Morelia City Map Poster

About Morelia

The city is the seat of the Diocese of Morelia. The first human settlements in the Guayangareo Valley were of Purépecha origin, but no major cities were founded during this time. The Purépechas left a number of archeological sites, including cave paintings in what are now known as Gypsum caves and rock shelters such as El Rincón (in Amatitán). They held onto their independence until they were conquered by the Spanish. The Spanish under Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza founded a settlement here with the name Valladolid in 1541 with indigenous labor brought from nearby areas to build houses and public buildings; it was named after Spain's capital city, Valladolid (more precisely Castile-Leon). It rivaled Pátzcuaro for dominance in Michoacán; both cities vied for preeminence over each other economically and culturally until well into colonial times.