Riviera Concierge Services

Land of Encounters

Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit, Ixtlán del Río, Tequila, Guadalajara, Morelia, Pátzcuaro, Santa Clara, Zirahuén, Tzintzuntzan, Tlaquepaque

Ixtlán del Río

The name of Ixtlán is of “náhuatl” origin, composed of the words “Itz-ittztell” meaning obsidian, and “Tlán”, meaning place where it is found. So the name means "place where obsidian is found", or “place of the obsidian knife”. The land is mainly mountainous with some flat lands near the small rivers where the agricultural lands and settlements are located. The important Río Santiago crosses the eastern edge of the municipality. South of the town lies Los Toriles, one of the most important archaeological site in northwestern Mexico. Here is found the temple of Quetzalcoaltl, from the Toltec culture. The ceramic and gold jewelry extracted here can be seen in the Regional Museum of Ixtlán.

Tequila

The area had been long settled – by Chichimeca, Otomi, Toltec, and Nahua Native Americans – when conquistador Cristóbal de Oñate arrived in 1530. A group of Franciscans founded the town of Santiago de Tequila on 15 April 1530. A large area, stretching between the foothills of the Tequila Volcano and the deep valley of the Rio Grande, is inscribed on the World Heritage List as "part of an expansive landscape of blue agave, shaped by the culture of the plant which has been used since the 16th century to produce tequila spirit and over at least 2,000 years to make fermented drinks and cloth. Within the landscape are working distilleries reflecting the growth in the international consumption of tequila which bears this town’s name.

Guadalajara

Mexico’s second largest city is an excellent introduction to this country, with its vibrant historic center, the art and craft markets, its folkloric ballet and mariachi orchestras. The town of Guadalajara was founded in 1531 by Spanish explorer Cristóbal de Oñate. Then between 1531 and 1542 after few relocations, today’s city of Guadalajara was founded at its current site by Crístobal de Oñate on February 14, 1542, by Royal decree of King Charles V. Guadalajara, it is considered the city that most epitomizes the external concept of Mexico propagated by the international mass media (characterized by charros, tequila, sombreros, and mariachis). Some of the main landmarks in Guadalajara historic center are:

• Guadalajara Cathedral with an eclectic mix of gothic, neoclassical and palladian architecture.
• Plaza of the Crosses. Four Plazas shaped like a cross with the Cathedral at the center.
• Plaza de Armas offers one of the best views of the cathedral and the Governor’s Office. It features a French Ironwork from 1885 and four States on the corners of the place symbolizing the Four Seasons.
• Plaza de la Liberación features two large cup-shaped fountains and a gigantic sculpture of Miguel Hidalgo, the man who signed the Mexican Declaration of Independency on the current Governor’s Office. It also serves as an atrium for the oldest surviving theatre in the city "Teatro Degollado", also it is an usual spot for massive free concerts.
• Rotonda de los Jalicienses Ilustres serves as a mausoleum for important men and women born in Jalisco, the park around contrasts with the serious aspect of the Mausoleum itself.
• Palacio de Gobierno is the historical center of the government of the State of Jalisco. Today it is mostly visited for the murals painted there by José Clemente Orozco. The most famous of these is a huge portrait of Miguel Hidalgo in the vault of the old chambers of the state council.
• Instituto Cultutal Cabañas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, is a cultural and art center where fresco paintings of Jose Clemente Orozco are exhibited.

Tlaquepaque

San Pedro Tlaquepaque, also known as Tlaquepaque. During the 20th century it was absorbed by the outward spread of the state capital and is now a neighbourhood of the Guadalajara conurbation. The name Tlaquepaque derives from Nahuatl and means "place above clay land". The area is famous for its pottery and blown glass.

Tlaquepaque features El Parián, a large plaza flanked by columned arcades and surrounded by restaurants and bars. The main square in the city centre is known as El Jardín ("The Garden"), the main features are the two important churches, El Santuario de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad (The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Solitude) and San Pedro (Saint Peter), and the Benito Juárez market.

Morelia

Morelia has some of the region’s most beautiful architecture, excellent food and a rich indigenous culture. The city is situated at an elevation of 1,921 meters above sea level. The Historic Downtown Area (Centro Histórico), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, encompasses approximately 150 city blocks at the city center, roughly corresponding to the urban area of the city at the end of the eighteenth century. The Centro Histórico contains over 1,000 historical buildings and sites.

