Morelia, Colonial state capital in Guayangareo Valley, Mexico
This city extends across the valley between the Chiquito and Grande rivers at 1,920 meters elevation and is defined by its pink stone buildings. The historic center consists of a grid of colonial streets lined with two-story houses featuring wrought iron balconies and wide interior courtyards.
The founding took place in 1541 under the name Valladolid by Spanish viceroy Antonio de Mendoza. The renaming in honor of independence leader José María Morelos y Pavón happened in 1828, after Mexico gained its sovereignty.
Plaza de Armas forms the social heart of the city, where families walk under the arched galleries in the evening and sit on benches. The pink stone portals of surrounding buildings frame this square, which has served as a meeting point for centuries and is now animated by street musicians and ice cream vendors.
General Francisco Mujica International Airport sits about 30 kilometers northeast and connects the city to several Mexican destinations. A well-developed road network allows arrival from Mexico City or Guadalajara by bus or car within a few hours.
The aqueduct from the 18th century consists of 253 arches and extends 1.7 kilometers through the eastern neighborhoods. The water supply worked until the 1910s and some sections are now integrated into residential courtyards and gardens.
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