Michoacan, wildly beautiful and perhaps the most artistic and culturally diverse state in Mexico is the land of Tarascans, a local tribe, known for its brightly colored handicrafts and folk art, music and dancing, and melodious tongue purepecha (as they themselves are called).
In 1324, near the shores of Lake Patzcuaro – at 2050 meters above sea level, one of the highest in the world, they founded the town of Patzcuaro. Today, this is the epicenter of michoacan hecho a mano craft culture and the best place from which to start your area tour. On Friday, the market day, Indian women, most in colorful traditional costumes, flocked from nearby villages, each having a different craft. Patzcuaro itself is known for its high quality woolen cloaks and hand-woven textiles (as well as home-made tamale dish), and the nearby Santa Clara del Cobra products because of hand forged copper. There are also crafts made of straw and pottery from Tsin tsun tsan, furniture and embroidery from local Erongaricuaro and exquisite lacquer objects from Uruapan (which has a lively Sunday market).
It is no coincidence that Michoacan is one of the main handicraft centers in Mexico. In the early 17th century, a Spanish bishop, arrived in the state capital, Morelia, intending to organize local villages like craft groups and teach each city on a separate craft. Most of his basic ideas remain intact today. A simple review can be done even without leaving Morelia: its Casa de Artesanias at the square “San Francisco” is state showcase of the best regional crafts and folk arts.
Morelia by night
The most European of the Mexican cities, the majestic, colonial Morelia is also the perfect background for “Villa Montana.” Located high in the hills of Santa Maria among lush greenery and panoramic views of the pink stone city underneath the villa, is filled with regional handicrafts and antiques the Mexican hostel with french polish (due to its European aristocratic owners).
Separate houses, a maze of cobbled alleys and courtyards create an atmosphere of a small village with its own original manor house in its core. This wide-ranging views from the villa are competing for your attention with acclaimed cuisine and every city view includes graceful silhouette of the cathedral with two towers – the second largest in America and one of the most beautiful in Mexico.
Patzcuaro is 48 kilometers southwest of Morelia. All the towns are within a half hour drive from Patzcuaro. The sea is 306 km west of Mexico City (40 minutes by air).
The best time to go on a vacation there and to see something interesting is around 1st of November. The immensely popular Dia de los Muertos (Commemoration of the dead) is celebrated on November 1 in Mexico in general, but the night vigils with candles on the island Janitzio at Lake Patzcuaro are particularly famous.