Santiago de Queretaro

.Santiago de Queretaro City is the capital of the State of Queretaro, located 220 km to the north of Mexico City by the federal highway 57D in Mexico.

Santiago de Queretaro was founded in 1531, among bloody battles between native Indian and Spanish conquerors. Under the protection of the Apostle Santiago, who appeared in the skies in order to seal with his image the cultural mixture of which became the third colonial city of the XVIII century.

The historic downtown offers the visitor over 460 years of history and tradition through its aqueduct, temples, mansions and palaces that make of this city one of the most beautiful colonial spots.

History fills the essence and backs up the tradition of Santiago de Queretaro, where an important part of today's Mexico was forged. Its indoor and outdoor monuments constitute a real museum under the intense blue of Queretaro's sky.

Parallel to this historical environment is the fresh and fun Queretaro, offering attractive options of music to dance or listen, different sorts of live shows and a great variety of international an Mexican cuisine. The historic downtown callejoneadas (night promenades by the alleys or narrow streets) accompanied by estudiantinas or rondallas are famous, as well as the performances of music from all times by the Philharmonic Orchestra of Queretaro.

Queretaro City is characterized for its colonial architecture and its beauty. You shall not miss the city tour by trolley, a guided visit through the main sites, monuments, legends and most important issues of the city. There's no doubt that the tour in a Panoramic trolley will be a greater experience, traveling through the city in a lovely two story trolley.

Among the interesting places you can visit are:

• The Aqueduct with 74 arches
  Symbol that identifies to the city of Queretaro. It was begun in 1726 and concluded in 1735 in order to supply drinking water to the city from the springs of the Cañada. This work was achieved thanks to the generosity of Sir Juan Antonio de Urrutia y Arana, Marquis of the Villa del Villar del Aguila. It is composed of 74 arches of quarry that reach a maximum height of 23 meters and a length of 1280 meters.

• The Maths Museum, Ex-Convent of San Francisco Javier.   Built between the late XVII and early XVIII centuries for the Jesuit friars to institute the Theology and Philosophy College; later converted into the Civil College, the University of Queretaro, the Central Preparatory School, the Language School, the Veterinary and Zoo technique Schools and finally the Philosophy and Letters School. Nowadays is the Maths Museum.

• Convento de La Cruz     There is a tree in the garden with cross-shaped thorns. This stately Convent is located in the site where the conquest of the City was consummated in July 25th, 1531 and it was headquarters of the first Propaganda Association in the American continent, whose mission was to evangelize the Indians. In 1867, one of the cells served as dormitory to the Archduke Maximiliano de Habsburgo and thereinafter was converted in his first prison. Through the years, this cloister has maintained its original architectural structure, therefore it is interesting to visit the kitchen, the cells and corridors.  Shrine: opened Monday to Sunday, from 06:00 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 20:30 hrs. Convent: opened Tuesday to Friday, from 09:00 to 14:00 hrs.and Saturdays from 09:00 to 16:30 hrs.

• The Baroque-Style Parish and Ex-Convent of San Agustin, currently the Art  Museum Built around 1731 by the architect Mariano de las Casas and his master Fray Luis Martinez Lucio, it is a great example of baroque-style in Latin America. Located  at the corner of Allende Street with Pino Suarez in the historic downtown; due to its architecture and great collection, it constitutes one of the most attractive visits in the city of Santiago de Queretaro. Timetable of the Museum: Tuesday thru Sunday from 10.00 to 19:00 hrs.

• The Neoplateresque-Style Cathedral,  which has a facade made of rose stone and volcanic rock.

• The Temple and Convent of San Francisco, currently the Regional Museum  Belonged to the Real Holy Rose Association of Viterbo. The area where it is found currently was acquired by Juan Alonso and Antonia de Herrera. The  architect  from Queretaro Ignacio Mariano de las Casas, directed the plans and projects of all the set. He also designed the altarpieces of the baroque organ (1759) and of the repetition clock of the tower, first in Latin America. Contains paintings, sculptures and furniture date back from the XVIII century.

• The Regional Museum, Ex-Convent of Santa Rosa de Viterbo
  This museum possesses one of the most important vice regal paintings of the country; it consists of 16 permanent exhibit rooms where we can admire, among other things, valuable objects of the time of  Independence. Timetable of the museum: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00 hrs.

• "Casa de la Zacatecana" Museum    This beautiful and legendary home from the XVII century distributed in two stories, 13 halls and 2 patios has turned into a great attractive of the city. You can admire several paintings, sculptures, mirrors and furniture from centuries XVII to XIX. Timetable of the Museum: Tuesday thru Sunday from 11:00 to 19:00 hrs.

