Mexico/Morelos: Cuernavaca
Cuernavaca is a beautiful historic city and one of the major attractions in the state of Morelos. The town existed in pre-Columbian Aztec times known as Cuauhahuac, but once the Spanish conquered it, they remade the name into more Spanish sounding – Cuernavaca. The great Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortez took particular liking to the city and ordered a lot of construction here. The center town is dominated by the massive Palace of Cortez with his stature. Further up the street is an equally massive fortress-like Cuernavaca Cathedral, also built by Cortez (it even had cannon installed originally). The church underwent a lot of changes through years with mostly neoclassical interior design until some frescoes were uncovered in the 20th century and finally displayed. Next to the cathedral is also a small Capilla of San Jose, also from the 16th century. Beautiful town in and out!
