refectorio: Donde antes comían en silencio los monjes, hoy es un salón de conferencias lleno de debate e ideas.

• The Convent Kitchen: The place where the stews were prepared now houses the Heritage Room.

• The Dressing Room: It was transformed into a library.

Furthermore, its sanctuary (the Carmen temple) is still standing and preserves paintings by great masters that are worth admiring.

📍 Why visit it from Pátzcuaro? Because it's the vibrant cultural heart of Morelia. There are always workshops, exhibitions, or people reading in its courtyards. It's a perfect example of how Michoacán cherishes its heritage: rescuing a building that was in ruins and giving it to artists. An inspiring stroll before returning to the tranquility of our lake.