Cuernavaca Things to Do Tips by mtncorg

This big block-styled fortress was built between 1522 and 1532 at the base of an earlier native pyramid. Cortes lived here until 1540, when he returned to Spain, dying in 1547. It was lived in by his descendants for many years after and then had many different uses, mainly as government offices until the recent building of the impressive Palacio del Gobierno was built on the west side of the zocalo. Today, Cortes' palace is home to the Museo de Cuauhnahuac - two floors of exhibits: the first floor devoted to the pre-Conquest cultures of Mexico and the second floor cover the Conquest to today. A mural by Diego Rivera is on the balcony showing the oppression that characterized Mexico from the Conquest to the Revolution. The museum is open 10AM to 5PM but closed on Monday.

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Directions: The Palacio is on the southeast corner of the Plaza de Armas

Built in a high-walled fortress, the cathedral of Cuernavaca stands built on a grand scale to impress and intimidate the natives. It was one of the first Christian missions to Mexico being started in 1526. The cathedral was a center for missionary work to Asia and one of the frecos was supposedly painted by an early Japanese convert. Two smaller churches occupy the northern corners of the compound, the 18th century Templo de la Tercera Orden de San Francisco (started in 1723) and the late 19th century Capilla del Carmen.

The cathedral compound is across the street (Morelos) from the Jardin Borda - an 18th century garden and residence for one of the leading silver mine owners of Taxco. The Jardin Borda was also the summer residence of Maximilian and Carlota during their ill-fated stay in Mexico. On the southeastern edge of the compound is the Museo Robert Brady, a museum occupying his former home. It contains his vast collections of folk arts from around the world. Sunday and Monday closed, you are accompanied by one of the guides as you visit who are very informative.

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Directions: Two streets west from the south side of the Zocalo.

Just east of the city center lies this deep wooded canyon. Cuernavaca has developed an elevated trail, suspended about halfway up the canyon walls. The path begins just below - to the east of - the El Calvario church and proceeds first through a stepped garden built to resemble, symbolically, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The garden was built during the Porfiriato. Following the gardens, the path drops into the canyon proper and goes under the graceful arch of a very tall stone bridge, which was Cuernavaca's first - also built by order of Diaz. The path continues winding down through the almost jungle canyon, hanging roots drape down into the deep canyon; larger roots holding canyon walls as they descend 100 meters into the creek below. It is hard to imagine that you are in the middle of a city of a million people.

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Sitting behind the shrine of El Calvario - a shrine dating back to 1538 - the church is of more recent construction, 1900. Together with the shrine, they are an important place of reunion for pilgrims on their journey to Chalma, a center and river of miracles.

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Directions: From the Zocalo, go north on Avenida Morelos about 0.5 km to the shrine of El Calvario.
Website: http://www.morelostravel.com/cultura/sitios3.html