Palacio de Cortés

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Palacio de Cortés was the residence of conquistador Hernán Cortés after he decided to move to the town of Cuernavaca from Mexico City. It was also intended to be the seat of his encomienda.

Construction of the residence was started in 1526, for which the local population was employed. Cortés decided to build his residence on top of a hill, on the ruins of the lordship of Cuauhnáhuac. This place had been used by the aztecs to collect tribute, and therefore it also was a symbol of Cortés' dominance over the conquered territory.

The Palacio de Cortés reflects the different uses it has been subject to. Over time it was destined to be used as Cortés' residence, Catholic church, prison, Palace of the Mexican Republic, seat of the Morelos State government and, finally, museum.

As a museum it hosts a collection of objects of great historical and artistic value that describe and reflect the history of the State of Morelos. In the ground floor there are exhibits of prehistorical artifacts found in the region, while in the top floor there are exhibits from the colonial time until the post-revolution era.

In the top floor there is also an arched gallery that is aligned with the Popocatépetl. In this gallery muralist Diego Rivera made one of his most renowned works: the mural Historia de Morelos, Conquista y Revolución which aims to summarize the history of Morelos State during the Conquest and the Revolution.