Cuitzeo is a small lakeside town in the southern state of Michoacan, Mexico. It has a charming colonial center with a historic Augustinian monastery. It is a lively town that celebrates several local festivals. It is one of Mexico's designated Pueblos Mágicos.
Understand
[edit]Cuitzeo, officially but never actually called Cuitzeo del Porvenir, was historically a Purhepecha settlement that was also influenced by the Chupicuaro, Toetihuacan and Tula civilizations. It became a Spanish town in 1550 when Augustinian missionaries under the leadership of Augustinians under Francisco de Villafuerte and Miguel de Alvarado arrived and began construction of the Santa María Magdalena Monastery.
During the Mexican Revolution, the town was sacked by a marauding gang of opportunistic banditos looking to rob and pillage under the guise of revolutionaries. The group had no lofty social platform beyond their lowly criminal motivations.
Get in
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By bus
[edit]The Flecha Amarilla and Coordinados bus lines operates several daily direct buses to Cuitzeo departing from the main bus terminal in Morelia. The 35 km trip will take about 40 minutes and costs about M$50.
- 1 Terminal Primera Plus Cuitzeo (Bus station), Calle Melchor Ocampo 18, Centro. Small station with ticket sales and waiting area. Most buses can not be reserved in advance: tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis and only cash is accepted. Buses go to many destinations including Morelia, México City, Salamanca, Moroleón, Uriangato, Guanajuato and more.
By car
[edit]From Morelia, drive north on federal highway MEX-43 for 35 km. When you cross the bridge, you're in Cuitzeo.
Get around
[edit]See
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- 1 Convento Santa María Magdalena (Santa Maria Magdalena Monastery), Jardín Principal s/n. 16th century Augustinian monastery with beautiful architecture and artworks. The project, began in 1550, was directed by Fray Diego Chavez and the architect was Diego del Toro. The church is known for its Plateresque architecture with its elaborate facade and precise masonry with walls that are up to 2 meters thick. The monastery's library contains more than 1,000 rare books from the 18th and 19th centuries. Frescoes were painted on several of interior walls and on exterior walls along the arched walkway and in an outdoor chapel. It underwent an extensive renovation in the early 21st century.
Do
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- Lago Cuitzeo - the town is on the shores of a large, shallow lake. Fishing is a popular pasttime and kayaks and canoes can be rented for a quiet paddle on the smooth, quiet waters.
Festivals
[edit]- Virgin of the Conception - festival is held in February
- Fiesta de Maria Magdalena - the town's patron saint is celebrated in July
- Fiesta del Buen Temporal - annual harvest festival held in September
Buy
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Basket weaving is a traditional folk craft practiced in Cuitzeo and weavers can sometimes be seen in shops and marketplaces, demonstrating their techniques and offering baskets for sale.
- 1 Mercado Municipal, José María Morelos Norte 10, Centro. Daily 07:00 - 20:00. Small traditional town market with a handful of vendors selling fresh produce, meat and seafood. Not as large or colorful as marketplaces in large towns, so don't set your expectations too high.
Eat
[edit]Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]- 1 Hotel Partenon, José María Morelos Sur 32, Centro. Check-in: 12:00, check-out: 15:00. Small budget hotel with clean, comfortable rooms that have WiFi and ceiling fans. Poor service and odd hotel policies (like requiring manager to open rooms instead of issuing a room key). M$600.