The Well of Santa Maria in Pátzcuaro, Michoacán
Strolling the streets of Pátzcuaro, you can discover treasure
troves of history, appreciate architectural eye candy at every turn, go back in
time, and discover “little magical places” in between.
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| The Well of Santa Maria in Patzcuaro, Michoacan |
One of those
little magical places is the Well of Santa María, also known as Don Vasco’s
Culvert. It’s located on Alcantarilla Street between the Folk Art Museum and
the Ex Colegio, just a couple paces
up the street from the fountain.
According to
legend, a couple years after Don Vasco
de Quiroga moved the provincial capital and episcopal see from Tzintzuntzan to Pátzcuaro, the spring that supplied water started to dry up.
One of the
original arguments that Don Vasco
used to make the change of the venue to Pátzcuaro,
was that it got enough water for its inhabitants. But with what appeared
to be a subsequent drying up, the locals called into question Don Vasco de Quiroga’s decision to
change the capital of the province.
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| The Well of Santa Maria in Patzcuaro, Michoacán |
Don Vasco de Quiroga lived in the San Nicolás School (now
the Folk Art Museum). One day he saw a bird enter a small cave in a
mound of stones. When the bird came out it was wet, and as he
watched, more and more birds did the same. Inspired by what he had seen, he summoned
the villagers to make a procession of the Virgin of the Ascension (today Our
Lady of Health of Pátzcuaro). They prayed to quench the thirst of the people,
and then went to the school. There, Don Vasco de Quiroga buried his staff in
the mound and water sprouted forth.
Currently at the
Well of Santa María, we can see a plate that reads: "From here emanates
the water thanks to the great Father Vasco
de Quiroga, who inserted his staff herein in 1540, causing water to spring
forth at a time when water was insufficient for the population."
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| Plate at the Well of Santa Maria in Patzcuaro, Michoacán |
Pátzcuaro is a Magical Village brimming with
charm. Stroll its picturesque streets and discover its history and
legends. Live the magic of this marvelous place!
*Text and pictures property of Hotel Mansion Iturbe.We invite you to check more post in our blog, you will find information about Pátzcuaro and its surroundings that we hope will be useful for your next trip to our colonial town in Mexico.
Here are some post that we suggest you:
The Legend of the of the Clock of La Compañia in Patzcuaro
Patzcuaro Legends: Saint Michael's Font
Mexican Traditions: The Moors of Tejaro in Patzcuaro
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