Aqueduct of Querétaro

Examining various springs, he found that the most suitable site, given its convenient height in relation to the city, was the so-called Ojo de Agua del Capulín, named for a tree in town, La Cañada.

A careful study of the land, performed by the engineer Miguel Mendoza, made Don Juan Antonio see that no fewer than eighteen springs, from large to small, flowed at that point.

It was very irregular in shape and, according to Don Heraclio Cabrera, “completely lacking in architectural beauty,” despite the fact that the Marquis adorned its main front with a statue of Saint Anthony.

Once the water tank was finished, a fence was built around it high enough to protect it, and the key to its last entrance door was given to one of the councilmen.

From the point of the irrigation channel, the lime and stone canal starts, which in itself is an outstanding work, since it measured two leagues long.

On the upper part, the royal coat of arms and an image of Our Lady of the Pillar, or the Blessed Virgin Mary, crowned the piece.

There were also additional celebrations that lasted no fewer than fifteen days, including a parade of floats, comedies in the coliseum, an Indian walk, praises, dances of acrobatic stunts, cockfights, rockets, fireworks, and bullfights.