Tequisquiapan - Tequisquiapan

Tequisquiapan it's a Magic Town of the state Mexican of Queretaro. One of the most important tourist places recognized for its variety of artisan cheeses and winemaking. Known for its Cheese and Wine Route and its Wine Fair.

Understand

History

Source where Tequisquiapan was founded.

The indigenous name of the word Tequisquiapan is Tequixquiatlapan, which means "Rio de agua de Tequesquite", or also, "

Place of waters of Tequesquite "; According to Nahua voices: Tequexquilli (Tequesquite), Atl (River or place) and apan (Water), now converted by phonetic ease into Tequisquiapan.

This town was called Santa María de la Asunción y de las Aguas Calientes. Tequisquiapan was founded in 1551, by Royal Cédulas de Carlos V and signed by the viceroy of New Spain, Don Luis de Velasco, and made known by the indigenous conqueror Don Nicolás de San Luis de Montañez, on July 24 of the same year, accompanied by his warlords and soldiers D. Alonso de Guzmán, D. Alonso de Granados, D. Angel Villafrana and Father D. Juan Bautista.

The Chichimeca Indians gathered at dawn in the place designated for the foundation, a cross was planted and an altar was formed with many stones, herbs and flowers, where Father Juan Bautista celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the mass.

On the other hand, D. Nicolás de San Luis de Montañez, dressed in the most colorful and strange way for the Indians, addressed them, faithfully admonishing the vassalage offered to the king, entrusting them to study Christian doctrine, as well as the to raise his church in the place where for the first time, the bloodless sacrifice had just been celebrated.

Weather

Tequisquiapan's climate is considered temperate, with two well-defined seasons in the year: rainfall from June to October and the dry season from November to May.

The most intense rainy season is recorded in the months of September and October. Summers in this place are, in general, warm, in which maximum temperatures of 37ºC are registered. On the other hand, winter is felt at its greatest intensity during the months of December and January, months in which extreme minimum temperatures of 1ºC are recorded. The average annual temperature is 17ºC, which is recorded in most of the year.

The best times of the year to visit Tequisquiapan for activities with warm weather are from the beginning of April to the first days of June.

Culture

Within said municipality, the recording of the film "El Professor" was made, starring Mario Moreno Reyes, commonly known as "Cantinflas", which was inspired by the story of Professor Rafael Zamorano. This teacher in 1888 built the school campus thanks to his initiative, also helping to create tasks with the school children. Thanks to him classrooms were built at the Barrio de las Magdalenas school. In 1900, together with Enrique C. Rébsamen, he was summoned by the federal government to reorganize instruction in Mexico.

To get

Streets of Tequisquiapan, Querétaro. Mexico

By plane

To travel to Tequisquiapan using an airplane, you must get through this means to the Mexico City airport, and then take a bus to the central Querétaro; It is also possible to get directly to the Querétaro airport. Subsequently, one of the following options must be followed:

• Take a taxi to get to the Magic Town, which charges three hundred pesos (October, 2019) and whose transfer takes 25 minutes.
• Board a bus to the Central North of Querétaro and later, another to Tequisquiapan, with a cost each of fifty pesos per person (October, 2019).

This is necessary since there is no transport line that goes directly to Tequisquiapan.

By bus

Main square, Tequisquiapan Querétaro. Mexico

The main bus lines that arrive to the Central North of Querétaro are: Yellow Arrow, Blue Arrow, Red Arrow, Primera Plus and ETN. The origins and destinations of these buses are: Mexico City, San Luis Potosí, Morelia, Guadalajara and León.

By car

This is the most recommended way to get to Tequisquiapan, since transfers are avoided, and it is possible to get there through the following roads:

• Hidalgo Huichapan- Tequisquiapan
• Queretaro-Tequisquiapan
• San Juan del Río- Tequisquiapan
• Jalpan de Serra- San Juan del Río

From the capital of Mexico, Tequisquiapan is a two and a half hour drive away.

Travel

To move within the Magic Town, the collective transport has taxis, which charge an average of 35 pesos to destinations within Tequisquiapan and 40 pesos or more when you want to go to the surroundings (prices consulted in October 2019).

There are also minibus and combis services, whose price is between 10 and 17 pesos, depending on the distance (October 2019), and they go to the following main neighborhoods:

• San Juan del Rio
• The Magdalena
• The colony
• Pedregal Square
• The turtle
• Ezequiel Montes

Watch

Miguel Hidalgo main square, Tequisquiapan, Querétaro, Mexico.

