Ocotlán de Morelos is a town and municipality located in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. It is situated approximately 35 km south of the city of Oaxaca along Highway 175 within the Ocotlán District of the southern Valles Centrales Region.
The area served as a significant population center during the Spanish Conquest, leading to the establishment of an important Dominican monastery in the 16th century. The complex remains today, with its church still serving for worship and its cloister area functioning as a museum. The municipality is also recognized for its traditional crafts, specifically the high-quality ceramics produced by the Aguilar family.
Ocotlán de Morelos serves as a key distribution and transportation hub for the southern Central Valleys region, a role expected to expand with the construction of a new highway connecting Oaxaca City to the Pacific coast. The city is also associated with artist Rodolfo Morales, who depicted his hometown in his artwork and sponsored various projects to restore local historic monuments.