Pátzcuaro
Pátzcuaro | |
|---|---|
Town and Municipality | |
View of Pátzcuaro | |
| Coordinates: 19°30′59″N 101°36′35″W / 19.51639°N 101.60972°W | |
| Country | Mexico |
| State | Michoacán |
| Founded | 1320? |
| Municipal Status | 1839 |
| Government | |
| • Municipal President | Lic. Victor Manuel Báez Ceja |
| Area | |
• Municipality | 435.96 km2 (168.33 sq mi) |
| Elevation (of seat) | 2,140 m (7,020 ft) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Municipality | 98,382 |
| • Seat | 60,811 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (US Central)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (Central) |
| Postal code (of seat) | 61600 |
| Area code | 434 |
| Website | (in Spanish) Official site |
Pátzcuaro (Spanish: [ˈpatskwaɾo] ⓘ) is a city and municipality located in the state of Michoacán, Mexico. The town was founded sometime in the 1320s, at first becoming the capital of the Purépecha Empire and later its ceremonial center. After the Spanish took over, Vasco de Quiroga worked to make Pátzcuaro the capital of the New Spain province of Michoacán, but after his death, the capital would be moved to nearby Valladolid (today Morelia). Pátzcuaro has retained its colonial and indigenous character since then, and it has been named one of the 111 "Pueblos Mágicos" by the government of Mexico. Pátzcuaro, and the lake region to which it belongs, is well known as a site for Day of the Dead celebrations.
There are several possibilities as to the meaning of "Pátzcuaro." The first is "phascuaro," which means "place dyed in black;" or "patatzecuaro," which means "place of foundations." Another possible meaning is "petatzimícuaro," "place of bullrushes." Other possible meanings are: " happy place;" and "seat of temples." Pátzcuaro received its coat of arms in 1553 from Charles V of Spain.