In the Magic Town of Tequisquiapan, Querétaro you can find historical places to see such as:

• The main square Miguel Hidalgo. This square is considered the main one of the town since it is where there are several attractions such as: The Parish of Santa María de la Asunción, architectural beauty of the region as it frames the beauty of Mexican architecture. In this square there are also the giant letters with the name of the town where tourists are photographed showing the name of the magical town. Around the plaza you can find main streets full of restaurants of various types of food from Mexican to international, bars and places of interest, as well as souvenir shops and some handicrafts.
• Temple of Santa María Magdalena. Located in the Magdalena neighborhood on the other side of the river that crosses the Pueblo Mágico, this place is considered to be the center of Tequisquiapan, since the founding of the town took place in this temple. Made entirely of stone, currently the only thing that remains original since its construction is the foundations, since over the years various renovations have been made trying to respect the initial image. Right in front of the temple is the Mesquite tree, It is one of the important parts in this area because it is where the founding of the town and the first religious mass take place. The tree is currently protected by a metal fence since it was struck by lightning years ago. Another attraction found in this place is the Fountain of the foundation, This fountain was placed between 1989 and 1991 by the City Council to commemorate the 440th anniversary of the founding of Tequisquiapan, which is currently inside the temple.
• Bridge of the Four Neighborhoods. The first wooden bridge that crossed the river and separated the four neighborhoods with which Tequisquiapan was originally founded: the San Juan neighborhood, the La Magdalena neighborhood, the San Pedro neighborhood and the San Nicolás neighborhood. It was very difficult for merchants to go through this bridge because it was too small for the circulation and transportation of their products. Due to this problem, the bridge changed its location and that is how Tequisquiapan grew. This bridge is still conserved as a tourist attraction because it was the main entrance in the foundation of the town, the river that crosses under this bridge can still be seen although it is no longer an abundant river and it is not clean as it used to be.
• Cantinflas Monument. Located in The Garden the Art the monument made in honor of Mario Fortino Alfonso Moreno Reyes “Cantinflas”. This is due to the fact that he participated as the protagonist, Socrates García, in the movie "El Profe", recorded in the town of Tequisquiapan in 1971, Cantinflas learned the story of Professor Rafael Zamorano who lived in the magical town of Tequisquiapan, who led educating the people and deciding to participate in the project that resulted in this film, one of the most recognized by the actor. The first public school in the village is named after the teacher, Rafael Zamorano, who brought education to Tequisquiapan. Currently, the school preserves the façade from when it was built, the three main rooms are those seen at the entrance, even the brick floors of these rooms and the mosaics are preserved as when it was built. Over the years this school has grown and they have built more classrooms that are behind the originals. Today, there is the white house that was where the movie "The Prof" was filmed.
• "La Pila" Park. It is a very important park since it was in this place where the clean thermal water gushed out. Inside there are two thermal water pools that are no longer enabled. In this same park are the laundries where the children were washed and bathed. During the months of May and June, during the weekends, the National Wine and Cheese Fair is held in which more than 500 are exhibited. wine labels, tastings, cheeses, cuts of meat, dressings, typical sweets, chocolates and jams.
• Tequisquiapan has important recognitions in terms of wine produced in the region. In this magical town there is a vineyard of more than 500 hectares and 25 wine cellars. One of the most important and recognized wine cellars in the region is Cava Freixenet, which produces approximately three million bottles of its wine per year and is also the only wine cellar that exports its products abroad. In turn, it has the deepest cellar in Latin America, 25 meters deep. Another important vineyard in the magical town is Viñedos La Redonda. The owner and founder, Don Vittorio Giaginto Bortoluz Perencin, arrived in Mexico in 1940, but it was not until 1975 that he planted his first wine grape crop in Tequisquiapan. The vineyard has an area of ​​100 hectares of sown grapes, among which it has 15 species of plants and 35 labels.
• In the Tequisquiapan Cultural Center there is the municipal public library that has books of all kinds for consultation and loan. In this cultural center the arts are promoted through exhibitions and other artistic expressions.
• In the magical town of Tequisquiapan is the artisan market, one of the attractions of the town because there you can find crafts made by the indigenous people of the region who base their crafts on their traditions and customs. One of the main crafts that are made in the town are the quince baskets, these baskets are totally handmade and are of different sizes, from very small to whole baskets for the hot air balloons that are used for tours around the town.
• Opal mine. Located in the community called La Trinidad, on the outskirts of the magical town of Tequisquiapan is the "El Redentor" mine where opal is extracted, used for the production of artisan jewelry. The stone can be of different colors, the stone known as "The Dragon" is highly valued and has a high monetary value.

