Morelia

Morelia is the capital city of the Mexican state of Michoacán. It sits within the Guayangareo Valley in the north-central part of the state.

The city is a major urban center in the Bajío Region. It ranks as the third most important city in that area. In 2020, the city had 743,275 inhabitants. The wider Metropolitan Area is even larger. This area includes the municipalities of Morelia, Tarímbaro, and Charo. Together, they have a population of 988,704 people.

The city's climate is classified as a subtropical highland climate. This is often marked as Cwb on climate maps. Because of its high elevation, the weather follows a specific pattern. Days are generally warm to hot. However, the nights remain cool throughout the entire year. Most of the rain falls during the summer monsoon season. This season typically lasts from June to September. Temperatures can vary quite a bit. For example, the maximum temperature reached 34.4°C in the summer of 1998. In contrast, the lowest temperature recorded was -3.3°C in January 1985.

Human settlement in the Guayangareo Valley goes back to the 7th century. Artifacts show that the Teotihuacán culture influenced these early groups. In the 12th century, the Purépecha people arrived in the valley. They held political dominance for the rest of the pre-Hispanic period. Between the 12th and 15th centuries, the Matlatzincas also moved into the area. They did so with permission from the Purépecha. The main Matlatzinca settlement was located where Júarez Plaza stands today.

Spanish control began in the 1520s under leaders like Gonzalo Gómez. In 1541, Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza founded a settlement here. They originally named it Nueva Ciudad de Michoacán. A power struggle followed between Mendoza and Vasco de Quiroga. Quiroga wanted to keep power in the nearby city of Pátzcuaro. To prevent Morelia from becoming the capital, Quiroga sought a city title for Pátzcuaro. However, the settlement grew quickly. In 1545, the city gained official status from Charles V. It was renamed Valladolid after the Viceroy's hometown in Spain.

By 1580, the rivalry with Pátzcuaro ended in Valladolid's favor. The city became the capital of the viceregal province. It also became the Episcopal see, which is the seat of a bishop. During the 17th century, the city underwent massive construction. The aqueduct was started in 1657. The cathedral construction began in 1660 and finished in 1744.

Master Architect Diego Durán worked on these structures during the 18th century. Many large churches and monasteries were also built during this time. These included the monasteries of San Francisco, San Agustin, El Carmen, and La Merced.

The city played a vital role in the Mexican War of Independence. It was an educational center with four important schools. The College of San Nicolás was one of these institutions. It produced scholars like Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla and José María Morelos y Pavón. These men supported republican ideas from France and the United States. In 1809, a plot known as the Conspiracy of 1809 occurred. In 1810, Miguel Hidalgo arrived and proclaimed the end of slavery. After the war, the state of Michoacán was created. In 1828, the city was renamed Morelia to honor José María Morelos.

The historic center of Morelia is famous for its architecture. Most buildings are constructed from a pink stone called Cantera. This stone gives the city a very unified appearance.

The original 1541 layout has survived mostly intact. The streets are wide and feature gentle curves. They were not designed as a rigid square grid. The Mexican government lists 1,113 buildings here as having historical value. Because of this preservation, UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1991.

This status protects 200 hectares of the historic area.

Modern Morelia has faced various challenges and changes. In the 1980s, geologic faults caused damage to the city. This was made worse by falling water tables from groundwater pumping. This is a problem seen in other cities on the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. The city has also seen industrial growth. The first factories opened between 1868 and 1870. A railroad and streetcars arrived in 1883. Today, the city remains a major hub for culture and tourism.