Queretaro
The central Mexican state of Queretaro is bordered to the west by the state of Guanajuato, to the north by San Luis Potosi, to the east by Hidalgo, and to the south by the state of Mexico. Queretaro is known as the cradle of Mexican Independence, as some of the major events that led to the the Independence movement and ensuing war took place here.
The state capital is Santiago de Queretaro (also known just as Queretaro), a city rich in exquisite baroque architecture. A walk through Queretaro's central streets unfolds views of fabulous churches, plazas and other historic constructions. The Historic Monuments zone of Queretaro was named as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996 based on its unusual multi-ethnic layout and the fact that it contains a great number of outstanding 17th and 18th century buildings. Queretaro is also known for its majestic Aqueduct, whose 74 flowing arches extend over a distance of a kilometer through the city. On the outskirts of Queretaro City lies Juriquilla, an area of luxury spas and manicured golf courses.
Other destinations in this state are the cities of Tequisquiapan, another picturesque colonial city of Queretaro surrounded by the first vineyards of the New World, where you can tour the various wineries or catch a hot air balloon ride with the National Aerostatic Club for a breathtaking aerial tour; the "Magic Village" of Bernal, with its natural desert monolith, La Peña, rising above the town to an altitude of 350 meters, the third largest monolith of its type after the Rock of Gibraltar and Sugarloaf Mountain in Brazil, and the town of San Juan del Rio.
A second UNESCO World Heritage site exists in Queretaro, and that is the Franciscan Missions of the Sierra Gorda, a collection of five missions in the rugged northeastern highlands of the state close to the border of San Luis Potosi, all with exceptionally ornate facades of baroque design. These missions are the Concá Mission, dating from 1754; the Tancoyol Mission, built between 1761 and 1767; the Jalpan Mission, first of the five, erected between 1751 and 1758; the Tilaco Mission, dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi, built between 1754 and 1762; and the Landa Mission, the most elaborately decorated, built in 1761 and 1762, upon whose facade are congregated all of the members of the City of God.
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