Many travelers venture to Queretaro to experience old world tradition and historic monuments. Though a first communion may have brought me to Queretaro, I too became enchanted by the ancient charm and lure of the city, and depleted a few days simply exploring the abundant artifacts and countless prominent structures. The mammoth Aqueduct that runs throughout the city over the Bernardo Quintana Boulevard is the nationally recognized symbol of Queretaro. Its seventy-four arches were originally constructed to supply drinking water to Querataro’s residents, and it now stands as an epic reminder of times gone by. Casa de La Zacatecana (located on Av. Indepencia No. 59) is a 16th century home-turned-museum that houses paintings, sculptures, its original baroque interior, and antique furnishings. With thirteen halls and two spacious patios, the house itself is a work of art, and its red-washed façade and intricate high-ceilinged, blue-and-white tiled interior walls, make it a must see. Casa de La Marquesa (located at Madero 41, Centro Histórico)—a historic house turned hotel—is equally as majestic with its salmon colored walls, baroque-style interior, and complementary fixtures.
Days could be easily exhausted on the town’s many churches, charming cathedrals, and grandiose bell towers. The myriad cathedrals grow out of each corner in the midst of the city and I seemed to stumble upon a new one each time I wandered or sought a new café for my daily café con leche and accompanying Mexican pastry. I was stopped in my tracks by Templo y Convento de la Santa Cruz—a sand colored structure with an elaborately layered bell tower, and a carved stone cross on the main altar; Templo de Santa Rosa de Viterbo, one of Queretaro’s most treasured churches, and a paradigm of baroque architecture; and the equally luminous El Carmin, with its rouge-colored curves and incandescent bell tower.
Hidden Queretaro
Though best known for its history and architecture, Queretaro has an unexposed modern side too that I was lucky enough to discover, thanks to my adventurous feet. Plaza de Independencia, also known as Plaza de Armas, is a hub of activity and it was my starting point on a self-made tour of Queretaro’s fashionable neighborhoods. Receiving its namesake after the initiation of the Mexican independence movement in Queretaro during the 1800s—the plaza is bursting with charming outdoor restaurants, cafés, and some of the most noteworthy architecture in the city. Crimson and sand-colored buildings with baroque style wrought iron balconies surround a flickering center fountain. In the horizon, a luminous bell-shaped church is in view, creating a romantic, glowing ambiance amplified by the rustic sound of violins and guitars streaming from the courtyards of open-air restaurants.
