The Palace of Cortés Museum is a 16th-century colonial structure of Gothic mudejar architecture. Built in the early 1500s, it is among the oldest conserved colonial buildings in the Americas and today contains a museum about the region. Learn about the role of the building and this city in Mexico’s history and development.
Take a guided visit of the building to understand its intricate history. The palace was also used as a Catholic temple, a jail and a government headquarters. It was initially the house of Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortés.
Enter the Cauhnáhuac Museum in the building for a comprehensive overview of the state’s history dating back to pre-Hispanic times through Emiliano Zapata’s agrarian revolution. Browse various coins, costumes, weapons and carriages that shed light on the former cultures of the region.
The museum has multiple halls on a variety of themes, displaying artifacts such as fossils and migration maps. Inspect pottery and stone tools and learn about the nearby Xochicalco archaeological site.
See the spectacular History of Morelos: Conquests and Revolution mural by artist Diego Rivera. The large painting presents a chaotic scene with monsters and humans depicting the history of Morelos from Cortés to Zapata. Admire other works by the same artist Rivera was a prominent Mexican muralist who helped to create art that documented the nation’s history as part of the Mexican Mural Movement.
Capture photos of this colonial behemoth of a structure, with its arches and colonnade, from the adjoining Zócalo de Cuernavaca. Relax in this large and spacious plaza in front of the building. Alongside the square are many restaurants and cafés as well as intriguing historical sites.
The museum opens Tuesday through Sunday from morning until early evening. There is a fee to enter. Sundays have free admission.
Find the Palace of Cortés Museum in the central part of the Old Town area in Cuernavaca. It occupies the southeastern corner of Zócalo de Cuernavaca, which is the city’s main square. See nearby sights, such as the Cuernavaca Cathedral, the Ocampo Theater and the Palace of Justice.