Guía Turística de México, Travel By México

Palacio de Gobierno (Government Pal

This magnificent building located at number 63 of the Madero West Avenue at the corner of Benito Juarez and Melchor Ocampo was built  on the orders of King Carlos II of Spain in 1760 to house the Tridentine seminar which was inaugurated in 1770 by the bishop of Michoacán Pedro Sanchez de Tagle.

The classes taught were: Spanish, Latin, Greek, French, literature, philosophy, law and the sacred scriptures. Here studied men who excelled in several fields of Mexico as Mariano Michelena the precursor of Independence, Juan Jose Martinez de Lejarza botanist and statesman, Agustin de Iturbide, José María Morelos y Pavón; prominent figures in the War of Independence, Melchor Ocampo, a key figure in the Law of Reform of 1857 as well as Jose Sixto Verduzco, Vicente Santa Maria and the bishops Angel Mariano Morales and Clemente de Jesus Mungia, among others.

During the struggle for independence, the seminar was closed from 1810 to 1819, when it started to work. In 1859 it was expropriated and occupied as a barrack, that when the Republican General  Epitafio Huerta was established in the city during the War of Reform. In 1863 he returned to the clergy but only 4 years later republican troops captured the city and became the final residence of the executive of the state.

The palace has three facades, on the main one is observed the Baroque planking style typical of the city. Its interior is elegant and severe with high arches....more info