The capital of the state of Michoacan, this scenic town was built by conquistadores in the Spanish style. Declared a national monument, Morelia is well worth visiting to see the architecture (much in pink stone), the cathedral, the State Museum and the Plaza de los Martires. Also visit the Casa de las Artesanias to see many of the local crafts—especially the green pottery for which this area is known. Homemade candies derived from colonial recipes are another of the town's specialties, and you can sample them in local shops. Make arrangements at the kiosk in the main square to take a free walking tour of the historic central area (English-speaking guides available).
About six hours east of Morelia is the Santuario Mariposa Monarca, a nature reserve where millions of monarch butterflies spend the winter after an arduous flight from Canada. Visitors can climb to the 10,000-ft/3,100-m peak and walk through the forest and marvel at the sight of trees covered by these beautiful creatures.
Just south of town is Santa Clara del Cobre (sometimes known as Villa Escalante), famous for ornate handmade copperware. 160 mi/260 km west of Mexico City.
