Cuitzeo del Porvenir

What Makes It Magical

Cuitzeo is one of the country’s best-preserved towns, with a perpetually festive air. But more than just the city’s appearance and its people’s cheerful disposition, Cuitzeo boasts one of the most important convent compounds in the area and a lake considered Mexico’s second largest.

Why You Should Go

Antiguo Convento de Santa María Magdalena

• One of the best-preserved 16th-century compounds, it is a prime example of the religious architecture from the first years of the colony.
• Its plateresque facade created by indigenous sculptors is regarded as one of the most striking in the Americas.
• The buttresses supporting the walls, the limestone gargoyles carved into zoomorphic and human shapes, and the wall surrounding the atrium as if it were a fort are the most prominent features of its beautiful design. The compound is a blend of Middle Ages and Renaissance architecture.
• It is considered a Historic Monument.

At the Very Least

The arched Portal de Peregrinos, the Open Chapel, and the cloister which has now been turned into the Museo de la Estampa.

Don’t Miss

1. Admire the Santa María Magdalena church and former convent.
2. Take off on a photo safari around Lago de Cuitzeo.
3. Roam the streets of the town looking for the neighborhood chapels.