Uruapan

Uruapan (officially Uruapan del Progreso) is a city of 357,000 people (2020) in Michoacan. It is the center of Mexico's avocado growing region, with most of the crop distributed from here nationally and internationally.

Understand
Founded in 1533 by Fray Juan de San Migue, Uruapan is the second largest city in the state of Michoacan.

The city's center has colonial architecture which contain Plateresque and Moorish elements. There are six historic neighborhoods of the city: San Miguel, San Pedro, San Francisco, Santa Maria Magdalena, San Juan Bautista and Santo Santiago, all of which have colonial-era chapels in their centers.

Get in
It is 110 km to southwest of Morelia.

By bus
Uruapan is served by frequent bus service to major cities in the region. From Morelia, it is 1 hour 45 minutes on on the Parhikuni bus line (M$220 as of November 2022). Tickets to Patzcuaro are M$85 (Nov 2022). The bus station is on the Carretera Uruapan-Patzcuaro (MEX 14) at the intersection of Av. del Cerro.

By car
Uruapan is connected with Morelia by the motorway 14D, with the city of Zamora de Hidalgo, and Lazaro Cardenas by motorway 37D. From Mexico City, first get in to Morelia, and Guadalajara first to Zamora.

Get around
Taxis are plentiful in Uruapan and there are several sitios where they can be found waiting for passengers. Locals usually call for a taxi to come pick them up, so ask your hotel reception or concierge if they have a recommended taxi service and they will call one for you. Uber also works well in Uruapan and rates are generally cheaper than a taxi. There are also combis that will take you to nearby villages including Tingambato and Puruaran.

See

 * Plaza de Martires de Uruapan. Facing this plaza are two commercial portals as well as some of the city's most important landmarks. On the north side, there is the La Huatápera Museum. The Plaza has a chapel called Santo Entierro, with fine stonework in cantera in plateresque style. The interior is restored and contains images of angels playing musical instruments and important people from the history of the Catholic church. The rest of the complex shows Moorish influence and houses a collection of handcrafts from the various indigenous communities of the state.
 * La Huatápera Museum (also known as Museo de los Cuatro Pueblos Indios). Huatápera is a Purépecha word, meaning “meeting place.” It was originally a hospital, built over a pre-Hispanic platform. The museum exhibits artwork by the Purepecha, Nahua, and Otomi indigenous peoples, as well as temporary exhibits of art and historical interest.
 * Just to the east of the Huatápera Museum is the Immaculate Concepción church, which was built in the late 20th century. It has a cantera portal finished in the 1970s but no cupola nor bell tower.
 * The Casa de Cultura (Cultural Center) is on the western side of Huatápera. It was built in 1992 over what was the Franciscan monastery established by Juan de San Miguel. The original church of this monastery is now the parish church for the city. Built in 1533, it maintains its 16th-century Plateresque portal, and the interior of the church has a crucifix that dates from the 18th century. The paintings on the triangular spaces just under the cupola represent salvation and the miracle of the Mass, done by Mohamed Socidel.
 * The San Pedro Factory (Fabrica San Pedro) is a still-operational textile factory built in the late 19th century, when the city was at its industrial peak. Construction of the mill began in 1886, originally to work with cotton but later expanded to other fibers, such as linen and silk. The factory is still in operation but not to the same capacity as in the past. The current owners maintain the more handcrafted feel of the products making bedspreads, tablecloths, napkins and more. Part of the complex is now used for cultural and other events.
 * The city is home to the narrowest house in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Located at 50-C Carrillo Puerto, it measures 1.40 by 7.70 meters.

Events

 * Each neighborhood has its own festival: San José on March 19, El Vergel on the third Friday in June, San Juan Quemado on June 24, San Pedro on June 29, La Magdalena on July 22, Santo Santiago on July 25, San Miguel on September 29, San Francisco de Asis on October 4.[8] The patron saints’ days of these neighborhoods are celebrated with colorful dances such as Los Negritos.
 * In addition to traditional observances for Day of the Dead, the city has sponsored the Festival de Velas on the same days, where candles are arranged and lit to form figures at the Martires de Uruapan and Morelos plazas as well as on adjoining streets.
 * The Avocado Festival from mi-dNovember to mid December which consists of exhibitions and cultural events.

Buy
The Palm Sunday Handcraft Market (Tianguis de Domingo de Ramos) is held during Holy Week with the most important day being Palm Sunday, after which it is named. It covered the city large main square and attracts over a thousand artisans who sell.

Eat
The city's cuisine is influenced not only by the various ethnic groups in the area but also migration from other parts of Michoacan. Typical dishes include corundas, churipo (a beef and vegetable stew), mutton barbacoa, carnitas, quesadillas with squash flowers, flour tamales, various flavors of sweet and spicy atole, hot chocolate, uchepos, sweet potatoes and plantains cooked in various ways and more.

Budget
Behind the Huatápera there is a traditional food market which is open from the morning to late at night. There are others economical options on the adjacent street.

Go next

 * Paricutin
 * Patzcuaro
 * Morelia