Alfredo Zalce's massive mural "People and Landscape of Michoacan" decorates the staircase of the Palacio de Gobierno and is considered one of the masterworks of Mexican muralism. Painted between 1960 and 1973, the mural sweeps through Mexican history with Zalce's characteristically vivid colours and strong compositional sense — the Purepecha world before conquest, the violent arrival of the Spanish, the independence movement led by Morelos and Hidalgo, the reform period, and the Revolution.
The mural can be seen for free during government building hours by simply walking through the entrance of the Palacio de Gobierno. The staircase location gives the painting dramatic impact — you ascend through Mexican history as you climb. Look for the portrait of Father Hidalgo, shown not as a saintly figure but as a human being caught up in forces beyond anyone's control.