Santa Clara del Cobre

Santa Clara del Cobre lies 18km south of Pátzcuaro and 79km from Morelia, in the pine highlands of Michoacán. Frequent combis run from Pátzcuaro's Plaza Chica stands, taking 25-30 minutes; a rental car from Morelia covers the fuller 79km in about 1 hour 15 minutes, and a taxi from Pátzcuaro with prearranged waiting time suits a shorter visit. The Pueblo Mágico's main draw is its copper-working tradition, visible on almost every street as smiths hammer cauldrons, basins and sculptural vessels from single sheets of copper over charcoal fires, a craft tracing back to pre-Hispanic Purépecha metalwork and later organised under bishop Vasco de Quiroga. A morning walk through the workshop-lined streets around the plaza lets visitors watch smiths at work before the afternoon heat sets in, followed by a stop at the Museo del Cobre to see prize-winning pieces from the annual copper fair. Lunch at one of the comedores facing the plaza typically features regional Michoacán dishes such as corundas and carnitas. Afternoons can extend to the pine country beyond town, which leads on to Lake Zirahuén for those with a car. The town is a pleasant visit year-round, but the Feria Nacional del Cobre each August draws master coppersmiths from across the region and fills the plaza with competition pieces and demonstrations.