Cuanajo: Furniture, Artisanware, and Tradition
A key destination for buying wooden
furniture in Michoacan is Cuanajo, located a short distance from Pátzcuaro. Our guests at Hotel Mansión Iturbe always ask us
about different places to visit close to Pátzcuaro.
Among other places, we recommend the Temple
of Santiago Apostle in Tupátaro, which is a veritable treasure trove of
Colonial art, especially its fabulous ceiling. If you work up an
appetite, you must try Tupátaro’s
outstanding mole.
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| Cuanajo, Michoacán |
If you’re driving to Cuanajo
from Pátzcuaro: take Road No. 14
heading to Morelia. Follow the signs and take the exit to Tupátaro and Cuanajo. The total distance for this route is approximately 25
kilometers (12 miles).
In Cuanajo, you will find
dozens of workshops, many of them at the front of the craftsmen’s homes. Both
painted and natural wood abound. From very simple furniture such as chairs,
wardrobes and tables, to rustic furniture, like dining rooms and bedrooms
painted festively. You’ll even find minimalist designs made with fine woods of Michoacán.
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| Wooden Furniture from Cuajanjo, Michoacán |
If you are looking for textile
crafts of Michoacán, Cuanajo is
also an excellent choice with its Patakua
textiles and its embroidery. You'll find textile crafts made such as wool
shawls, sashes, and embroidery (you’ll love their traditional aprons).
If you visit Cuanajo (which
in Purépecha means “place of frogs”), give yourself time to learn a little more
about this community rich in traditions. During your visit to the
various workshops, visit the Church of
our Lady of the Nativity. You will appreciate its beautiful atrium –
typically full of flowers – and a striking atrial cross. Thanks to the spacious
atrium you can admire the temple which is very well preserved and dates back
further from the 16th century.
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| Church of Our Lady of Nativity in Cuanajo, Michoacán |
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| Church of Our Lady of Nativity in Cuanajo, Michoacán |
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| Atrial Cross from the Church of Our Lady of Nativity in Cuanajo, Michoacán |
An important date for Cuanajo
is September 8, day of the Patron Saint that celebrates our Lady of the Nativity.
Cuanajo also
celebrates the traditional Night of the Dead with a special
twist: little wooden horses decorated with flowers and fruit are
part of the offering. These horses help the deceased to load their
offerings for the “return trip.”
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| Church of Our Lady of Nativity in Cuanajo, Michoacán |
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| Garden at the Atrium of the Church of Our Lady of Nativity in Cuanajo, Michoacán |
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| Main Square in Cuanajo Michoacán |
Returning to Pátzcuaro, if
you want a different itinerary, you can return by the new Road 120, which is
about half the distance of the above-mentioned Road 14.
On your next visit to our magical village, give yourself time to visit
different typical villages located close to Pátzcuaro, full of traditions, beautiful handicrafts, and rich
gastronomy.
*Text and pictures property of Hotel Mansión Iturbe.
We invite you to check more post in our blog, you will find information about Pátzcuaro and its surroundings that we hope will be useful for your next trip to our colonial town in Mexico.
Here are some post that we suggest you:
Those Crazy Masks of Tocuaro
Jaracuaro – Birthplace of the Dance of the Little Old Men
Hotel Mansión Iturbe
Sabre: ON 16297
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