Historic Centre of Morelia
Built in the 16th century, Morelia is an outstanding example of urban planning which combines the ideas of the Spanish Renaissance with the Mesoamerican experience. Well-adapted to the slopes of the hill site, its streets still follow the original layout. More than 200 historic buildings, all in the region's characteristic pink stone, reflect the town's architectural history, revealing a masterly and eclectic blend of the medieval spirit with Renaissance, Baroque and neoclassical elements. Morelia was the birthplace of several important personalities of independent Mexico and has played a major role in the country's history.
Built in the 16th century, Morelia is an outstanding example of urban planning which combines the ideas of the Spanish Renaissance with the Mesoamerican experience. Well-adapted to the slopes of the hill site, its streets still follow the original layout. More than 200 historic buildings, all in the region's characteristic pink stone, reflect the town's architectural history, revealing a masterly and eclectic blend of the medieval spirit with Renaissance, Baroque and neoclassical elements. Morelia was the birthplace of several important personalities of independent Mexico and has played a major role in the country's history.
Outstanding Universal Value
Brief summary
The Historic Centre of Morelia is located in central Mexico, at the foot of the Sierra Madre Occidental and near the agricultural valley of Morelia-Querendaro. Built in the 16th century according to a "checkerboard" layout, Morelia is an outstanding example of urban development combining town planning theories of Spain and the Mesoamerican experience. Well suited to the slopes of the central hill of the valley, its streets follow the original layout. The city has major axes, numerous urban squares, of which the vast rectangular Zocalo Plaza, and gardens that create an open, airy ensemble with magnificent vistas of the surrounding hills.
The central part of the Historic Centre of Morelia includes 249 monuments of prime importance, of which 21 churches and 20 civil constructions, which crystallize the architectural history of the city. The sobriety of the urban townscape is enhanced by many Baroque facades characteristic of the religious foundations, including the cathedral and the churches of Santa Rosa, de las Monjas and Guadelupe. Although the majority of the monuments were erected in the 17th and 18th centuries, styles of earlier and later periods (Middle Ages, Renaissance and Neoclassicism) merge in the creation of the "Baroque Moreliano". Together, they form a harmonious unity that reinforces the measured use of architectural elements in pink stone, the numerous arcades and imposing towers and cupolas covered with azulejos that dominate the city.
Founded in the 16th century under the name of Valladolid, the city was, at the beginning of the 19th century, one of the main centres of the struggle for independence of the country. Two priests received notoriety: Miguel Hidalgo and José María Morelos. It is to the glory of the latter, a native of Valladolid, that the city was renamed Morelia in 1828.
Criterion (ii): The historic centre of Morelia is an outstanding example of urban planning which associates the ideas of the Spanish Renaissance with the Mesoamerican experience.
Criterion (iv): More than two hundred historical buildings reflect the architectural history of the city. In these masterpieces built of pink stone characteristic of the region, the medieval spirit blends with the style of the Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassical and eclectic elements with exceptional mastery and talent.
Criterion (vi): Morelia was the birthplace of several important personalities of independent Mexico and played an important role in the country's history.
Integrity
The original model of urban development, which is one of the universal values of the Historic Centre of Morelia has been maintained. In addition, the urban public space has preserved its integrity and the streets still follow the original layout.
Despite the changes of use required to meet the needs of civil society, the monumental Baroque style buildings have preserved their own architectural characteristics. The transformation of old residential buildings to new uses related to tourism has been achieved in respect of the integrity of the inscribed site.
It should be noted, however, that built heritage in good condition is found mainly in the heart of the historic centre. Conservation of the built heritage of traditional and neighbouring quarters has received less attention and the number of buildings in poor condition has increased.
Authenticity
Restoration work on the monumental ensembles, especially religious, was carried out in accordance with the criteria of authenticity of the site. The recuperation of urban areas for community purposes has enabled an appreciation of all their wealth, while promoting their conservation. Dissemination campaigns on the important historical events of Morelia help to strengthen the memory of the Historic Centre. In this regard, various events have been staged to commemorate the Bicentennial of Mexican Independence.
With regard to conservation practice that affected the authenticity of some buildings (the removal of exterior plaster), considered in the evaluation report of ICOMOS in 1990 as inconsistent with the Charter of Venice, a slow recovery process of the facades of significant monuments was initiated following the inscription on the World Heritage List in 1991.
