San Marcos Fair — Merchant's 1604 Secret

Your quest for the secret begins at the majestic Palacio de Gobierno de Aguascalientes. Built between 1664 and 1777, this edifice served as the seat of the colonial government of New Spain. The interior murals, painted by Desiderio Hernández Xochitiotzin in 1983, illustrate local history, including references to the Potosí mines, a crucial clue for a merchant of your stature. This stop, located on Plaza de la Patria, the heart of Aguascalientes' pedestrian historic center, immediately immerses you in the atmosphere of the colonial era and the commercial wealth of the Bajío region.

200 meters from the Palacio, the Catedral Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción stands, its 40-meter-high towers visible along the central route. Construction began in 1704 and was completed in 1738, this neoclassical cathedral was elevated to the rank of minor basilica by Pope Pius XI in 1928. Its stones whisper tales of trade and power, messages hidden in the architecture that will help you unravel the merchant's plot. Its proximity to the Plaza de la Patria makes it a key point in your exploration of Aguascalientes' historic center.

Plaza de la Patria, formerly Plaza Mayor, is the main square of Aguascalientes' historic center. Paved and surrounded by 17th and 18th-century colonial buildings, it was the site of colonial markets as early as 1575. It is here, across its 10,000 m², that trade flourished, rumors circulated, and your predecessor might have hidden clues. Dedicated to the Homeland in 1910, this square is the stage for the history and transactions that forged the reputation of the "Ciudad Perla del Bajío."

The Templo de San Marcos, built in 1695 for the Confraternity of San Marcos in Mexican Churrigueresque style, is your next stop, 400 meters from the starting point. This temple has been the patron of the Feria Nacional de San Marcos since 1882, an event rooted in the Bajío's earliest trade fairs. The secrets linked to this fair, and its development since 1604, are etched into its walls. The Ex Convento de San Diego, founded in 1703 by Franciscans and converted into a museum in 1973, with its 1,200 m² baroque cloister and 18th-century frescoes, offers a contemplative break and additional clues about the merchant networks of the colonial era.

Your journey then takes you to the Casa de la Cultura Víctor Sandoval, an 18th-century colonial building restored in 1980. Formerly the home of local historian Víctor Sandoval (1870-1955), it houses archives that could hold the key to your secret. Finally, the Plaza de la Patria awaits you for a final revelation. After approximately 135 minutes of a scavenger hunt through 1.5 km of Aguascalientes' historic center, you will have explored Mexico's colonial heritage, uncovered the mysteries of the Feria Nacional de San Marcos, and discovered why Aguascalientes is the "Perla del Bajío." Your mission as an Aragonese merchant will be accomplished, and the secret of 1604 finally yours.