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Church · Quiroga, Michoacán
Parish of San Diego de Alcalá
The main church of Quiroga, beside the central square. The name recalls the Franciscan saint who gave the town its colonial name, San Diego Cocupao, before it came to honor Vasco de Quiroga in the 19th century.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Parish of San Diego de Alcalá
The Parroquia de San Diego de Alcalá is Quiroga’s main church and is located in the town center, next to the main square. It is the natural starting point for any visit: artisan shops and food stalls that make the town a roadside stop between Morelia and Lake Pátzcuaro cluster around it.
Before the Spanish arrived, the settlement was called Cocupao. The Franciscans dedicated it to San Diego de Alcalá, a 15th-century friar, and during the colonial period it was known as San Diego Cocupao. The parish still bears the saint’s name. Vasco de Quiroga, the first bishop of Michoacán, founded the Hospital de la Concepción de Cocupao there to serve the indigenous population and travelers.
Around 1852, at the residents’ request, the settlement was renamed Quiroga in honor of the bishop. The main square received in 1858 a statue known as La América, and in 1950 a statue of Vasco de Quiroga was inaugurated in the Plaza de la Constitución.
Besides the parish, the center has other old churches, such as the Inmaculada Concepción and the chapels of San Miguel and San Vicente de Paúl. The walk around the center can be done on foot in a short time and can end with a plate of carnitas, the specialty that made the town famous.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About half an hour for the parish and an hour for the walk around the center and the artisan shops.
Best time
In the morning or early afternoon, when the shops around the square are open. Church hours change on celebration days; check before you go. The town’s patronal festival takes place in July.
How to get there
It is in the center of Quiroga, a few steps from the main square. The town lies on the road between Morelia and Pátzcuaro; if you arrive by bus you disembark near the center.
Tip
Allow time for the streets around the square, where painted wood pieces, ceramics and other crafts from the villages around Lake Pátzcuaro are sold.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Parish of San Diego de Alcalá
Why is Quiroga called that?
In tribute to Vasco de Quiroga, the first bishop of Michoacán. Until the mid-19th century the town was known as San Diego Cocupao; the current name was adopted around 1852.
What to see in Quiroga center?
The Parroquia de San Diego de Alcalá, the main square with the statue La América, the Plaza de la Constitución with the statue of Vasco de Quiroga and the craft shops on the nearby streets.
When is Quiroga’s festival?
The patronal festival takes place in July. Exact dates change each year; confirm before you go.