Metropolitan Cathedral of Morelia

🏰 The Jewel of Pink Quarry ✨

If you stay with us in Pátzcuaro and decide to take a trip to the state capital (just 45 minutes away), there's a silhouette that will dominate your view from the moment you enter the Guayangareo Valley: the majestic Morelia Cathedral.

It is the city's quintessential Catholic church, visible from almost anywhere thanks to its towers over 60 meters tall...that rise proudly towards the sky. But did you know that the history of this episcopal see is as eventful as it is fascinating, and has a crucial chapter here in Pátzcuaro? 🧐

📜 A Traveling Venue: From Tzintzuntzan to Pátzcuaro and then to Valladolid To understand its grandeur, one must look back. The Cathedral was not always in Morelia (formerly Valladolid). It was a “traveling seat”:

1. The Beginning (1536-1539): He was born in Tzintzuntzan, the capital of the Purépecha empire.
2. The Heart of Don Vasco (1540-1580): Our beloved Tata Vasco moved the seat to Pátzcuaro. A monumental cathedral (the current Basilica) was planned here, but the land and history had other plans.
3. The Final Destination (1580): Finally, the headquarters moved to the young city of Valladolid.

🏗️ 84 Years of Construction The cathedral you admire today wasn't built overnight. After a fire destroyed the original adobe cathedral in 1584, a new house for faith was urgently needed. The foundation stone of the current building was laid on August 6, 1660, under the direction of the brilliant architect Vicente Barroso de la Escayola. It was a titanic undertaking that spanned generations, finally being completed in 1744. Almost a century of artisanal work!

💎 Treasures you must seek Upon entering, you'll feel the peace of its Latin cross floor plan and the elegance of its chapels. Don't miss these details:

• 🎶 The St. Gregory the Great Organ: A musical powerhouse of German origin, established in 1905 (inaugurated during the national holidays). With its 4,600 voices, it is one of the best on the continent. Listening to it is exhilarating!

• 🎨 Sacred Art: Look for the paintings of the Oaxacan master Miguel Cabrera and the impressive sculpture of Lord of the Sacristy, a 16th-century piece of sugarcane paste, a legacy of indigenous technique.

• 🌕 Silver and Light: The silver monstrance on the main altar and the neoclassical baptismal font are silent witnesses to the wealth of the viceroyalty.

✨ The Light and Sound Show If your visit falls on a Saturday, stay until late. At 8:45 PM, the Cathedral lights up. It's not just turning on lights; it's a spectacle of stage lighting, fireworks, and music that makes the pink quarry stone seem to come alive.

📆 Express Chronology for the Curious Traveler So that you have the context clear and can show off your knowledge:

• 1537: It is decreed that the headquarters be built in a "convenient location" in Michoacán.

• 1540: Pátzcuaro becomes the seat of the Bishopric.

• 1580: The headquarters is permanently moving to Valladolid (Morelia).

• 1660: Construction of the current building begins.

• 1744: The work is finished! Its consecration is celebrated.

• 1956: The building is declared an untouchable monument due to its historical value.

• 2003: The famous stage lighting that we enjoy today is being unveiled.

📍 Why visit it from Pátzcuaro? Because it's the perfect complement to your trip. While Pátzcuaro offers you the magic of indigenous tradition and vernacular architecture, the Morelia Cathedral showcases the splendor of New Spanish Baroque at its finest. Both are two sides of the same coin: the rich history of our Michoacán.