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.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.
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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.
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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.
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"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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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:
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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.
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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.
.
•
Queretaro State •
|
Amealco Municipality & City
|
Arroyo Seco Town
|
Cadereyta
Municipality
|
|
Colon
Municipality
|
Corregidora Municipality
|
El
Marques Municipality & Town
|
|
Ezequiel
Montes Municipality |
Huimilpan Municipality & Town
|
Jalpan de
Serra City
|
|
Landa de Matamoros
Municipality
|
Peña de Bernal
|
Pedro
Escobedo Municipality & Town
|
|
Peñamiller
Municipality |
Pinal de
Amoles Municipality
|
San Joaquin Municipality
& Town
|
|
San Juan del
Rio City
| Santa
Maria de los Cocos Town
|
Santiago
de Queretaro
۞ Capital City
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|
Tequisquiapan
Town
|
Toliman
Town
|
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Home page of
Queretaro
State in Tour By Mexico ®
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