Clavijero Cultural Center

🎨 The Colossus of Cantera and Culture ✨

Right next to the Library (its former temple) and bordering the Sweet Market (its former orchard), stands the building that completes this historic trio: the majestic Clavijero Palace.

If you thought the buildings in Pátzcuaro were old, wait until you see this. It's considered the largest building of the Jesuit order in all of Mexico. Upon entering, its enormous square courtyard, surrounded by seven arches on each side, will make you feel small; it's the perfect setting for that panoramic photo you've been looking for. 📸

🔭 Cradle of Brilliant Minds Built in the mid-17th century in the Baroque style, this place was born as the Jesuit College of Saint Francis Xavier. It was no ordinary school; in its time it boasted astronomical observatories, laboratories, and an enviable library.

History matters here:

• The Master: Debe su nombre actual al ilustre Francisco Xavier Clavijero, historian and philosopher who taught in these classrooms.

• The Student: Does it sound familiar? Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, the Father of the Nation walked these halls as a young student, absorbing the ideas that would later change Mexico.

🔄 From Correctional Facility to Art Center Like many buildings in Morelia, this palace had a thousand uses after the expulsion of the Jesuits in 1767. It was from correctional facility for priests (Yes, you read that right!) It even served as the seat of the Michoacán Congress in 1824 and as Civil Registry offices in the 1970s.

However, in February 2008, recovered its dignity and educational vocation by being reborn as the Clavijero Cultural Center (CCC).

🖼️ The Epicenter of Art in Michoacán Today, this is a dynamic, world-class space. Its galleries have housed works by giants such as Diego Rivera, Francisco Toledo, Javier Marín y Feliciano Béjar. There's always something happening here: from cutting-edge exhibitions to film and music festivals organized in conjunction with the Michoacan University.

📍 Why visit it from Pátzcuaro? Because it's the perfect cosmopolitan complement to your Purépecha experience. While in Pátzcuaro you immerse yourself in living, ancestral traditions, at the Clavijero you can enjoy high art and contemporary cultural management in a stunning colonial setting. It's free (or very low cost) and will take you about an hour to explore its exhibitions before returning to your lakeside retreat.