A TALE OF MAGIC IN MEXICO
Pueblo Mágico of Tlaquepaque beckons, just minutes away from the Mexican city of Guadalajara, where Juana Bautista Hotel Boutique sits basking in the richness of cultural diversity. By Esther Faith Lew
It is a story about war, wiles and victory. Follow the cobblestoned streets winding through the pastel-coloured walls of old mansions and you will come to the heart of the town of Tlaquepaque where you will find Juana Bautista Hotel Boutique, named after a historical protagonist in the time of the Spanish Conquistadors.
Juana Bautista is the christian name of Queen Cihualpilli Tzapotzinco, who then ruled the region known as Tonallan tlahtocayotl (“The Kingdom of the East” in English). It was the time of the Spanish invasion. To avoid the bloodbath of battle, the queen opted for a peaceful resolution by welcoming the Spanish with a feast, and by eventually converting to christianity. Her spirit and bravery set the foundation for the Kingdom of New Spain, and is an inspiration to many in the region. Historically, the building, which is part of a 16th-century colonial estate, is famous for having been the place where General Celestino Negrete signed his support for the Plan of Iguala, which sealed the consummation of Mexico’s independence on June 12, 1821.