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All Mexico Cuernavaca Palace of Cortés
AO Edited

Palace of Cortés

The conquistador's former fortress is the oldest preserved colonial building in the Americas.

Cuernavaca, Mexico

Added By
Mictlān Tēcutli
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The Palace of Cortés.   Comisión Mexicana de Filmaciones/cc by-sa 2.0
The Palace of Cortés.   Comisión Mexicana de Filmaciones/cc by-sa 2.0
Emiliano Zapata scene from Diego Riviera mural at the palace   Erasmo Perez
Aztec vs conquistador scene from Diego Riviera mural in the palace   Erasmo Perez
Diego Riviera mural scene   Erasmo Perez
Scene from Diego Riviera mural at the palace   Erasmo Perez
Fragment of Diego Riviera mural within the palace   Erasmo Perez
Diego Riviera mural within the palace   JPLatting
Diego Riviera mural within the palace   JPLatting
The palace.   Zoran Lazic/cc by-sa 3.0
A Castilian tapestry.   AlejandroLinaresGarcia/cc by-sa 4.0
The palace.   Ken Eckert/cc by-sa 4.0
The palace of Cortés.   Wiper México/cc by-sa 3.0
Cortésand Malinche meet Moctezuma and the Aztec lords.   unknown Tlaxcalan artists/public domain.
A portrait of Hernán Cortés.   Barbudo Barbudo/public domain.
Colonial-era conquistador armor.   AlejandroLinaresGarcia/cc by-sa 4.0
Clocktower of Palacio de Cortés.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
Back of the Palace.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
View from the Palace towards downtown Cuernavaca.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
Muraled hall in the Palace.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
The statue in front of the Palace is not of Cortés but of General Carlos Pacheco Villalobos.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
Central court of the Palace with archaeological findings on the floor.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
Emiliano Zapata by Diego Riviera in the palace   Erasmo Perez
Central court of the Palace with archaeological findings on the floor.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
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About

In the center of Cuernavaca, "The City of Eternal Spring," stands a large and foreboding Gothic fortress. It’s the oldest conserved colonial-era building in the Americas, and was built by the famous conquistador Hernán Cortés.

Cortés had the fortress constructed in 1526 after the conquistadors defeated the Aztecs. It was built atop the ruins of a much older structure that once served as a tribute gathering place for the indigenous rulers. Its location was intentional—by building the fortress atop the old gathering place, Cortés was sending a message that he was the new ruler.

The conquistador had realized that the defeat of the Aztec Empire was only the beginning of a long period of wars and battles that the Spaniards would fight against the indigenous tribes. As such, he ensured the fortress was built to withstand any attack.

His prediction proved to be correct. Not long after the palace was built, Cortés narrowly escaped a failed assassination attempt. Tlahuican warriors had infiltrated the palace, but they were shot down by his guards.

As the ruler of this new and vast addition to Spain’s empire, Cortés visited the palace frequently, living there for extended periods of time with his second wife, Doña Juana de Zúñiga. From there, he planned the exploration and conquest of northern areas in what is now the American state of California, hoping for gold and even greater glory.

After Cortés died 1547, his son and heir Don Martín Cortés inherited the palace. It then passed through several generations of the family until it eventually became abandoned. The building later served as an iron works, a tannery, a barracks, and a jail that housed prominent leaders of the Mexican War of Independence like José María Morelos y Pavon.

In post-independence Mexico, the palace became the government headquarters for the state of Morelos and remained so until the 1970s, when it officially became a regional museum.

Today, you may visit the palace and see its exhibits, which chronicle the local history from prehistoric times to the Aztecs all the way to colonial Mexico and the Mexican revolution. Keep an eye out for the mural called La Conquista y Revolución by renowned artist Diego Rivera.

Related Tags

Colonialism Fortresses Palaces Museums Museums And Collections

Know Before You Go

The palace is in the center of Cuernavaca and, due to its size and location, is practically impossible to miss. Entrance to the palace and its museum costs 60 pesos. Its opening hours are from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

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Added By

Monsieur Mictlan

Edited By

linkogecko, Kerry Wolfe

  • linkogecko
  • Kerry Wolfe

Published

November 2, 2018

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Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_Cort%C3%A9s,_Cuernavaca
  • https://www.lonelyplanet.com/mexico/cuernavaca/attractions/museo-regional-cuauhnahuac/a/poi-sig/1019107/361626
Palace of Cortés
Calle Leyva nº100
Cuernavaca
Mexico
18.921281, -99.233319
Visit Website
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Nearby Places

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Photo of Cuernavaca

Cuernavaca

Mexico

Places 4

Nearby Places

Museo Cassa Gaia

Cuernavaca, Mexico

miles away

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Cuernavaca

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