Palacio de Gobierno

Top choice in Morelia


This 18th-century palace, originally a seminary and now housing Michoacán state government offices, has a simple baroque facade. Inside, its soaring historical murals (1960) in the stairwell and 2nd-floor hallways are the magnum opus of Pátzcuaro-born artist Alfredo Zalce (1908–2003), and arguably the city's best. Enter from Calle Juárez.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Morelia attractions

1. Morelia Cathedral

0.05 MILES

Morelia’s cathedral, considered by many to be the country's most beautiful, dominates the city center, where it flanks rather than faces the central plaza…

2. Museo de Arte Colonial

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This ambitious museum contains five rooms chock-a-block with religious paintings and sculptures, including more than 100 depictions of the crucified…

3. Museo Casa Natal de Morelos

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Independence leader José María Morelos y Pavón is king in Morelia – after all, the city is named after him. He was born at the site of this one-time casa…

4. Antiguo Palacio de Justicia

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Facing the leafy expanse of Plaza de Armas, the Antiguo Palacio de Justicia is in fact two buildings rebuilt in 1884. Its intricate facade blends French…

5. Museo del Estado de Michoacán

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A beautifully renovated 18th century casona (mansion), this museum hosts temporary exhibits and workshops often related to the history and culture of the…

6. Museo Regional Michoacano

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Housed in a dozen rooms of a renovated late-18th-century baroque palace, this museum contains an impressive array of pre-Hispanic artifacts, including a…

7. Colegio de San Nicolás de Hidalgo

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This building is now part of the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, which produced such scholars as Morelos, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla and…

8. Templo de las Monjas

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This landmark church east of the cathedral and dedicated to Saint Catherine of Siena was built to house Dominican nuns in 1738. There's a celebrated…