The Founding of Patzcuaro, Michoacan
The founding of Patzcuaro is always of interest to our
guests at Hotel Mansion Iturbe.
Patzcuaro is a mere 20 years away from celebrating its 500th anniversary as a City of Michoacan.
The exact date of the birth of Patzcuaro is not known, but the year is generally accepted as being 1324. The original settlers were the Chichimecas.
At that time, our humble Patzcuaro was Purépecha’s “Door of Heaven,” where the gods ascended to and descended from their Paradise.
The
Colegio de San Nicolás Obispo was moved to Valladolid (Morelia) in 1580, and is
now known as Universidad Michoacana de
San Nicolás de Hidalgo. It is recognized as one of the finest academic
institutions in the State of Michoacán.
Come help us celebrate our anniversary every September 28, normally there is a week full of cultural activities, come and enjoy them!
*Text and pictures property of Hotel Mansion Iturbe.
We invite you to check more articles in our blog, you will find information that we hope will be helpful for your next trip to Patzcuaro. Here are some post that we recommend you:
La Relación de Michoacán – or “Chronicle of Michoacán” – is an exhaustive literary work about the Purépecha people and their history.
Mexican Traditions: The Moors of Tejaro in Pátzcuaro
Day of the Dead in Patzcuaro
Hotel Mansion
Iturbe
Patzcuaro is a mere 20 years away from celebrating its 500th anniversary as a City of Michoacan.
 |
| 480 Anniversary of the founding of Patzcuaro |
The exact date of the birth of Patzcuaro is not known, but the year is generally accepted as being 1324. The original settlers were the Chichimecas.
At that time, our humble Patzcuaro was Purépecha’s “Door of Heaven,” where the gods ascended to and descended from their Paradise.
At that time,
Lake Pátzcuaro and the surrounding areas were inhabited by three indigenous
groups – Isleños, Coringuaro, and Chichimecas – who were constantly at odds
with each other. But they shared one chiefton, Iré-Ticáteme, and they also
shared the main god Curicaveri and goddess Cuerápparri.
The Purépecha
Empire began in Patzcuaro with Tariácuri, the first chiefton to whom they gave
the title Calzontzín – a monarch – and Patzcuaro became the first true capital
of the Purépechas. Tariácuri divided his
kingdom between his sons, and called the regions Ihuatzio, Tzintzuntzan, and Pátzcuaro.
Patzcuaro was
entrusted to Hiquigare, who didn’t produce any heirs. The seat of power thus went automatically to
Tzintzuntzan, which became the new capital of the Empire. This left Patzcuaro as more a center of ceremony and recreation of the
indigenous elite.
In 1538, the
Spanish conquest and evangelization was already underway in Tzintzuntzan – the
ancient capital of the Purépecha Empire – and the Bishopric of Michoacan was established with Don Vasco de Quiroga in charge. In his capacity, he moved the seat
of the Bishopric to Pátzcuaro.
 |
| Mural of Vasco de Quiroga in Patzcuaro |
In 1540 Don Vasco de Quiroga brought together various indigenous and Spanish leaders in Patzcuaro to lend greater legitimacy to
the effort.
 |
| Don Vasco de Quiroga first Bishop of Michoacán. |
With that
transference, Patzcuaro was given
the title of “City of Michoacan” and, in 1553, and its famous coat of arms.
And Don Vasco de Quiroga began the
construction of his cathedral on the very site where once stood the great
indigenous temple of the goddess Cueráppari. The ambitious project was to be
the most impressive in the Americas, with five naves. But it was rejected by Don Vasco de Quiroga’s Spanish
superiors, who approved a building of only one nave. That resultant building is
none other than our beloved Basílica of Our Lady of Health in Patzcuaro.
 |
| Basilica of Our Lady of Health in Pátzcuaro |
Don Vasco de Quiroga also designed several hospices and schools, including
the Colegio de San Nicolás Obispo, which was to become our Museum of Arts and Popular Industries of Patzcuaro
 |
| Museum of Arts and Popular Industries of Patzcuaro |
 |
| Statue of Don Vasco de Quiroga in Patzcuaro |
Come help us celebrate our anniversary every September 28, normally there is a week full of cultural activities, come and enjoy them!
*Text and pictures property of Hotel Mansion Iturbe.
We invite you to check more articles in our blog, you will find information that we hope will be helpful for your next trip to Patzcuaro. Here are some post that we recommend you:
La Relación de Michoacán – or “Chronicle of Michoacán” – is an exhaustive literary work about the Purépecha people and their history.
Mexican Traditions: The Moors of Tejaro in Pátzcuaro
Day of the Dead in Patzcuaro
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