Sights in Pátzcuaro
- Sort by:
- Popular
-
A
Templo el Santuario
Templo El Santuario is an interesting old church at Pátzcuaro.
reviewed
-
B
Templo San Juan de Dios
Templo San Juan de Dios is an interesting old church at Pátzcuaro.
reviewed
-
C
Templo del Sagrario
The creaky Templo del Sagrario is an interesting old church at Pátzcuaro.
reviewed
-
D
Templo San Francisco
The pink stone Templo San Francisco is an interesting old church at Pátzcuaro.
reviewed
-
E
Plaza Gertrudis Bocanegra
Pátzcuaro's second plaza is named after a local heroine who was shot by firing squad in 1818 for her support of the independence movement. Her statue commands the center of the plaza and she looks like your basic badass.
reviewed
-
F
Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Salud
This gorgeous church, built on the hill atop a pre-Hispanic ceremonial site, was intended to be the centerpiece of Vasco de Quiroga’s utopia. The building wasn’t completed until the 19th century and only the central nave was faithful to his original design. Quiroga’s tomb, the Mausoleo de Don Vasco, is left of the main doors.
reviewed
-
G
Templo de la Compañía
Built in the 16th century, the Templo de la Compañía became a Jesuit training college in the 17th century. The church is still in use and houses some Vasco de Quiroga relics. The adjacent college building fell into ruin after the expulsion of the Jesuits. It is now used for community activities and often has free temporary exhibits.
reviewed
-
H
Biblioteca Gertrudis Bocanegra
One of the coolest libraries of all time, the Biblioteca Gertrudis Bocanegra occupies the cavernous interior of the 16th-century San Agustín church. There are oyster-shell skylights and a massive colorful Juan O’Gorman mural on the rear wall that depicts the history of Michoacán from pre-Hispanic times to the 1910 revolution. It also has high-speed internet for just M$5 per hour and a huge collection of pulpy English paperbacks for sale (M$10 for four).
reviewed
-
Plaza Vasco de Quiroga
Pátzcuaro's leafy main plaza is one of Mexico's best hang out spots. It is framed by the 17th century facades of old mansions that have since been converted to hotels, shops and restaurants; and watched over by a serene statue of Vasco de Quiroga which rises from the central fountain. The sides of the plaza are named Portal Hidalgo (west side), Portal Aldama (south side) and Portal Matamoros (east side). The north side is Portal Allende east of Iturbe and Portal Morelos west of Iturbe.
reviewed
-
I
Casa de Los Once Patios
This cool, rambling colonial edifice was built as a Dominican convent in the 1740s. (Before that, the site held one of Mexico’s first hospitals, founded by Vasco de Quiroga.) Today it houses small artesanías (handicrafts) shops, each specializing in a particular regional craft. Look for copperware from Santa Clara del Cobre and musical instruments from Paracho, as well as lacquerware, hand-painted ceramics and vibrant textiles. You’ll likely find privacy on the top floors where you can take in the surrounding natural and architectural beauty.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
J
Museo de Artes Populares
This folk art museum is housed on the former site of the Colegio de San Nicolás, arguably the Americas’ first university, founded by Quiroga in 1540. The building was constructed on pre-Hispanic stone foundations, some of which can be seen behind the museum courtyards. Highlights of the impressive permanent collection include a room set up as a typical Michoacán kitchen, cases of gorgeous jewelry, and an entire room filled with retablos – crudely rendered devotional paintings offering thanks to God for saving the owner from illness or accident. Some are quite gory. Also don’t miss the wooden troje (traditional Purépecha house) in the garden.
reviewed