Queretaro in Mexico

About the city of Queretaro in the state of Queretaro, Mexico

History of Queretaro

The official name of the city is Estado Libre y Soberan de Queretaro de Arteaga which means "Free and Sovereign State of Queretaro de Arteaga." In the 19th century Mexicans first declared their independence in Queretaro and made this city the birthplace of Mexican Independence. Mexico gained it’s Independence from Spain in 1821. In 1824 Queretaro became a state despite never having been a province by virtue of it’s strong economy. Less than three decades later the Mexican -American war started and in 1846 American troops invaded Mexico City, as a results the city of Queretaro became the temporary capital of Mexico. On May 30, 1848 the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ceded much of Mexico’s northern territories to the United States was signed in Queretaro. The following decade in Mexico was marked with civil and political strife and many protesting the cession of Mexicos territories, which to many was seen as a land grab and greed by politcal factions. During this time, The Institutional Revolutionary Party (known in Mexico as el "PRI") was formed and a period of stability for Queretaro and the rest of the country. However, this party later became known as the perfect dictatorship, holding to power for many decades and until 2000.

Queretaro's tourism industry

Clearly Queretaro has a big historical signifance due to its independence but visiting this city has more than just historical learning and there are many things to do on your trip to Queretaro. One stop that you will want to make is the Franciscan Missions in the Siera Gorda of Queretaro. The five Franciscan missions were built during the last phase of the conversion to Christianity of the interior of Mexico in the mid 18th century. The richly decorated church facades are of special interest as they represent an example of the joint creative efforts of the missionaries and Indians.

Queretaro is a World Heritage site and was given this great honor because of it’s cultural criteria and considering that the site is of outstanding universal value and an exceptional example of a colonial town where it's layout symbolizes it’s multi ethnic population. The city has done a great job to preserved it’s historic center and taken steps to restore other areas of the city.

While visiting Queretaro, you can gain a lot just by walking it's streets seeing mansions and reliving the stories from the colonial era. The historic downtown is complete with beautiful alleys, corner shops and ancient mansions. Just outside of the city are many vineyards which provides a great place to get lost tasting different wines and cheeses.

If you enjoy historical architecure you can spend days admiring it’s many Baroque buildings which date back to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The church of San Francisco, the aqueduct, the Cathedral, the house of Corregidora, the Zenea garden and the Casa Zacatecana Museum are other great places to see while in Queretaro. If you are traveling with younger children a trip to the Wameru Zoo Park is a good venue. The zoo is home to more then 1800 animals from 250 species that cover all five continents.

There are a variety of hotel options for all tastes and budgets in Queretaro. If you are looking for something luxurious you will find this at the international hotels which offer swimming pools, restaurants and bars. If you are looking for something with a cozier feeling and want to stay somewhere closer to the main part of town you should look at the boutique hotels. In the historic downtown area there are small independent hotels that are normally housed in old large houses that date back to the seventeenth and eighteenth century.

Queretaro travel information

Airport: Mexico City International Airport
Address: Av Capitan Carlos León S/N, Venustiano Carranza, Peñón de los Baños, 15620 Ciudad de México, D.F., Mexico
Local phone number: +52 55 2482 2400

Is a passport or travel visa required? This depends on your nationality and your country of origin. We recommend that you check with your travel agent or Mexican Consulate in your area to know documents you need to travel to Queretaro Mexico.

About the city of Queretaro in the state of Queretaro, Mexico

History of Queretaro

Queretaro's tourism industry

Queretaro travel information

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