Before the arrival of the Spaniards, the region was inhabited by a people known as the Pirindas, and the place was called "Guayangareo". Morelia was officially founded on May 18, 1541, by the first viceroy of New Spain, Antonio de Mendoza. It was inhabited by Spanish noble families and by Purepecha Indians brought from Pátzcuaro and Tiripetio to serve the Spanish.

In 1545, the name was changed to "Valladolid". Vasco de Quiroga, who always defended the Indians from the Spaniards, wanted the title of episcopal city to be granted to Pátzcuaro. In 1571, six years after Vasco de Quiroga’s death, King Philip II upgraded Valladolid to that title. In 1580, Valladolid replaced Pátzcuaro as the capital of Michoacán.

During the colonial period a number of religious orders established themselves in the city, allowing it to take an important place in the history of art and culture in New Spain.

Important architectural sites from the colonial period include the Catedral de Morelia, the Aqueduct (built between 1785 and 1789 by Fray Antonio de San Miguel), the Governor’s Palace, the Palacio Clavijero, and numerous churches, convents, and houses. The Conservatorio de Música de las Rosas of Morelia was the first music conservatory in the Americas.

The city is the birthplace of José María Morelos (1765), after whom it was renamed on September 12, 1828, and who along with Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla began the War of Independence from Spain in 1810. It was also the birthplace of Agustín de Iturbide (1783), later Emperor of Mexico, and Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez, who played a key role in the instigation of the Independence movement.

Morelia is characterized by the magnificence of its monuments which are mostly colonial. The most remarkable buildings are the baroque cathedral, started in the 1500s and finished in 1744; the convent of San Francisco, built in 1513; the convent of San Agustín, founded in 1550; the college and temple of La Compañia de Jesus, started in 1580 and known as Palacio Clavijero; the convent of El Carmen, constructed in 1597; the convent of Santa Catarina that dates from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

Other important constructions are the 1613 convent of La Merced, the college of Santa Rosa María whose foundation was in 1743; the palace of the Executive, its construction started in 1734 and finished in 1770; the eighteenth century palaces of the Legislature and of the Judiciary; the sixteenth century college Primitivo y Nacional de San Nicolas de Hidalgo, the eighteenth century Museo Michoacano; and the house where José María Morelos was born, on Corregidora street, which is now used as a museum, library and for cultural events.

The Casa de las Artesanías features a large variety of high quality artisanal works. There are several other notable historical churches in town including the Templo de las Rosas annex to the Conservatorio de las Rosas, which are both examples of baroque architecture, and the Templo de San Diego (also known as Santuario de Guadalupe), built with an interpretation of the Rococo style using indigenous colors and techniques.

The monumental aqueduct, built in colonial days to bring water into town, was functional through 1910. It is made up by more than 250 arches. Its construction started in 1787 and finished in 1789.

The central city is built of reddish sandstone, lending the city a unique character among Mexico’s many noteworthy colonial cities and giving origin to the name Ciudad de las Canteras Rosas ("city of pink stone") that is sometimes used in reference to Morelia.
Pátzcuaro

Before the Spanish conquest, Pátzcuaro was one of three principal centers of the local Purepecha Indians. Its early inhabitants believed Pátzcuaro to be the doorway to heaven where the gods ascended and descended. The Purepecha people first settled in Pátzcuaro in about 1324, led by Rey Curateme. The Spanish moved their local government to Pátzcuaro from Tzintzuntzan in 1540. The city was developed as a government and religious center until the government was moved to Valladolid, now named Morelia, in 1580.

Pátzcuaro, which means "city of stones" in the Purepecha language. Pátzcuaro was named a "Pueblo Mágico" in 2002. Village specialization in crafts still marks the region as one of the most culturally rich in Mexico. Also it is an enchanting artisan town with archaeological sites significant to the regional indigenous peoples.

Pátzcuaro is hidden high in the mountains of Michoacán at 2200 m (7130 feet) of elevation. It is veiled from the outside world by a curtain of high pine trees. To the north is Lake Pátzcuaro, one of Mexico’s highest lakes. The butterfly fishermen, who dip their nets into the lake in search of whitefish, have become a trademark of Pátzcuaro.

On the east side of downtown is the beautiful Basilica de Nuestra Señora de la Salud (Basilica of Our Lady of Health), the city’s patron, built between 1546 and 1554. The Colegio de San Nicolas (College of Saint Nicolas), south from the basilica, was founded by Don Vasco in 1540 and now houses the Museum of Popular Arts and Archaeology, which has exhibits of carvings, pottery, weaving, and archaeological artifacts.

