Morelia is a city and municipal seat of the municipality of Morelia in the north-central part of the state of Michoacán in central Mexico. The city is in the Guayangareo Valley and is the capital and largest city of the state. The main pre-Hispanic cultures here were the Purépecha and the Matlatzinca, but no major cities were founded in the valley during this time. The Spanish took control of the area in the 1520s. The Spanish under Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza founded a settlement here in 1541 with the name of Valladolid, which became rival to the nearby city of Pátzcuaro for dominance in Michoacán. In 1580, this rivalry ended in Valladolid's favor, and it became the capital of the viceregal province. After the Mexican War of Independence, the city was renamed Morelia in honor of José María Morelos, who hailed from the city. In 1991, the city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved historical buildings and layout of the historic center. It is tradition to name people born on September 30 after the city.
From top to bottom, from left to right: View of the city, the Cathedral of Morelia, the Aqueduct of Morelia, the Government Palace of Michoacán, the main square, the Federal Palace, the Monument to José María Morelos y Pavón and the Clavijero Cultural Center
Jardin de las Rosas Garden and Park
Street and Cathedral of Morelia
Filling water jars at a fountain in Morelia, 1906
Michoacán, formally Michoacán de Ocampo, officially the Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacán de Ocampo, is one of the 31 states which, together with Mexico City, comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is divided into 113 municipalities and its capital city is Morelia. The city was named after José María Morelos, a native of the city and one of the main heroes of the Mexican War of Independence.
Yacata pyramids of Tzintzuntzan
Spanish-Tlaxcalan conquest of Michoacan under conquistador Nuño de Guzmán
Purépecha coyote statue
Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud in Patzcuaro