Morelia, The Hidden Jewel of Mexico

Not many countries in the world can boast of such a rich history as the Mexico can. From the Mayan era to the Aztec one and then the Spanish colonial times and now the independent Mexico, all parts of the Mexican history are worth exploring and each one of them has left some mark in form of some stunning architecture. Teotihuacan may be the ultimate destination for the tourists that are looking to explore the pre Colombian era Mexico but there can be no better place to explore the colonial era history of Mexico than the gorgeous city of Morelia. The city center of Morelia has been declared a world heritage site by UNESCO and its beautiful colonial architecture inspires thousands of tourists to head to Morelia each year.

Morelia is one of the first big cities built in the new world by the Spanish as its construction started in 1541. Unbelievably some parts of the city still preserve the buildings and city walls of that era. But the greatest architectural marvel is the grand cathedral of Morelia that is one of the first ever built in the Americas. On every Saturday there are customary celebrations in and around the cathedral which has become the town’s biggest attraction for the tourists. These celebrations include Music, dance and some spectacular fireworks.

Morelia has its own airport which is well connected with the regional airports but if you are flying from abroad then the better option will be to take a cheap flight to Mexico City and then either take a connecting flight to Morelia or make the rest of the journey by the road. The tourist’s traffic to Morelia has increased quite a bit in the last decade and in a result the tourism infrastructure is fast improving with more and more hotels and resorts opening up in the city. You can easily find a hotel that suits your budget and taste in Morelia.

The first thing a tourist does after getting settled in his hotel room is to take to a walk in the historical city center of Morelia. You will find some gorgeous sixteenth and seventeenth century buildings that are still in a very good shape and are still in use especially as cafes that serve the best of the Mexican cuisine. If you want to really dig in to the history of Morelia then head to the museum of Grand Cathedral, with its thousands of artifacts and literary pieces it is sure to provide you with a deep insight into the history of the city.

Some of these artifacts are worth millions like the gold crown of the sixteenth century Spanish monarch Fillepe II that has been in the museum for the last two centuries. Tourists that have been to Morelia tells some magnificent tales about the city but city has yet remained under the common tourist’s radar so the best thing about the city will be that you will not find the hassle of other tourist destinations of Mexico like Cancun in Morelia.