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Capital of the state of Michoacan, Morelia (pop.562,000) was founded in 1541,
soon after the discovery of America. First known as Valladolid, the name was
changed to honor Morelos, a local hero of the Mexican war of independence. Today
Morelia's city center retains a strong Spanish flavor. Many of the city's richly
decorated civil and religious buildings were erected in the 17th and 18th
centuries. But Morelia's early planners had the foresight to lay out wide,
straight boulevards, which for the most part accommodate ever-present
vehicle-traffic. Together with the fountain-filled Plazas, the huge number of
small shops, restaurants and cafe's, which are crowded by always happy-looking
Mexicans, the city shows a very lively and pleasant atmosphere. A real oasis
after four months of cool-looking USA. |
