Unforgettable encounters with the Tarascan culture await visitors to the Purépecha meseta: villages that keep Don Vasco’s legacy of trades, handicraft production and deep religiosity alive; communities that live in their own world, with their own language and customs as opposed to another world that marvels as it takes in the peace and tranquility pervading the complete landscape.
Nurío
Next to the Capilla de la Purísima Concepción, The Templo de Santiago Apóstol, with its richly decorated coffered ceilings and altars, is a masterpiece of Purépecha art.
Cocucho
Although this village is best known for its large earthenware jars, or “cocuchas”, the multicolored coffered ceiling in the Templo de San Bartolomé is definitely worth a look.
Angahuan
As well as being on the way to the Paracutín volcano, the town of Angahuan is remarkable in itself because of its well-conserved barns or granaries, and its original urban look. Of particular interest is the sheer simplicity of the Templo de Santiago.
Charapan
has the biggest group of barns on the plateau. You can also visit the San Antonio de Padua church.
Zacán
The Santa Rosa de Lima chapel, next to the hospital and the San Pedro church, are all part of a group of buildings of great artistic value. Of particular interest is the delicate coloring in the chapel chapel.
Traditional cuisine
The traditional cuisine has been proposed to be recognized as an expression of the Intangible Cultural World Heritage by UNESCO in 2010. The richness of Purépecha gastronomy is reflected in the hundreds of dishes prepared in the Paranguas, or traditional Michoacán kitchens, in which cooks use 30 different varieties of corn, 16 types of mushrooms and several different fruits, cereals and assortments of garden produce. On the plateau, you should sample the different atoles with tamales, atapakuas orundas, churipu, carnitas, gorditas and delicious blue tortillas. Just ask in any of the villages on the meseta for the best places to try local dishes.Treasure of the plateau: pure art
Enjoy a trip that will show you some of the best kept secrets on the meseta. Visit churches and their chapels where, behind their simple facades, you will find real artistic gems, such as altarpieces, retables and coffered ceilings. If they’re not open, someone in the grocery shop will help you."Go into San Juan dancing!"
The expression means Cheer up! The image of Saint John, the protector of migrants, among others, is deeply revered by the people of San Juan de Parangaricutiro (now, New San Juan). To receive favors from the saint, worshippers should "go into the church dancing".12 reasons to travel
- The dance of the Curpites in Nuevo San Juan de Parangaricutiro on 8 January.
- The communities of Angahuan and Nuevo San Juan celebrate the anniversary of the eruption of Paracutín volcano on 20 February.
- The Earth, Culture and Traditions Fair is celebrated in Ziracuaretiro.
- The handicrafts street market in Uruapan on Palm Sunday.
- Between the months of May and August, several celebrations related to the Corpus Christi are held in many different parts of the region.
- The Guitar Fair in Paracho in August.
- The Purépecha Festival in Zacán in October.
- The Day of the Dead in the whole region.
- The Procession of Virgins on the Day of the Dead in San Lorenzo.
- The San Andrés Fiesta in Ziracuaretir.
- The celebration of the winter solstice at the archeological site of Tingambatoa.
- The Easter decorations in any of the churches on the meseta.
