In Colón, religious history and local culture lead to real places: the Ruta Cristera runs through the Alameda, the Basílica de Soriano and the Misión de Santo Domingo; Casa Mota is also a stop. There is also a museum right next to the basilica and historical traces throughout the town. When choosing Colón as your destination, you can focus on the history of the municipality, its religious tradition, or attractions elsewhere in the municipality.
Pilgrimage History and Ruta Cristera
The Basílica de la Virgen de los Dolores de Soriano was built between 1880 and 1912 and features neoclassical architecture. At the Santuario de Soriano, the Santísima Virgen is venerated under the title of Los Dolores. The polychrome wooden sculpture is 65 centimeters tall and may date from the 17th century. The basilica’s feast days are Good Friday and September 15. On February 7, 2009, the Santuario was declared a Minor Basilica.
The Ruta Cristera connects the history of the Cristero movement with several stops in the main town: it runs through the Alameda, the basilica and the Misión de Santo Domingo; Casa Mota is also one of the stops. The route is also associated with fifteen commemorative plaques throughout the historic center. A tram ride is offered as part of the Ruta Cristera. This offers a way to explore architecture, religious devotion and the memory of the movement as distinct aspects of the town’s history.
History Right Next to the Basilica
The Museo Comunitario is right next to the Basílica. It preserves the historical foundations of Colón, its agricultural activities, the history of the Cristero movement and the municipality’s role in various periods of Mexican history. For travelers interested in more than the basilica’s architecture, these topics add to the picture of the region and its development.
Individual buildings also tell stories about the town’s past. The Casa de las Rosas was occupied by the mothers of the Order of Santa Rosa de Viterbo from 1886 to 1928. During the Cristero movement, they were expelled and persecuted; religious families in the town gave them refuge. The Puente de la Purísima is an old Camino Real. On its south side, a niche on a column with a base contains a fully sculpted statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe. The original fountain in Jardín Unión was built in 1877.
Hot Springs and Local Specialties
The main town is also home to the “1492” thermal baths, with their hot springs. Another aspect of local life can be found at Panadería El Güero bakery: it has been making bread for 30 years, following a family recipe that continues a long baking tradition. Nieves Puebla has been around since 1946 and specializes in Mantecado and Garambullo ice cream; its address is Álvaro Obregón 25a. Together, these details give an impression of how religious and historic sites connect with local traditions in Colón.
Excursions in the Municipality
Some other activities are outside the main town, elsewhere in the municipality. Presa Colón is located in El Poleo, where boating and fishing are possible. In Los Pilones, in Ejido Patria, there are petroglyphs, cave paintings and caves that served as a refuge for the Cristeros. These two places add different themes to the main town’s cultural sites: water activities at the Presa and archaeological and historical traces in Los Pilones.
There are also activities in the protected forests of the municipality around Pinal del Zamorano. The Unidades de Manejo Ambiental offer horseback rides, excursions, cycling tours and overnight stays in cabins. The Ecoturismo Cerro del Zamorano group also offers guided tours to Cerro del Zamorano in the municipality of Colón. When looking for a vacation rental, it may help to first choose the focus of your stay: the religious and historic sites in the main town, or activities elsewhere in the municipality as well.
Discover more destinations: El Pueblito, Coyote, San Juan Del Río, Santiago De Querétaro, Santa Cruz, Conca, El Rincón, Tequisquiapan.
For the overview of the wider region: Querétaro.
