Querétaro - Part III - The trilogy finale

The short, sad story of Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico, and his connection to Querétaro 

  While Querétaro has much to offer, our visit, alas, is only for the day.  We learn the story of Maximilian of Austria, and his brief time (1864-1867) as Emperor of Mexico.  

  Here's my summary - 

Maximilian became Emperor after the French invaded and gained control of Mexico.  His conservative regime was always unstable because he was never accepted by liberal Republican forces (I know this sounds odd) led by Benito Juarez.  After continual fighting, his military forces were defeated, pushed out of Mexico City, and then retreated to Querétaro.  During the ongoing siege, Maximilian lived at the Convento de la Santa Cruz (see Part I).  He was eventually captured and executed at the Cerro de las Campanas (Hill of the Bells).

   Today, Maximilian is generally remembered as a leader that, while somewhat ineffective, tried to unite the country and worked to improve life for the impoverished.

No, I did not take this photo of Maximilian!  

Our convent guide brings us to Maximilian's room - stark, with only two chairs, a small table, and a single bed.

In memorandum - 'From March 13 to May 15, 1867, this room was the home of the Archduke of Austria, Fernando Maximiliano Jose, and his prison from May 15 to 17 in the same year. '  He was executed on June 19. 

This small chapel commemorates the spot of his execution.  Maximilian gave his executioners gold so that they would fire only below his shoulders.

Today, Cerro de las Campanas is a beautiful park where special events are celebrated.  This young women is celebrating her Quinceañera (15th birthday).

Story of Maximilian's death and Hill of the Bells

   There's much more information about Maximilian available.  Here's one online source:

http://latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/19thcenturylatinamerica/p/maxaustria.htm

   All comments and input regarding this or previous posts are welcomed!

Querétaro - Part II

   After leaving the convent, the rest of our day is busy.  We drive to the Hill of Sangremal, site of a historic battle in 1531 between the indigenous people of this area and the Spanish.  The Spanish won and the origin of what is currently Queretaro dates to this event.  

Not everyone is impressed by the historic battle on the Hill of Sangremal. 

  
 We also visit the Regional Museum, housed in a 16th-century structure that was formerly the Convent of San Francisco  (Seriously, every block in the old town contains either a convent or a church.)

Cloister of the Regional Museum, once the Convent of San Francisco

Max's favorite fountain

   Our final stop of the day is at the Church of Santa Rosa de Viterbo.  Another interesting story.  This church was designed in 1752 by Alarife Ignacio Maraiano de las Casas.  His critics felt his style too whimsical with its inverted buttresses painted grey and white like snails' shells.  So, for them, he added mocking faces.  See below. 

Church of Santa Rosa de Viterbo

Twin entrances to the church

Inverted buttresses don't add support - only for decor

The church style and its buttresses are unique to Queretaro

Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

A peak inside at the church's gold-embellished design - There's a wedding in progress

   After ingesting much knowledge and history, we earn a great Mexican comida.  We dine outside in one of the oldest sections of town.

Finally!  Lunch at a cafe in the center of town

Querétaro - Part I

     Our school offers two ‘field trips’ each session.  The first one is a day trip to Queretaro, a city about 60 miles southeast of San Miguel de Allende.  The outside of the city has factories, Costco, and Walmart, but the historical center of the city is completely different and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

   The first thing we see in the city is its huge aqueduct, built between 1726-1738 and consisting of seventy five 70’ high arches.  Impressive!!  It was built by Marqués del Villar del Aguila.  The legend is that he fell in love with a beautiful nun.  Since they couldn't be together, she asked him to show his love by bringing clean water to her convent.  So the construction began.  The aquaduct spans throughout the city and ends close to the Convento de la Santa Cruz.  It is said that the final arch of the aquaduct brought water directly to the convent where the nun lived.  A very romantic story!

Aquaduct - tried to give this photo a 'Vintage Postcard' look

Overview of aquaduct from above - More than 75 arches and each one is 70' high

  The Convento de la Santa Cruz was one of my favorite stops.  A beautiful place with unique thorn trees, considered miraculous because the thorns grow in the shape of a cross.  We were given a tour by an elderly monk who spoke English.  For those of us that like California history, this is where Junipero Serra studied and set out on foot to establish five missions in northern Mexico and eventually 9 of the 21 missions in California.  

Courtyard of Convento de la Santa Cruz; dates to mid-seventeenth century.

   

Courtyard in the convent

The courtyard trees produce thorns in the shape of crosses.  The first tree is said to have sprung from the walking stick of one of the original friars of the church.

Fresh water was stored and kept cool in this tiled basin

Our guide, a 'retired' monk, led our group on a tour of the grounds.

Behind our guide, the chimney to the convent's original kitchen

Courtyard of the convent

   Convento de la Santa Cruz is one of Queretaro's many attractions. There will be future posts about our trip to this very interesting city.  Please stay tuned!

   As always, your comments and input are welcomed.