STREETS OF COLONIAL CITIES AND THEIR LEGENDS (MEXICO) - HISTORY - 2025

The names of the streets of colonial cities and their legends allow you to explore a little about some characters of the time and their stories. You can also make an approximation of what was the idiosyncrasy in the period of the colony. In many of these stories, real and fictional events are mixed.

In this sense, it can be said that the theme of these legends falls within the genre of historical legend. This can be defined as a narrative that takes its inspiration from a real event, although the limit with fiction can become blurred.

Mexico City Cathedral

This happens because, as time passes, each narrator contributes a fictional element. Specifically in the case of Mexico City, religious needs shaped this city during the colony. One of the ways the missionaries found to keep the peace given the diversity of cultures was through stories.

Some were true, others had a Christian undertone. Over time, they all became legend.

The legends of the streets of Mexico City

In Mexico, the names of many streets and their legends attract the attention of locals and strangers. Below is the account of five of them.

La Joya Street

The names of many streets in colonial cities speak of stories of jealousy and revenge, such is the case of La Joya Street. This story of wealthy people had a tragic ending.

They say that the wife of Don Alonso Fernández de Bobadilla was known for her wealth and beauty. Don Alonso was a wealthy Spanish merchant, very formal and of few words.

His wife was superb, often making her wealth and social superiority felt. He loved her and fulfilled even her least whims. They appeared to be a happy couple.

At the beginning of 1625 an anonymous note informed him of his wife's infidelity with the lawyer Don José Raúl de Lara. Then, he was filled with jealousy and doubts, and wanted to kill her, but decided to make sure first.

He told his wife that he would be busy until very late. At night, he took up a block from his house. As no one approached, he decided to return home, but saw his wife, Isabel, open the window as the lawyer approached.

Moments later, Lara entered the house. Don Alonso surprised them when Don José Raúl placed an emerald bracelet on his wife's wrist. He could not contain his fury and killed them both with a dagger. The next day they found the jewel in the hallway of Don Alonso's house, nailed with the dagger.

Don Juan Manuel Street

The fight between good and evil is also recurrent in the names of the streets of Mexican colonial cities. This can be seen in the following story:

In the seventeenth century, Juan Manuel Solórzano, a rich merchant, arrived in Mexico accompanied by Viceroy Rodrigo Pacheco.

The story goes that Don Juan Manuel was sure of his wife's infidelity. Then, between 1635 and 1640 he made a pact with the devil himself to reveal the identity of the traitor. He told him to stab whoever passed his path at 11 pm.

Thus, Don Manuel obeyed, but the evil one did not settle for a death. From that day on, every night at eleven o'clock, Don Manuel would ask: "Do you know what time it is?"

When the passerby reported the time, he would take out his dagger and say: "Blessed are you who know the time you are going to die," while sinking his weapon.

Clerigo's Bridge Street

In the following narration the religious theme is also present. Legend has it that in 1649 the priest Juan de Nava lived in this area. This was in charge of his niece, Margarita Jáureguiya.

The young woman fell in love with Duarte de Zarraza, whom she met at a dance. Duarte was actually the bishop of Yucatán and provisional viceroy of New Spain. The priest discovered that the knight had abandoned two wives and their children. Furthermore, Duarte was in love affairs with more than ten women at the same time.

Then the priest forbade them to see each other; however, the young man planned to escape with Margarita to Puebla. One night the two argued and Duarte ended up murdering the uncle. Then he threw his body into the swamp and fled to Veracruz.

After a year, he returned to resume their relationship. It was night and he tried to cross the bridge. The next morning, passersby found his body next to an old, mud-covered cassock. Her face had an expression of terror.

Street of the Lost Child

In viceregal times, a sculptor named Enrique de Verona was hired to make the Altar of the Kings in the Cathedral of Mexico. The sculptor was very successful in New Spain.

In Spain his fiancee was waiting for him. On the eve of his departure for his homeland, he bumped into a lady around a corner. Verona picked up a handkerchief that the young woman had dropped, and as they handed it to her, they fell in love with each other.

However, Estela Fuensalida - that's the woman's name - also had a fiancé, Tristán de Valladeres. Estela dumped him and married Enrique, but Tristán was angry and vowed revenge.

One night in December 1665, the abandoned groom set fire to a haystack in the couple's home. It spread throughout the house, but the neighbors were able to turn it off and save Estela.

However, in the confusion of the fire, the couple's son was lost. When they entered the house again, they heard him cry. They also saw that the woman's former boyfriend tried to hide him to take him away.

La Quemada Street

In the mid-16th century, Gonzalo Espinosa de Guevara and his daughter Beatriz arrived in Mexico City from Spain. The young woman was beautiful, and exhibited kindness and selfless love for others.

It was very popular and desired by men, including an Italian marquis named Martin de Scópoli. Her obsession was so great that she challenged anyone who wooed her to a duel.

For her part, Beatriz corresponded to the love of the Marquis, but so many absurd deaths plunged her into a feeling of pain and guilt. Therefore, she decided to burn her face.

Virtually nothing remained of her beauty, just a disheveled complexion. Upon seeing her, the Marquis told her that his love went beyond her beauty and that he loved her for her spirit of goodness. After that they got married. Since then she has been seen walking with her husband covered with a black veil.

References

1. Agudelo Ochoa, AM (2010). The historical legends of Herminia Gómez Jaime: the fictionalization of history. History and Society, No. 19, pp. 203-219.
2. Jimenez Gonzalez, VM (2014). Mexico City (Federal District): Travel Guide of the Federal District (DF). Madrid: Solaris Communication.
3. González, A. (1947). Traditional Mexico: Literature and customs. Mexico DF: El Colegio de México AC.
4. Galván Macías, N. (1996). Mexican legends. Mexico DF: Selector.
5. Alducin, W. (2017). Macabre Legends of the Historic Center. Mexico DF: Editorial Sista.