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As part of the historic development, the meeting of the Indian and Spanish cultures generated radical changes that had an impact in all aspects of our life. Besides the conquest itself, religion, social and family structures, the concept of the universe and even the type of plants, fruits and animals both cultures had endowed us with, created a huge makeover in their traditions, beliefs and economy.

The Franciscans, Dominicans and Augustinians through conversion built an important number of monasteries and convents. In the same manner the development of sugar cane production, which substituted cotton crops originated the construction of huge ranches called Haciendas.

Three hundred years later with Mexico’s Independence War, Morelos suffered important changes that produced changes in the government and in conjunction the creation of city halls. After fifty years of independent life rife with revolts and invasions (French and American), Benito Juarez then president of the country gave Morelos its constitutional right to become a state on April 17th 1869.

With General Porfirio Diaz as president of Mexico (1877 – 1911), the country had an important modernization process. The Haciendas changed their traditional production systems to steam systems, with the consequent need to use more water and land to widen the crops. The peasants were not happy with the situation and eventually their discontent would make them join the revolutionary movement under the leadership of Emiliano Zapata. Later when Zapata was assassinated, the sugar industry was almost destroyed and the lands were divided into “ejidos.”

>From 1930 on, Morelos has lived peacefully. During the following years economic activities were encouraged along with communication and transportation networks, services, education and tourism.

Since they were built during the 16th century, Haciendas and monasteries have been a vital part of Morelos’ history. First as forts, later as army quarters, next as public buildings, and finally as hotels or just as national monuments, they are a sight worth visiting.
catedral.jpg (6555 bytes)16TH CENTURY MONASTERIES – Some of the 25 old monasteries are:

- El Convento de Santo Domingo in Oaxtepec
- El Templo de la Natividad in Tepoztlan
- El Monasterio de San Mateo in Atlatlahuacan
- El Convento de San Guillermo in Totolapan
- El Convento de Santiago el Mayor in Jiutepec
- El Convento in Tlayacapan
- El Convento de Pazulco
- El Convento de San Juan Bautista in Yecapixtla
- El Convento de Jumiltepec
- El Convento de Santo Domingo in Cuautla
- El Convento de San Juan Bautista in Tlayacapan
- El Convento de Nuestra Señora de los Angeles in Ahuatepec

HACIENDAS – Some of the 52 Haciendas found in Morelos are:

- Hacienda de Santa Catariana in Chiconcuac
- Hacienda in Miacatlan
- Ex – Hacienda de San Jose de Vista Hermosa
- Hacienda in San Gabriel las Palmas
- Hacienda de Santa Cruz in Vista Alegre
- Hacienda La Mezquitera
- Hacienda de San Juan Bautista
- Hacienda de Atlacomulco
- Hacienda de San Pedro Martir
- Hacienda de Cocoyoc
- Hacienda de San Carlos Borromeo
- Hacienda de Temixco

For more information about guided tours, please ask your favorite Travel Agency.