Cuernavaca is the Capital City of the State of Morelos, in Mexico. Located only 45 minutes from Mexico City (one hour and thirty minutes from the international airport) by the way of the Mexico – Acapulco expressway. Actually world-wide known as “The City of Eternal Spring” due to its excellent template climate with an annual average of 20° C.
A city that you have to know in your visit to Mexico and of course, if you don’t know it yet, don’t worry because the Traveling By team will tell you a little about this incredible city of Mexico.
Cuernavaca city
The ancient name of Cuernavaca is “Cuauhnahuac” in Nahuatl which means “Place near or by the side of the groove“. Founded seven centuries ago almost a mile high in the Sierra Madre Mountains.
Today the pyramid of Teopanzolco rises in a residential neighborhood; a half-hour from where Mesoamerican high priests at Xochicalco studied astronomy in 600 A.D. and arranged the calendar. There remain other vestiges from pre-Hispanic times such as a 14 ton. engraved stone called Chimalli, the great lizard carved in stone found at San Anton and the Chapultepec Eagle, only to name a few.
Until 1910, the state of Morelos was the third major sugar cane producer world wide, after Hawaii and Puerto Rico, but peasants slaved without hope on the enormous sugar cane haciendas.
When the Mexican Revolution began, most haciendas were burned to the ground. Some of them have been restored as luxury hotels.
Cuernavaca is a modern tropical city that hosts a score of scientific research institutes, and industrial park with over one hundred industries, seventeen universities and extensions of the National University in Mexico City, and a global assortment of retires diplomats, business executives and government officials.
This casual city also attracts people who seek a sunny place for creative or intellectual inquiry where they can find cultural stimulation and spirited conversations. Residents have included Erich Fromm, Diego Rivera, Carlos Fuentes, Helen Hayes, Malcolm Lowry, Ivan Illich, Gabriel Garcia Marques, Barbara Hutton, Rufino Tamayo, David Alfaro Siqueiros, to name a few.
Cuernavaca has also been established as an international learning center for Mexico’s Language, Culture and history. At present, there are prestigious Spanish schools devoted to the high academic standards and strict ethical code of teaching Spanish, art and culture from Mexico and Latin America to foreigners.
The city is filled with gardens, tennis courts, spa’s, golf courses, bathing resorts, restaurants and fine hotels offering every commodity.
Within a 40 km radius, sports like water-skiing, fishing, hunting, horseback riding and mountain climbing can be practiced.
Cuernavaca Tourist Attractions
Like many other regions of Mexico, Cuernavaca has many tourist attractions to know, see and where to go, so if it is the first time you come and visit this place, then we recommend you to know the following sites.
Teopanzolco Archaeological
Site In Nahuatl means “Behind the Old or Abandoned Temple”. Considered one of the most important temples of the Pre Hispanic Tlahuica Culture in the Region.
The double-temple of Tlaloc-Hutzilopochtli shows us how the ancient inhabitants of Cuauhnahuac built their worshipping sites over previous structures. Open: Monday thru Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00 hrs.
Palace of Cortes or Cuauhnahuac Regional Museum
The Palace dates back from the colonial era, built in 1533 over a “Teocalli or Aztec Temple”. It served as the summer residence of the conqueror Hernan Cortes and actually houses one of Mexico’s finest museums. Among others, you can admire one of the most famous murals of Diego Rivera painted in 1929. Open: Tuesday thru Sunday from 9:00 to 17:00 hrs.
The Cathedral or Assumption’s Franciscan Ex-Convent
Amazing architectonic complex formed by an atrium surrounded by tall “battlemented” walls. The Cathedral has been remodeled in the last 20 years and murals depicting the martyrdom of St. Felipe de Jesus were found all along both sides of the walls. There are also some interesting original paintings which date back to the XVII century. In the same complex are found the Chapel of San Jose, The Chapel of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores, the Chapel of Carmen as well as the Temple of Tercer Orden. Its also famous for its Sunday “Mariachi Mass”.
The Borda Garden
Famous residence built by Don Manuel de la Borda at the end of the XVII Century. It was also residence of Emperor Maximiliano de Habsburgo. This majestic home and garden hosts numerous art exhibitions, music concerts, conferences and a wonderful site museum. Open: Monday thru Sunday from 9:00 to 18:00 hrs.
The Guadalupe Church
Also built by Don Manuel de la Borda in 1784, near the Borda garden; this church originally had two beautiful towers.
“El Calvario” Shrine
Built in 1538, it owns its name to the cross on the top of the shrine. It was an important reunion place in the way of the pilgrims to Chalma, a center and river believed to have miraculous and curative properties.
“El Castillito”
Singular construction made of heavy brick, it actually houses the Photographic Museum of Cuernavaca. Open: Monday thru Friday from 9:00 to 15:00 hrs. Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 14:00
Ethno-botanic
Garden and Traditional Medicine Museum This Chalet also belonged Emperor Maximiliano de Habsburgo and was known as “Casa del Olindo” or “Casa de la India Bonita”. Its great gardens and orchards are actually used to exhibit a great variety of medicinal plants. Open: Monday thru Sunday from 9:00 to 17:00 hrs.
The Robert Brady
House and Museum Located in the house of the tower behind the Cathedral built in Colonial Spanish style. Its a great museum where you can admire a marvelous collection of household furniture and furnishing, paintings and statuettes from all over the world, that belonged to the painter Robert Brady, who donated it to the City of Cuernavaca. Open: Tuesday thru Sunday from 10:00 to !8:00 hrs.
San Anton Waterfall
Place of natural beauty with its spectacular 30 mts. cascade with access through a long stairway behind it. At the entrance you can purchase a great variety of ornamental plants and red clay pottery produced by the local people. Open: Monday thru Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00 hrs.
Amanalco Ravines
A scenic 3 kilometers walk along a wooded ravine. This trail was recently conditioned as a tourist walk by the City Council of Cuernavaca. Open: Monday thru Sunday from 9:00 to 18:00 hrs.
Siqueiros Workshop and Museum
Workshop of the famous Mexican muralist David Alfaro Siqueiros.
Near Cuernavaca there are interesting ruins of old sugar cane factories, like the Hacienda de Atlacomulco, which used to belong to Hernan Cortes and the Hacienda de Temixco, which is now converted into a bathing resort with 5 large swimming pools.
Conclusion
Cuernavaca is a central geographic point from which many tourism attractions can easily be reached. The pyramid of Teotihuacan, the ancient Toltec city (90 min.); the colonial city of Puebla (150 min.); Taxco, the silver city (90 min.); the lake of Tequesquitengo (30 min.); the illuminated caverns of Cacahuamilpa (60 min.); the pyramids of Xochicalco (30 min.); the spas of (90 min.); the village of Tepoztlan (30 min.); and the resort center of Oaxtepec (45 min.). For all those who wish to go to Acapulco, it is less than a 3 hours away.
For all those who wish to go to Acapulco, it is less than 3 hours away and of course, let’s not forget about the great tourist places in Mexico that this city has. What are you waiting for to visit it?
