Zamora Municipality, Michoacán

The state of Michoacán is an uncommon place.

From the farms and ranches of La Piedad and Sahuayo to the sugar cane fields of Los Reyes,
the avocados, mangos, coffee, and macadamias of Uruapan,
the melon fields of Apatzingan,
the rice fields of Lombardia and Nueva Italia,
the pears of Ucareo,
the pescado blanco of Patzcuaro,
the ruggedly pristine Pacific coast to the port city of Lazaro Cardenas,
the endless pine-crested peaks of Mil Cumbres all the way to gold caves and the tierra caliente of Huetamo,
to the mines and butterflies of Angangueo and the former mining town of Tlalpujahua.
Michoacan is as varied a state as you'll find anywhere in Mexico.

Did we mention blackberries? Or Christmas ornaments? Or wood products? Or Patzcuaro and Vasco de Quiroga's re-creation of Thomas More's Utopia? Craft-central, and ground zero for Noche de Muertos. Or Paricutin, one of the world's most recent volcanoes? The crystal clear waters of the Rio Cupatitzio or the deep secrets of Lake Zirahuen?

The guitars of Paracho, the lace of Aranza, the deshilado of San Felipe de los Herreros, the masks of Tocuaro, the devils of Ocumicho, and the pottery of Capula? The Meseta Purépecha and the archeological wonders of Tingambato, Tzintzuntzan and Ihuatzio? Or Santa Clara de Cobre?

We haven't even mentioned Morelia, the most Spanish of all Mexican cities, which warrants a book all its own. Or Zitacuaro, Zamora, Zinapecuaro or Zacapu. Or Cd. Hidalgo, Maravatio, or Huandacareo.

This is the state which produced one of Mexico's most revered leaders - Lazaro Cardenas. This is the state which has sent off the second-highest number of its own to work across foreign borders. This is the state in which the oldest university in the American continent was founded back in 1540.

Michoacán is craft and industry. Michoacán is history and leadership. Michoacán is a kaleidoscope of natural beauty. Michoacán is art and music, and Michoacán is education. Michoacán is the guardian of tradition, and the face of tomorrow. This is the state whose pride knows no bounds, and this is the state everyone loves.

Ernesto Barajas Pantoja

Information About

Zamora Municipality, Michoacán