Santa Clara del Cobre a Great Experience!
Santa Clara del Cobre is one of the nine Pueblos Mágicos (Magical Towns) of Michoacán. Located a relatively short distance (~18 km, or 8 miles) from Pátzcuaro, it is a walk that we recommend to our guests at Hotel Mansión Iturbe, who want to discover some of the places in the surroundings of our Pueblo Mágico during their stay.
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| Copper Handicrafts Products in Santa Clara del Cobre, Michoacán |
If you like folk art, Santa Clara del
Cobre is the place for anything copper. You can visit
workshops and see how copper is worked, with groups of artisans coordinate the
synchronized hammering of copper, creating unique pieces, including the famous
copper pots, ideal for cooking some of Michoacán’s famous pork carnitas,
and also the typical ate, a traditional dessert in this area using
various fruits from orchards and backyards.
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| Copper Pots in Santa Clara del Cobre, Michoacán |
Copper artisans achieve perfection with
their work handling different techniques. Their trade has been inherited by
their ancestors since pre-Hispanic times. Later, Don Vasco de Quiroga helped
them to perfect it and its marketing during the evangelization. For
generations, they have followed this tradition, which today you can find
throughout this part of Michoacán.
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| Handicrafts Shops in Santa Clara del Cobre, Michoacán |
You will find craft shops with exclusive
pieces, but also artisan expositions, with a wide range of copper crafts,
including copper sinks, tubs, lamps, vases, kitchen utensils, etc.
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| Copper tubs and sinks in Santa Clara del Cobre, Michoacán |
Copper Jewelry has its special place; so
get ready to discover different copper crafts, with different techniques
ranging from hammering, chiseling, embossing, and enameling. The list of
handicrafts is immense, so you will surely find something of a beautiful memory
of your visit to Michoacán.
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| Copper Jewelry in Santa Clara del Cobre, Michoacán |
How to get to Santa Clara del Cobre from
Pátzcuaro?
The distance between Santa Clara del
Cobre and Pátzcuaro is approximately 18 kms, connected by Highway 120. During
the short trip, relax and appreciate a pleasant wooded and mountainous
panorama, with orchards of peach trees, pears, chilis, quinces, blackberries,
and other fruits.
Nestled in this beautiful environment is
Santa Clara del Cobre. Between Santa Clara del Cobre, you will find one
of the most beautiful lakes in Mexico. You can easily combine visiting
Santa Clara del Cobre with a side trip to Lake Zirahuén.
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| Lake Zirahuen one of the must beautiful lakes in Mexico |
Santa Clara del Cobre, offers you much
more than handicrafts. You should know a little about its history.
A visit to the National Copper Museum is
a must-do. The finest works of copper art – winners of multiple
competitions – are on display. You can also see a copy of the Lienzo de
Jucutacato, an important document from pre-Hispanic times, a statue of Pito
Pérez, a very representative character of this Magical Town, who rose to fame
by the novel written by the outstanding Michoacán writer Don José Rubén Romero.
(Note: The Cauldron of the Olympic Games of Mexico ‘68, was made by the
artisans of Santa Clara del Cobre.)
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| National Copper Museum in Santa Clara del Cobre, MIchoacán |
There is a forge in the central patio of
the museum, where you can find artisans working, either at the forge or working
with other copper objects.
If you want more information about Santa
Clara del Cobre, you will also find some relevant books for sale at the museum.
The town predates the arrival of the
Spaniards. Its inhabitants were Purépechas (indigenous), and they were already
working copper. Later, during the evangelization, Augustinian Friar Fray Francisco
de Villafuerte decreed the town of Santa Clara de los Cobres in 1553.
During the time of Independence, there
was an active participation with the Parish Priest, Don Manuel de la Torre
Lloreda, with his emancipatory ideas.
In 1858. during the War of Reform,
the name of the town was changed by Governor Don Epitacio Huerta to Villa de
Portugal. But this change did not last long and was again changed to Santa
Clara de Portugal, in honor of Don Onofre of Portugal.
Already at the time of the Revolution, Santa
Clara del Cobre once again has a role. Don Salvador Escalante, who was the
sub-prefect of the Region, rebelled against the dictatorship of the Porfirista
regime. So the name was changed changed once again to Villa Escalante. In
1981, it recovered its name to Santa Clara del Cobre (but the municipality
(something like a county) is still called Salvador Escalante).
The climate in Santa Clara del Cobre is
typically mild, with rains during the summer. So once you're done shopping,
make time for a tour of the main attractions of this picturesque Magical Town.
Artisan Worlkshop in Santa Clara del Cobre, Michoacan
In the main square, the kiosk with its
copper roof jumps out. Walking through the square, note the lampposts,
which are also made of copper. Check out the very popular tortas
de tostada (toast cakes). If you like sheep, you must try
the altesa or in barbecue styles. The artisan bread in the
portals is mouthwatering.
The kiosk with its copper roof in Santa Clara del Cobre Main Square
Artisan Bread in Los Portales in Santa Clara del Cobre, Michoacan
On one side of the square you will find a large esplanade, with two temples with beautiful mountains in the background – a perfect setting for a watercolor, if you happen to be a watercolor artist!
Santa Clara del Cobre, Michoacan
The Temple of Our Lady of the Tabernacle
is dedicated to St. Clare of Assisi, patron saint of artisans. It’s a
building from the colonial period. Not surprisingly, huge copper
chandeliers decorate the inside.
Copper chandeliers at the Temple of Our Lady of the Tabernacle in Santa Clara del Cobre, Michocana
The Temple of the Immaculate Conception
is from the seventeenth century and is a stone’s throw from the other
temple. It was in the tower of this temple where, in the aforementioned
novel La Vida Inútil de Pito Pérez, the character told his
misfortunes.
Temple of the Immaculate Conception in Santa Clara del Cobre, Michocan
Visiting Santa Clara del Cobre is a must see in Michoacán!
*Text, picture and video property of Hotel Mansion Iturbe.
We invite you to check more post in our blog, you will find information about Pátzcuaro and its surroundings. That we hope will be useful for your next trip to our colonial town in Mexico:
Other Pueblos Mágicos near Pátzcuaro
Three Archaeological Sites near Pátzcuaro
Paricutín Volcano: One of the Natural Wonders of the World- in our very own Michoacán
Portal Morelos 59
Plaza Vasco de Quiroga
Más información sobre nuestro Hotel en Pátzcuaro
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Tel: +52 (434) 342 0368 / 342 3628
Fax: +52(434) 342 3627
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