The Cathedral of Michoacán in Pátzcuaro was built by Don Vasco and was opened in 1546. Today it is the temple of the Jesuits. The Casa de los Once Patios (House of Eleven Patios) is the former monastery of Santa Catalina (Saint Catherine), founded by Dominican nuns in 1747. It is now a center for local artisans, and you can watch them work.

Plaza Vasco de Quiroga, known by locals as simply the Plaza Grande (Big Plaza), is Pátzcuaro’s central square. Grass covers much of the plaza, and a statue of Vasco de Quiroga stands in its center. Many shops line the main plaza, selling all kinds of textiles, tablecloths, clothing, and more. Shops around town carry henequen rugs, lacquered trays, serapes, Indian masks, and wooden boxes. Pátzcuaro’s lacquered trays are quite famous; the lacquer is supposedly made from the crushed bodies of purple insects, which provide the deep, rich finish and durability.

The Dance of the Viejitos (Old Men), one of the best and most widely known native dances of Mexico. The dancers wear wooden masks that depict smiling old men to show that, at least in Mexico, old age is not a time of listless despair, but rather a season to enjoy the fruits of life. Los Viejitos also perform for free in the Plaza Grande on many weekends.

Janitzio

One of the most striking features of the area is the island of Janitzio in Lake Patzcuaro, a very steep, rocky island that is completely covered with people and buildings. At the top stands an impressive statue of the revolutionary leader José María Morelos. Getting to the island requires you to take a local ferry on an approximate half-hour cruise. And from the time you land on the island until the time you reach the crowning statue you must run a gauntlet of local vendors selling everything imaginable. But the island and the views from its summit are breathtaking, and its people welcoming.

Santa Clara and Zirahuén

In Santa Clara del Cobre they have had the tradition of working copper since prehispanic times. Their artisans have obtained several national awards for the beauty of their work. Their work may be decorative and artistic or practical objects for commerce and home. The crafting of copper may be executed by several persons working in unison. The town has a large number of copper workshops which are located inside the town and the outskirts.

Santa Clara del Cobre is well known for its craftwork, but there are other attractions like the Zirahuén Lake, which means "the mirror of the gods". The beautiful lake of Zirahuén has different shades of colors that go from intense blue to jade green, reflecting the exuberance of its surrounding forests, this beautiful enclave has in its shores a small town of great traditions.

Tzintzuntzan

Tzintzuntzán stands on the eastern shore of Lake Pátzcuaro, about 15 km north of the city of Pátzcuaro and at some 2050 m above sea level. The city was founded in the 13th century by the indigenous P’urhépecha people, and in the 13th century it became the capital of the Tarascan state replacing nearby Ihuatzio. Its name means "Place of the Hummingbirds" in the P’urhé language.

The Pre-Columbian city of Tzintzuntzán covered an area of about 7 km². The site, which stands on a hillside above the modern town, has the remains of many step pyramids of a design typically used by the P’urépecha in their ritual buildings, known locally as yácatas, by extension, the present-day archaeological site is also known as "Las Yácatas".

The Tzintzuntzán yácatas are of several different shapes, some rectangular, some oval or circular, and others in the distinctive Tarascan "T" shape. The population of the ancient city is estimated to have peaked at somewhere between 25,000 to 35,000 people. The population of the entire Lake Pátzcuaro basin was between 60,000 to 100,000, spread among 91 settlements of which Tzintzuntzán was the largest.

Tzintzuntzán was still the P’urhépecha capital when the Spaniards arrived in 1522. First contact, led by Nuño de Guzmán arrived in 1529, Chieftain Tangaxuan II was burned alive and the city largely dismantled to provide stones for Roman Catholic temples and civic buildings, most notably the large 16th century Franciscan Monastery of Santa Ana. Following the disgrace and recall of Nuño de Guzmán, Vasco de Quiroga was sent to the region, and Tzintzuntzán served as the headquarters of Spanish power in the area until the bishopric was relocated to Pátzcuaro in 1540. Many inhabitants in the area speak Purépecha and Ixcatec indigenous languages.

Today, Tzintzuntzán is known for the basketry and weaving produced there. The Monastery of Santa Ana is also still standing. It is home to several allegedly miraculous relics and icons and is reputed to have growing on its grounds what were the first olive trees to be planted in America.