At play in the Land of the Fishermen.

Set on the tranquil slopes of the Santa Maria hills, the Villa Montaña hotel overlooks the Spanish Colonial masterpiece of Morelia, capital of Michoacán State, the "Land of the Fishermen." Once the heart of the Tarascan Empire, a land never conquered by the Aztecs to the east, the region today revels in a culture washed by influences native and European, ancient and modern -- aspects the Villa Montaña aims to capture.

Each of the hotel's 36 luxurious villa-style suites has its own special character, opening onto quiet patios and gardens. The grandest of them all, the Presidential Suite, offers guests a full living room with fireplace and with adjoining dining area, all superbly decorated with native antiques and artwork. Views across Morelia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, culminate in the baroque Morelia Cathedral.

Tip: November is the month to go. With it comes one of the most colorful holidays in the calendar: Noche de Muertos, the Night of the Dead, where native gods and Catholic saints blend in a festival uniquely Mexican.

villamontana.com.mx

David Perry

10/28/08