Martyrs of Uruapan Square

The altar to the heroes and stage for the great artisan festival 🇲🇽🏛️

Located in the exact center of the city, this plaza is much more than just an open space. It is the place where Uruapan pays homage to republican courage and where, once a year, it celebrates its indigenous roots with the largest artisan market in Latin America.

Sacred Ground: From Temple to Monument 📜

Originally, this land was Franciscan property and was known as “The Plaza of the Old Temple”. However, history took a tragic turn. October 21, 1865, when the defenders of the Republic who were fighting against the French Intervention were shot here.

Since then, the place has been dedicated to his memory.

• The Monument: On October 21, 1893, in an event filled with patriotic fervor, the obelisk you see today was inaugurated.

• The Design: It is a marble sculpture 5 meters height designed by Gabriel Guerra, with bronze details and high-relief busts.

• The Heroes: The monument honors the “Martyrs of Uruapan”: Generals Arteaga y Salazar, Colonels Villagómez y Díaz, and the Captain González.

The Living Heart of the City 🎉

Although its origin is solemn, today the square is a vibrant and renewed space (with important works completed in 2011).

• Daily Life: It is the obligatory transit point between the Parish of San Francisco and the Huatápera.

• The Big Event: During Holy Week, this square is completely transformed to host the Palm Sunday Artisan Market, where thousands of artisans from all over Michoacán exhibit their pieces, turning the gray of the quarry into a rainbow of textiles, clay and wood.

🌟 Our Recommendation

History and Crafts.

1. The Obelisk: Go to the central monument. Reading the names of the Martyrs helps you understand why many streets in Michoacán are named “Arteaga” or “Salazar.”
2. The Best Date: If you can choose when to go, do it in Palm Sunday (Holy Week). Seeing this plaza covered in handicrafts is one of the most powerful visual experiences in Mexico.
3. The Circuit: This square is your hub. On one side you have the Parish of San Francisco (with Sciddel's murals) and on the other the Huatápera. Everything is less than 50 steps away.