What is the Independence Road ?

The Independence road

A set of colonial cities are on a road going north-west from Mexico City. This road was named Road of the Independence. These cities played a very important role during the fights for Independence from 1810 to 1821 (the cities of Dolorès Hidalgo and Querétaro, for example), and they were the born places of famous fighters of the movement of independence (as San Miguel de Allende). Finally, they are among the ones whose center - not to say the entire city- is particularly well conserved or restored. They also benefit with a measure of protection of the historic buildings. Prepare for a 700 km (437 miles) trip to tour the most noticeable cities. You will then admire numerous colonial marvels of this magnificent country.
The bus is the land transportation that suits better here. It is well organized, comfortable and cheap.

   Right picture : dance of old men in Michoacán

Coming from Mexico City, you will cross awesome landscapes : waterfalls, plateaus, valleys, wooden mountains…. Stop at the Mirador des Mil Cumbres to enjoy the view of the Ranges of Sierra Madré Occidentale.
The State is famous for the Monarch Butterflies coming from the Great North from October to March every year. They come to protect themselves from the winter and lay. The state is also famous for craft and gastronomy. Three villages of this state are part of the program Pueblos Mágicos.    

The state of Michoacán spreads over a 59,864 km2 area (15,000,000 acre) in the center-west of Mexico.
It is surrounded by the states of Colima, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Querétaro, México and Guerrero. This state has the more lakes with Pátzcuaro Lake, Zirahuén Lake, Camécuaro Lake, Cuitzeo Lagoon and part of Chapala Lagoon located at the very east of Jalisco State.
Because of the topography and the climate, it is a state rich in farming (especially production of cereals, fruits and vegetables. The spa resorts, like Los Azufres, San José Purúa, Araró, Zinapécuaro, Cointzio and Huandacareo, are much appreciated.

Characteristics of the population :
Michoacán state has a big majority of mestizo population and three ethnics have their roots in this state : the Náhuatls, the Otomíes and the Purépechas (or Tarasques). These last ones with roots very close to the Pre-Hispanic ones, stand out with cultural values, artistic qualities and craft creativity.
The indigenous of Michoacán represent 7.2% of the inhabitants of the state and 3% of the mestizos in Mexico. It ranks just after Oaxaca, 18%, Veracruz, 13% and Chiapas with 12%.

Left picture : monarch butterfly

Most of the Purépechas live on the plateaus and Pátzcuaro lake shore and some in «la Cañada de los Once Pueblos y en la Ciénega de Zacapu». These 4 areas comprise 17 municipalities : Uruapán, Paracho, Cherán, Nahuatzen, Charapan, Ziracuaretiro, Tingambato, Nuevo Parangaricutiro, Pátzcuaro, Chilchota, Quiroga, Zacapu, Los Reyes, Tingüindín, Tangamandapio, Tangancícuaro and Tancítaro.

Most of the Náhuas are concentrated in Aquila, on the coast of the state. The Otomíes live in the east, mainly in Zitácuaro.



History of the state :

This program of tourist development in Mexico has the objective of the enhancer of the Mexican heritage, including the folklore, gastronomy, music, dances, craft, adventure and extreme sport, the everyday rural life, the urban architecture and environment. It is a strategy of development off the traditional tourist circuits. These cities or villages are located in areas close to the tourist sites, with easy road access and they present a value of historic and/or religious interest. Of course, the local government and the inhabitants adhered to this welcome program. In the state of Michoacán, 3 villages are part of this program :

Cuitzeo/Pátzcuaro/Tlapujahua