Palacio de Cortés

The Palacio de Cortés was the residence of conquistador Hernán Cortés after he moved to the town of Cuernavaca from Mexico City. It was 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 Cuauhnahuac. This place had been used by the Aztecs to collect tribute, 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, a prison, the Palace of the Mexican Republic, the seat of the Morelos State government and, finally, a museum.

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, 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.

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