Do

Rulfo bookstore: It is a bookstore where books by Mexican authors of different genres are for sale. In it there is a cafeteria that offers coffee, cookies, sweet bread, snacks, etc. Inside the bookstore there is also a temporary painting exhibition section that changes every 2 or 3 months. For example, in October they paint the walls with the theme of the Day of the Dead in which catrinas and catrines are portrayed that are typical of Mexican culture during those dates.

Wine and Cheese Route by truck: This tour has a tour of different places in the town by van, it begins in the center of the town, visiting the Magdalena neighborhood (where the town of Tequisquiapan was founded on July 24, 1551), the first residential areas and then the first chapel, the river, the Puente de los Cuatro Barrios (which is one of the entrances to enter Tequisquiapan and with a serious ecological impact).

We visit the sculpture of Cantinflas, the first school, the Cultural Center, the park "La Pila", the house of Silvia Pinal (famous Mexican actress). The tour ends with a wine and cheese tasting typical of the region at a local cheese factory.

Tours

The cost of the tour is $ 490.00 per adult and $ 170.00 for minors. It lasts about an hour and a half.

Pedestrian Tour through Tequisquiapan: In this tour the guide takes us to know Tequisquiapan on foot. Some places that are visited are

• The Church of Santa Maria de la Asunción
• The Handicraft Market
• The Park "La Pila"
• Visit to the TX Vineyard

The tour ends with a wine and cheese tasting at a local cheese factory. The cost of this tour is $ 270.00 per adult and $ 120.00 for minors. It lasts about two and a half hours.

The National Cheese and Wine Fair: This event takes place annually in the "Parque la Pila" in the months of May and June (only on weekends).

Hot air balloons

Balloon flight: The hot air balloon flight offers us an unforgettable experience with the view of the sunrise and its landscape. This experience takes place at 6:00 a.m., since in the morning is when the best weather conditions are presented to make a safe flight. This activity lasts from 45 minutes to 1 hour. It includes:

• Breakfast
• Toast with the Captain
• Balloon Flight Certificate

The cost of the balloon flight is $ 2,200.00 for adults and $ 1,800.00 for minors.

Events (edit)

Cheese and Wine Fair, Tequisquiapan.

In the magical city of Tequisquiapan some events and traditions are celebrated during the year, many of them religious, and others just traditional. The most important ones are mentioned below:

• National Cheese and Wine FairSince 1976, one of the most important tourist attractions of this place is the fair of two products, which are one of the best combinations in gastronomy: cheese and wine. This important fair, which shows a wide variety of fresh artisan cheeses and delicious wines, takes place the last two weekends in May and the first of June.
• The celebration of Easter it takes place in the month of March or April. It begins on Wednesday with the arrest and washing of the feet of the apostles. The following days the Stations of the Cross are staged and the journey continues to El Monte Calvario, where it ends with the act of The Crucifixion. On the Saturday of Glory, the Judas and devils are burned with popular jubilation and, finally, on Easter Sunday a great feast is held as a Catholic symbol.
• Patronal Festival of Tequisquiapan. This is the most important Patronal Festival in the municipality and it begins on August 15 in honor of Santa María de la Asunción. During these three days of celebration, circle dances are performed with lofty plumes to the beat of their drums. On this date the first communions and confirmations are held, which are blessed by the Bishop of the city, beginning at noon. These ceremonies end at night with fireworks and castles in honor of the patron saint of this place.
• Since 1870, the prehispanic dance It is a great tradition in Tequisquiapan. This tribute is made by the precursor of these dances, Don Eleucadio Cruz, who brought this beautiful art that continues from generation to generation until today. Regardless of the climate in which the city is located, they carry out this tradition with great joy and affection, as an offering to Father God and the Mother of God, putting the name of this Magical Town on high.

To buy

In the center of Tequisquiapan, there are various items ranging from typical sweets such as wafers, cocadas, guava rolls, palanquetas, tamarind candy, among others. You can buy a variety of cheeses of various types such as Oaxaca cheese, smoked, Manchego, with chipotle, goat, sheep, herbs and chimichurri sauce.

