ENRICO MARTINO

Michoacan is a beautiful state of Mexico pierced by the volcanic range of the Cordillera Volcanica, caracterised by colonial towns like Morelia or Patzcuaro, the center of the 130.000 Purepecha Indians. One of the largest events is Noche de Muertos or Night of the Dead celebrated around 2 November, the Mexican Day of the Dead celebrations with a blending of both pre-Hispanic and Catholic beliefs and traditions. Noche de Muertos is celebrated most strongly in the towns and villages around Lake Patzcuaro which was the center of the Purhepecha Empire. As in other parts of Mexico, altars to the dead erected in homes and on graves and covered with offerings such as bread, fruit and other items. One aspect which is unique to the event here is the lighting and floating of hundreds of small candles and flowers on Lake Patzcuaro on the night between 1 and 2 November. Colonial cities of Michoacàn are like another Spain, but with a Mexican flavour. Morelia, the capital of the state, is one of the country’s most significant colonial cities with an aristocratic feel. An impressive pink stone cathedral dominates the main plaza surrounded by beautiful colonial buildings. The cathedral is said to have taken over 100 years to build and is one of the finest in all of Mexico. Patzcuaro is a charming town with a mixed colonial and indigenous feel of colonial buildings, mansions and courtyards built around the fine and elegant Plaza de Quiroga. Bishop Vasco de Quiroga promoted education and self sufficiency of the indigenous people to develop their natural skills as talented craftsmen.

MEXICO-PARACHO. THE WORLD'S BEST GUITARS Paracho, a legendary Tarascan village of guitar makers in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Michoacàn, is probably the world's capital of guitars. Paracho artisans have been perfecting their craft, the best handmade guitars of Mexico, for over 200 years. Each guitar, made from finest woods, has it's own unique styling and beautiful craftsmanship. In Paracho, with a population of around 15,000, work between 1000 and 1200 guitar makers, the main street is lined with stores and workshops selling guitars but only a couple of the workshops on the main street belong to the better makers. Paracho's makers divide their production into three classes and the great bulk of makers produce popular guitars directed at the national market. Estudio guitars are better built instruments, usually with local woods such as palo escrito. Not much more than a dozen build true concert guitars, and these makers, generally speaking, have benefited from classes given in Paracho by world class luthiers from Spain, Germany, and the USA. Some of these makers, like Abel Garcia, have acheived world class reputations and have long waiting lists with prices that match those of Spanish builders.