Colón: Cristero Route, Basilica and Thermal Baths

Colón can be explored from several different perspectives. In the municipality’s main town, stops along the Cristero Route lead through historic sites; the Basilica of Soriano offers a religious focus. The Community Museum is dedicated to the history of the municipality and its agriculture, while the “1492” thermal baths, with their thermal water springs, are also located in the main town. The rest of the municipality offers additional natural attractions and activities. When planning your trip, it is therefore worth distinguishing between the main town and the municipality’s wider range of attractions.

The Cristero Route in the main town

The Cristero Route passes through the Alameda, the Basilica of Soriano and the Mission of Santo Domingo. Casa Mota is also one of its stops. A tram ride is offered as part of the Cristero Route; fifteen commemorative plaques throughout the historic center are associated with the route. These sites and plaques provide several specific points of reference for the history of the Cristero movement in the main town. If this subject is a priority, you can consider the stops as a historical focus for your trip.

The Basilica of Soriano and local history

The Basilica of Our Lady of Sorrows of Soriano was built between 1880 and 1912 and features neoclassical architecture. The Most Holy Virgin is venerated there under the title of Our Lady of Sorrows. The polychrome wooden sculpture is 65 centimeters tall and possibly dates from the 17th century. The basilica’s feast days are Good Friday and September 15. In addition, the Sanctuary of Soriano was declared a Minor Basilica on February 7, 2009. Its construction period, architecture, veneration and feast calendar offer different perspectives on this religious site.

Other local historical sites point to different traditions. The Puente de la Purísima is an old Royal Road. On its south side, a niche sits on a column with a base and contains a fully sculpted statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe. The original fountain in Jardín Unión was built in 1877. From 1886 to 1928, Casa de las Rosas was home to the mothers of the Order of Santa Rosa de Viterbo. During the Cristero movement, they were expelled and persecuted; local religious families gave them refuge. Together, these sites connect to religious traditions, public spaces and the history of the Cristero movement.

The Community Museum is located directly beside the Basilica. It preserves the historical foundations of Colón, its agricultural activities, the history of the Cristero movement and the municipality’s role in different periods of Mexican history. Alongside the individual buildings, it also brings the broader history of the municipality into focus.

Thermal water and attractions in the municipality

The “1492” thermal baths, with their thermal water springs, are located in the main town. If you would like to include other destinations in the municipality of Colón, you will find a variety of activities and historical landscapes. The Presa Colón is located in El Poleo, where you can go boating and fishing. In Los Pilones, in the Patria ejido, there are rock carvings, cave paintings and caves that served as refuge for the Cristeros. These destinations are in the municipality, outside the main town.

The Ecoturismo Cerro del Zamorano group offers guided tours to Cerro del Zamorano in the municipality of Colón. The municipality’s Environmental Management Units offer horseback rides, excursions, cycling tours and overnight stays in cabins in the protected forests around Pinal del Zamorano. If one of these options fits your plans, check availability in advance.

Local specialties

Local food traditions also offer different highlights. Panadería El Güero has been making bread for 30 years and maintains a family recipe that carries on a long-standing baking tradition. Nieves Puebla has been around since 1946 and is located at Álvaro Obregón 25a. The ice cream shop specializes in mantecado and garambullo ice cream. So, alongside its historical and religious attractions, Colón also offers specific culinary highlights to consider when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Arroyo Seco, Ezequiel Montes, Ciénaga, Santa Cruz, Coyote, Juriquilla, Amealco De Bonfil, Cadereyta De Montes

For the main travel overview: Querétaro.