landmark
Pátzcuaro
A Purépecha and colonial town of whitewashed, red-trimmed houses above Lake Pátzcuaro, home to Mexico's most famous Day of the Dead vigil and to butterfly-net fishermen on the lake.
49 km · about 55 min drive
Michoacán, Mexico · North America
Morelia sits on the route: 10 minutes from Montaña Monarca (Punta Altozano), 49km from Pátzcuaro.
Morelia is a city located in Michoacán, Mexico. With a population of 743,275, it is an important destination in North America.
On a road trip, Morelia sits in Mexico, where you drive on the right. It's in the America/Mexico City time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Morelia to your route.
Morelia (Spanish pronunciation: [moˈɾelja]; from 1545 to 1828 known as Valladolid; Otomi: Mänxuni) is the capital and most populous city of the Mexican state of Michoacán. Situated in the Guayangareo Valley in the north-central part of the state, it is the municipal seat of the municipality of Morelia. The mainRead more
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.
The city population in 2020 was 743,275 inhabitants. The municipality had 849,053 inhabitants, and the Metropolitan Area, composed of Morelia, Tarímbaro, and Charo municipalities, had 988,704 inhabitants, according to the XIV Census.
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Morelia is located in Michoacán, Mexico, North America. The coordinates are 19.7008 latitude, -101.1844 longitude.
Morelia has a population of approximately 743,275 people, making it a city in Mexico.
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Essential numbers in Mexico
Green Angels (free tourist roadside assistance on federal highways): 078.
Full driving guide for Mexico1 notable place within an hour's drive.
landmark
A Purépecha and colonial town of whitewashed, red-trimmed houses above Lake Pátzcuaro, home to Mexico's most famous Day of the Dead vigil and to butterfly-net fishermen on the lake.
49 km · about 55 min drive
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
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