Zamora, Michoacán

Zamora de Hidalgo, (after Miguel Hidalgo) is a city in the Mexican state of Michoacán. It is located in the Tziróndaro Valley (P'urhépecha for "Swamp place" ), part of the Tarascan Plateau in the northwestern part of the state, at an altitude of 1,567 m. The 2005 census population was 127,606. The city is the municipal seat of Zamora municipality, which has an area of 330.97 km² (127.79 sq mi) and includes many other smaller communities, the largest of which is Ario de Rayón (Ario Santa Mónica). The municipality's population is around 170,748.

History

The area was first settled around 1500 BC. The modern-day city was founded in 1574, on the orders of Viceroy Martín Enríquez de Almanza, by Spanish settlers from the Spanish city of Zamora.

Zamora was awarded city status by the Constitutional Congress in 1825, ratifying a decision made in 1810 by the mexican War of Independence revolutionary leader Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla.

Education

Universities

Zamora has six institutes of higher education:
* Centro de Estudios Universitarios Veracruz “Univer”.
* [http://www.teczamora.edu.mx Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Zamora]
* Universidad de Zamora
* Universidad del Valle de Atemajac
* UPN Unidad 162 Zamora
* [http://www.colmich.edu.mx Colegio de Michoacán.]
* UMSNH Facultad de Medicina "Dr. Ignacio Chavez" Extension Zamora

Births

Policy and diplomacy
* José Sixto Verduzco, insurgent leader in the War of Independence senator for Michoacán.
* Alfonso García Robles, Nobel Peace Prize 1982 and Secretary of Foreign Affairs
* Martha Sahagun Jiménez de Fox, wife of former president Vicente Fox
* María Elena Álvarez, doctor in political science (UNAM), federal deputy and executive secretary of the National Women's Instiute.

Arts and culture
* Eduardo del Río , writer and cartoonist.
* Enrique Marín, actor.
* Edgar Gonzalez renowned blogger and architect based in Madrid, Spain.
* Carlos Ruvalcaba, writer and journalist, its novels "Vida Crónica" by Alfaguara, Spain; "La Mariposa Bailarina" by Santillana-Alfaguara in Miami, Florida, and "Los Novenarios" by La Secretaria de Cultura de Michoacán in Morelia, Mexico.

Sports
* Rafael Márquez, current player for FC Barcelona
* Juan Carlos Chavez, former soccer player
* Luis Ángel Landín, current player for Monarcas Morelia Religion
* Francisco Plancarte y Navarrete, bishop of Campeche and Cuernavaca.

Tourism

The historical helmet of the city lodges a great amount of buildings with historical value, getting up during the virreinato and century XIX. Some of these monuments are the temple of San Francisco, the Our Lady of Guadalupe Unfinished Cathedral of Zamora, second tallest church in Mexico; The church of La Purisima, the church of El Calvario, the Public Library and the Federal Palace.

One of the main tourist points is the Our Lady of Guadalupe Unfinished Cathedral, located over 5 de Mayo Avenue; it is a neo-gothic style architectural wonder that dates from 1898, this enormous cathedral when concluded is expected to reach 105 meters of height, and will be one of the greatest church of the American continent.

Zamora has several leisure alternatives, periodically Theater of the City of Zamora offers events, as piano recitals, theater, camera concerts and works, also the School of Michoacán A.C. with soothes in Zamora offers to the citizenship diverse cultural events like cycles of films festivals, recitals, concerts and presentations of folkloric dances and events.

Every year the Festival of the Chongos Zamoranos is held, where the visitor is able to taste gastronomical samples, musical dances and interpretations, as well as the “Poets Meeting” and every 12 of December in Our Lady of Guadalupe Unfinished Cathedral and in diverse places of the city.

One of nearby best attractions is the Lago de Camecuaro National Park.

References

* [http://www.inegi.gob.mx/est/contenidos/espanol/sistemas/conteo2005/localidad/iter/ Link to tables of population data from Census of 2005] INEGI: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática

* [http://www.e-local.gob.mx/wb2/ELOCAL/EMM_michoacan Michoacán] Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México

External links

* [http://www.zamora.gob.mx Ayuntamiento de Zamora] Official website
* [http://www.oem.com.mx/elsoldezamora/ El Sol de Zamora (newspaper)]
* [http://salesianoszamora.com Instituto Cristobal Colon de Zamora Michoacán]
* [http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santuario_Guadalupano_(Catedral_Inconclusa) Santuario Guadalupano (Spanish)]
* [http://www.geocities.com/madactitude4/zamora Zamora Michoacan by Omar Marrón Zuno (Spanish)]