La Huatápera indigenous museum

The first hospital in America and birthplace of Maque 🏥🎨

Located on one side of the Plaza Morelos (and adjacent to the Parish of San Francisco), La Huatápera is not just a museum; It is the oldest colonial building in Uruapan and a living testimony of the humanist utopia of the 16th century. Its architectural beauty and art collection make it a must-visit.

History: Hospital and Refuge (1533) 📜

Founded by the Franciscan Fray Juan de San Miguel in 1533, this site was born with a noble mission: to serve as a hospital, inn and meeting place for the indigenous people.

• El Concepto: Siguiendo la visión humanista de la época, no era solo para curar cuerpos, sino para integrar a la comunidad. Fue el corazón de la vida social de los barrios fundacionales.

• The Evolution: After centuries of history and deterioration, and after having been the headquarters of the Maque artisans' cooperative in the 1930s, the building was rescued. After a major restoration (1999-2001), today it shines as one of the best regional museums in Mexico.

What to see in the Museum? 🏺

The museum is divided into rooms that explore the Michoacan identity with exquisite curation:

• Room “El Maque in Michoacán”: The star of the place. Here you will understand why Uruapan is the capital of this ancient technique. The exhibition shows the aesthetic differences between the three major production centers: Uruapan (embedded), Pátzcuaro (outlined in gold) and Quiroga(painted), each with its unique seal.

• “The Four Towns” Room: An ethnographic journey through the indigenous cultures of Michoacán (Purépecha, Nahua, Mazahua and Otomí). You will see pieces of their daily, religious and festive life.

• The Chapel and the 16th Century Mural: At the back of the patio is the old hospital chapel. Enter and look at its walls: it preserves an original mural from the 16th century, one of the few colonial mural paintings from that time that survive on the continent.

Architecture: An Oasis of Peace 🌿

The building itself is a work of art. Its Plateresque style façade (carved in stone with vegetal and Franciscan motifs) is magnificent. Its interior patio, surrounded by arches and gardens, offers silence and freshness that contrast with the bustle of the outside plaza.

🌟 Our Recommendation

The cultural triangle.

1. Location: Being next to Plaza Morelos, it is the perfect point to start or end your tour of the civic center.
2. The Photo: The interior patio with its stone arches is one of the most “instagrammable” and elegant places in Uruapan.
3. Comparison: As you come from Pátzcuaro (or are going there), take a good look at the basins and chests in the Maque room. It is fascinating to learn to distinguish at a glance whether a piece is from Uruapan or Pátzcuaro.