- Palacio de Cortés
The Palacio de Cortés was the residence of
conquistador Hernán Cortés after he moved to the town ofCuernavaca fromMexico City . It was intended to be the seat of hisencomienda .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
Cuauhnahuac . This place had been used by theAztec s to collecttribute , and therefore it 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, a
Catholic church, aprison , the Palace of the Mexican Republic, the seat of theMorelos State government and, finally, amuseum .As a museum it hosts a collection of objects of historical and artistic value that describe and reflect the history of the State of Morelos. On the ground floor there are exhibits of prehistoric artifacts found in the region, while in the top floor are exhibits from the colonial time to the post-revolution era.
On the top floor is an arched gallery aligned with the
Popocatépetl . In this gallery, muralistDiego Rivera made one of his most renowned works: the muralHistoria de Morelos, Conquista y Revolución , which aims to summarize the history of Morelos State during the Conquest and the Revolution.References
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