Salto del Agua station
Metro · 1 8 Line 1 and Line 8
Lines and neighbouring stations
- 1Line 1Balderas Salto del Agua Isabel La Católica
- 8Line 8San Juan de Letrán Salto del Agua Doctores
The story behind the icon
The station icon shows the Salto del Agua fountain.
On 20 March 1779, when Antonio de Bucareli y Ursúa was the new viceroy of New Spain, a fountain was inaugurated at the point where the arcade of an aqueduct came to an end; that aqueduct ran along what are today the avenues Arcos de Belén and Chapultepec.
The name Salto del Agua (the leap of the water) comes from the cascade formed as the water fell onto a stone basin held up by statues of three children riding dolphins. In those days the people living nearby came to fetch water in buckets, pots, jars and the like.
The fountain is preserved today as a colonial jewel for its great and excellent artistry; the front bears a large relief showing the arms of Mexico City as they were used at the time. On it was an eagle with open wings and a cross on its breast; between the wings appeared Spanish standards and from its talons hung war clubs; on the eagle's breast, a medallion with the arms of the city.
This coat of arms was erased once Independence had been won, because it contained prickly-pear leaves with the imperial crown.