Concerning the aesthetic falsifying of contemporary buildings (application of a colonial facade on a new building), this local construction practice has been restricted since 1993. The Urban Development Programme for the Historic Centre of Morelia, approved in 2001 by the Municipal Cabildo, henceforth prohibits construction of contemporary buildings that mimic historical styles.
Protection and management measures
The protection of the Historic Centre of Morelia is ensured by a set of laws, decrees and regulations. The Law relating to heritage preservation and listing, and which aims to ensure the correct use of monuments, and historic, tourist and archaeological areas of the State of Michoacán was enacted in 1974.
In 1983, an agreement between the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) and the State led to the creation of the Technical and Advisory Commission for the Historical Areas and Monuments of the State. At municipal level, the Urban Programmes concerning the historic area are updated every three years. Since 2005, the Council of Cultural Sites of the Historic Centre of Morelia has been established and the Historic Centre Urban Development Programme (approved in 2001) has been updated. The Site Management Plan has also been finalized.
In 2001, the Catalogue of Historic Monuments of Morelia inventoried 1700 buildings of historical and artistic value in the Historic Centre of Morelia (area of historic monuments) and the buffer zone. Between 1993 and 2007, State intervention in the restoration of listed monuments generated investments amounting to 256 million pesos.
Heritage management by the State aims at its preservation and use in support of regional development through tourism. The Federal Decree of 5 September 2005 offers financial incentives to encourage private sector investment in the restoration and rehabilitation of built heritage. The municipal law in force since 1998 provides tax exemptions and technical guidance for heritage conservation. Unfortunately, these protection tools are ignored by the majority of the owners.
The Historic Centre of Morelia was consolidated through a series of policies for tourism development in the framework of the General Decree. The public policies applied since the inscription of the site on the World Heritage List, the channelling of public investment projects towards projects concerning buildings and heritage areas, as well as the urban public space redemption process, have positioned tourism as an important vector of economic development. The long-term vision of the municipality is to make Morelia a world class sustainable city, by improving the quality of life of its inhabitants, through economic development and the presence of effective public services, all in harmony with the environment.
The strategic priorities are the completion and publication of the Historic Centre Management Programme and the generation of a normative and legal instrument that ensures long-term integrated management. It is also important to control pressure from the real estate and tourism sector, cope with the loss of housing, and tackle problems related to transportation (roads, public transport, heavy traffic, congestion). Likewise important is to set up an independent evaluation system, external to government agencies, to guarantee objectivity and academic rigour.
Long Description
Despite all the vicissitudes of history and climate and its inevitable, incessant urban development, Morelia has preserved intact its original structures built from pink stone on a grid layout and it is an outstanding example of urban planning combining the ideas of the Spanish Renaissance with the Mesoamerican experience. Well adapted to the slopes of the hill site, its streets still follow the original layout.
Morelia was the birthplace of several important personalities of independent Mexico and has played a major role in the country's history. In 1537 a Franciscan monastery was established near the Indian village of Guayangareo in Michoacán Province. In 1541, it became the new provincial capital under Antonio de Mendoza, who had been made the first viceroy of New Spain in 1535, and was renamed Valladolid. Although 50 noble families settled there, as did many Europeans over the next few centuries, the population remained, even as today, predominantly of Indian origin.
Valladolid was long a rival of the town of Patzcuaro, the first Episcopal See in Michoacán. As King Philip II (1556-98) favoured, Valladolid has been the Bishop's See since 1580. At the same time the College of St Nicholas Obispo (founded in 1540 at Patzcuaro); the oldest institution of higher learning in Mexico, was transferred here. The town's economic and cultural life continued to flourish throughout the 17th and 18th centuries.
It was, in fact, because of its importance as an intellectual centre that Valladolid was among the principal towns in Mexico's fight for independence in the early 19th century. Two of the leading figures in the struggle were both priests: Miguel Hidalgo and José Maria Morelos. In honour of the latter, a native of Valladolid, the town's name was changed to Morelia in 1828.
Capital of the State of Michoacán, Morelia was one of the theatres of the violent conflicts that marked Mexican history in the first half of the 19th century. Once the republic was re-established in 1869, the town returned to its economic and cultural pursuits. In recent times a surge in population growth came close to endangering the town's cultural patrimony.
Among the town's 249 historical monuments, the most noteworthy include 20 public buildings and 21 churches. All monuments are in the region's characteristic pink stone, reflect the town's architectural history, revealing a masterly and eclectic blend of the medieval spirit with Renaissance, Baroque and neoclassical elements.
Source: UNESCO/CLT/WHC
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