The Patzcuaro Basilica

March 10, 2012


We set out to amend a great oversight.  In previous visits to Patzcuaro we had missed the Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Salud (Our Lady of Health).  This is a country where it's possible to become blasé about seeing yet another 16th century church, but we try not to give in.  

The exterior, showing 19th century updates

The church was built by Vasco de Quiroga, a Spanish lawyer and judge who became the first bishop of Michoacan.  His vision was the organization of indigenous people in a manner based on Thomas Moore's Utopia.  He promoted the organization of small towns, each of which specialized in the production of a different craft, and operating on cooperative principles. The craft specialization exists to this day, so that you can visit the copper town, the pottery town, the woodcarving village and so on.

 The church was filled with fresh flowers in preparation for a wedding.

The church yard was crowded with craft stalls and its plaza was ringed by small shops selling locally made goods.

Patzcuaro is a great places to buy textiles - and we did.

I bought a sweater from this woman for about $15.