• The Baroque-Style Royal Convent of Santa Clara de Asis. Built in 1607 by order of Don Diego de Tapia, son of the peacemaker and founder of the City. It was one of the most important convents in the New Spain era.

• The Republic Theater 
  Its construction was begun in 1845 and was inaugurated in 1852 named Great Iturbide Theatre. Many music concerts and shows by international artists were performed there. A great number of events that defined the national history took place here. In 1854 the Mexican National Anthem was interpreted by the first time in this place and in 1867, the declared emperor Maximiliano de Habsburgo and the generals Miguel Miramon y Tomas Mejia were judged and condemned to death here. On February 5, 1917, the promulgation of the The Political Constitution of the Mexican United States, consecrated  this enclosure as National Monument. In 1922 the name of Great Iturbide Theatre was modified by Theatre of the Republic. Currently in this enclosure civic ceremonies and important cultural events take place. Timetable:  Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 15:00 and 17:00 to 20:00 hrs.

• The Government Palace, was the house of Doña Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez, the Magistrate's wife  Located in the Plaza de Armas, this building was built in 1770 for  the real families to live there as well as for prison. In this place important historical facts were carried out, such as the meetings conspiracy that provoked the Independence War, those which were encouraged by Lady Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez, wife of the Correcting, Sir Miguel Dominguez. It is currently the Palace of Government, headquarters of the State executive branch.

• Panteon de los Queretanos Ilustres.   It was built in 1847 in the orchard of the "Convento de la Santa Cruz". In this cemetery illustrious historic personalities were buried from Queretaro, such as the Corrector Sir Miguel Dominguez and his wife. Timetable: Monday thru Sunday from 6:00 to 18:00 hrs.

• "Plaza de la Independencia"  or "Plaza de Armas"   The Square of  Independence is considered as one of the most beautiful in its type in the XVIII Century in Hispano-America, because of its Spaniard style, traditional porticoes, harmonic houses and mysterious ambience.  

• Casa de Ecala. Superb construction of the XVII century. Imperious visit for those who like to go back in time.

• Casa de Don Bartolo. This house is a great example of the architecture and ornamentation of the 18th and 19th centuries. Inhabited by the Marques of Rayas, Don Bartolome Surdanneta y Legaspi, best known as "Don Bartolo, The Segovian". Actually it is housing the State's Education Ministry.  

• Railroad Station. Built in 1886 due to a contract with the United States. It  was built in French style used in the north American stations.

• Cerro de las Campanas  The Hill of the Bells and the City Museum  is situated to the west of the City, where Maximiliano, Miramon and Mejia were shot during the Independence War. This place has great historical importance since it was stage of the conclusion of the fight between the Republic and the Empire. The Austrian Archiduque Maximiliano de Habsburgo, Emperor of Mexico, who was executed here with the generals Miguel Miramon and Tomas Mejia. In this place, the Imperial House of Austria financed the construction of a chapel in report of the Emperor. Now the hill has been converted into a beautiful park that counts on vast green areas, playgrounds, an artificial lake, theatre and a small museum called the City Museum which has two very important permanent exhibitions: the "Cultural Heritage of Humanity Hall" and the one devoted to the "Virgen del Pueblito". The Hill of the Bells name is due to the existence of stones, that upon beating them some with other, were issuing a sound similar to that of a bell. These disappeared  with the years.

Timetable of the park: Monday to Sunday: 06:00 to 18:00 hrs. Timetable of the museum: Tuesday to Friday: 10:00 to 14:00 hrs. Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 to 14:00 hrs. and 15:30 to 18:00 hrs.

A Monument honoring Benito Juarez is  located at the top of this hill.

In Queretaro City you can find a great variety of handicrafts such as ceramics, pottery, embroidery, silverwork, leatherwoods and jewelry.

Country clubs with golf courses, tennis courts, horse riding trails and many other sport facilities can be found in the surroundings of Queretaro, which have been the meeting place for some of the best national and international sportsmen.
 

The main fairs and feasts celebrated in Santiago de Queretaro are:

• Holly Week Celebration. Way of the Cross and Silent Procession through the streets and a representation of Christ's crucifixion.

• City Foundation Anniversary. Takes place in July 25th, consists in a popular feast, artistic and cultural representations celebrated in the Historic Downtown, considered as Heritage of Humanity.

• National Holidays on September 15th & 16th.

• International Cattle Fair: Celebrated the second week of December. Presentation of cattle, industry, agriculture, handicraft, gastronomy and commerce exhibitions. Palenque, Charreadas as well as artistic and cultural presentations.

• Traditional Festivities of December: Cultural and artistic representations and a Biblical allegoric parade in the main streets.
   

More Photos (click camera icon)

Independence Square	Fountain	Templo de la Congregacion	Another church
Fountain 2	Typical street	Typical street 2

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