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Don Manuel de la Borda (died 1778), a silver tycoon from Taxco, Guerrero, built a home in Cuernavaca. When he died in 1778, his son Manuel inherited the land and transformed it into a botanical garden, designed by Jose Manuel Arrieta. The large enclosed garden next to the house was a huge private park, laid out in Andalusian style, with kiosks and an artificial pond. Maximilian took it over as his private summer house in 1865. He and Empress Carlota entertained lavishly in the gardens and held concerts by the lake. The gardens were completely restored and reopened in 1987 as the Jardín Borda Centro de Artes. There is a small museum dedicated to Benito Juarez on the grounds.; Don Manuel de la Borda (died 1778), a silver tycoon from Taxco, Guerrero, built a home in Cuernavaca. When he died in 1778, his son Manuel inherited the land and transformed it into a botanical garden, designed by Jose Manuel Arrieta. The large enclosed garden next to the house was a huge private park, laid out in Andalusian style, with kiosks and an artificial pond. Maximilian took it over as his private summer house in 1865. He and Empress Carlota entertained lavishly in the gardens and held concerts by the lake. The gardens were completely restored and reopened in 1987 as the Jardín Borda Centro de Artes. There is a small museum dedicated to Benito Juarez on the grounds. Source: Frommer's [travel guide]; http://www.frommers.com (accessed 6/22/2009)