For children, there are items such as typical hand-made dolls of the region known as “Lele” or “María”, games and wooden toys such as dominoes, pirinolas, spinning tops and jengas. Inside the markets you can also find bags and baskets made of wicker.In some establishments you can buy typical costumes, blankets, slang sweatshirts, dresses, shawls, hats with colored embroidery, costume jewelery, embroidered purses and handmade key rings. In stores you can buy different stones that are hand carved such as quartz, onyx, and opal.

To eat

The typical cuisine of Tequisquiapan, Querétaro, includes these dishes:

• Mole querétano with turkey
• Chubby corn chips
• Menudo and stewed blood
• Barbecue or goat or lamb consommé

Cheese board and glass of wine in a local cheese factory, the tasting is of 13 types of cheeses from the region accompanied by a sweet red wine Ruby Do, originally from Querétaro.

• Huitlacoche quesadillas
• Pork carnitas
• Querétanas enchiladas, stuffed with chicken and cheese, topped with a delicious and traditional ancho chili sauce
• Carnitas.
• Cheese specialty: Oaxaca cheese, ranchero, oreado, smoked, Manchego cheese with epazote, chipotle cheese, pine nut cheese, walnut cheese, goat cheese, cheese with sauce chimichurri.
• Churrinche cheese, originally from the Querétaro region; cheese gold medal winner at The World Cheese Awards 2017, matured for three to four months in its own cellars, made from 100% sheep's milk, yellow with an intense flavor, type: hard pasta, cooked and pressed, natural rind.
• Food made with the pebble tequesquite, fine stone used to make mole, meat, rice and for the most popular boiled corn. The stone is placed in the pot in which it is cooked, it dissolves and therefore the food has a taste between sugary and salty. This stone is found on the banks of rivers.

In Tequisquiapan there is a great variety of restaurants that offer various typical dishes:

• Taste of me. Mexican Kitchen. Address: Juarez # 1 Col. Centro (127.80 km) 73750 Tequisquiapan. Hours: Monday to Sunday from 9:00 am to 11:00 pm Telephone: 414 121 7035
• The Charamusca. Address: Calle Ezequiel Montes 1, Centro, 76750 Tequisquiapan, Qro .. Hours: Monday to Sunday from 8:00 am to 10:30 pm Telephone: 414 273 0781

Drink and go out

The most common beverages are pulque blanco and cured fruits and tunas. The cane brandy was a common and current drink until the sixties, they brought it from the stills of the mountains. Currently, the most common beverages are: beer, brandy, rum, tequila, cognac, whiskey and wines.

Sleep

In Tequisquiapan you can find accommodation for every taste.

• My hotel (De Los Sauces 208, Centro, 76750 Tequisquiapan, Qro.). ☎ 01 (414) 273 0315. Colorful buildings, gardens with fountains and a toilet area offering free tequila shots for guests. Traditional room (1 bed, 2 people): $ 800.00 (Sunday to Thursday), $ 1000.00 (Friday & Saturday). Junior room (2 double beds, 4 people): $ 1050.00 (Sunday to Thursday), $ 1300.00 (Friday & Saturday). The price includes taxes and continental breakfasts. The hotel has 24/7 reception, free WiFi, garden, toilet areas, restaurant.
• ANDl Relox Hotel & Spa (Morelos Norte 8, Centro, 76750 Tequisquiapan). ☎ 01 (414) 273 1137. Hotel with spa offering a relaxing atmosphere, located next to the Handicraft Market. Deluxe room (2 double beds, 4 people) $ 860.00. Deluxe triple room (3 beds) $ 930.00. Deluxe suite (1 double bed, 1 double bed with hydromassage bathtub) 1770 $. It has free WiFi, pool, gym, restaurant, bar, option of breakfast in bed, free parking, spa, massage, reception 24/7.
  

  The main entrance of El Relox Hotel & Spa
• House of Miracles (Guillermo Prieto 12, Centro, 76750 Tequisquiapan, Qro.). ☎ 01 (414) 273 3890. Hacienda-style hotel 2 minutes from the parish. There are 16 rooms (single, double, triple, quadruple). It has free WiFi, pool, restaurant, bar and accepts pets.

Next destiny

The Villa of San Sebastián Bernal, better known as Bernal, is a small and picturesque town in the municipality of Ezequiel Montes, in the Mexican state of Queretaro. The main attraction of Bernal is its huge monolith of massive rock, the Peña de Bernal (Bernal rock or Bernal peak) is 350 meters (1150 feet) high. It is the third highest monolith in the world, after the Rock of Gibraltar and Pan de Azúcar.