Craft Villages

We traveled from Morelia this morning to, first, Tzintzuntzan. On the way, we passed this store selling wooden products. Vasco de Quiroga, the first bishop of Michoacan, taught the indigenous people how to make crafts, with each village making one type of craft, such as guitars, copper products, straw products, and woven woolens. The system that he set up survives to this day.

Church of La Soledad

At Tzintzuntzan, the Church of La Soledad was part of the monastery complex of San Francisco founded in the 16th century. It was the first foundation of the Franciscan Order in New Spain and was created for the conversion of the indigenous to Christianity. Bishop Vasco de Quiroga also founded a hospital here for their well being. He was following principles derived from Thomas More’s “Utopia” of how to organize the indigenous into communities and to teach them Christian values and lifestyles.

Church of San Francisco

The Church of San Francisco was also part of the convent.

Straw Products

The village of Tzintzuntzan specializes in making products of straw.

Cemetery

The gate to the cemetery in Tzintzuntzan was decorated with Mexican orange marigolds for the Day of the Dead.

Cemetery Decorations

The cemetery was decked out with Day of the Day decorations.

Pre-Columbian Pyramids

Tzintzuntzan was the ceremonial center of the pre–Columbian Tarascan state. Still remaining of their culture are five rounded pyramids called yacatas.

Muelle San Pedrito

From Tzintzuntzan, we would be driving to Patzcuaro, but first we made a stop at Muelle San Pedrito.

Muelle San Pedrito

At Muelle San Pedrito, you can catch a boat to take you to the Island of Janita where the indigenous Purepecha people live. You can also eat charales, a small fish about 4 inches long, that are fried and then eaten as a snack. The fishermen catch them in butterfly nets.

I have put my photos of Tzintzuntzan and Muelle San Pedrito on a slideshow. Go to http://www.peggysphotos.com/tzintzuntzan/ (Slide Shows, Central America, Mexico, Mexico Colonial Tour, “Tzintzuntzan”).

Patzcuaro

Our next stop was at Patzcuaro, a delightful Spanish colonial town of white buildings, red roofs, and some cobblestoned streets, but also with indigenous culture. There are red borders at the bottom of the buildings and lettering is in red and black, making all the buildings uniform and complementary.

Colonnades

Bordering the Plaza Grande are old Spanish colonial buildings with a number of colonnades.

Vasco de Quiroga

A statue of Bishop Vasco de Quiroga is in the middle of the Plaza Grande.

House of Eleven Patios

We visited the House of Eleven Patios which was once a convent for Dominican nuns. Today, there are five patios remaining. The House of Eleven Patios has shops that make and sell local crafts. In this store, weaving.

Basilica of Nuestra Senora de la Salud

Also in Patzcuaro is the Basilica of Nuestra Senora de la Salud (Our Lady of Good Health). The basilica was founded by Bishop Vasco de Quiroga. He is interred in the church. After visiting Patzcuaro, we drove back to Morelia where we would spend one more night.

I have put my photos of Patzcuaro on a slideshow. Go to http://www.peggysphotos.com/patzcuaro/ (Slide Shows, Central America, Mexico, Colonial Mexico Tour, “Patzcuaro”).