HISTORICAL
ARCHITECTURE
The historic monuments zone in Queretaro was declared
a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO due to the magnificent
architecture made from finely sculpted hewn stone. The
churches, convents and other edifices
stand as a testament to the city?s fascinating
history.
Acueducto (Aqueduct) ? Located on
Calzada de los Arcos. This monumental work is one
of the city?s
most representative architectural accomplishments. It is 1280 meters
(4,224 feet) long, has 74 arches and was
built 300 years ago.
Casa de Ecala ? Located in front of the Plaza de Armas. This beautiful example of local baroque architecture was built in the
18th century. The
façade has majestic windows with forged
steel balconies. One of the
stone window frames has a peculiar design in the form of
a curtain. Open Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 5:00.
Casa de la Marquesa ? Located
at 41 Francisco I. Madero. This
is one of
the most beautiful examples of local baroque architecture. The two-story façade
has hewn stone sculptures and various balconies. The interior is of magnificent Moorish-influenced architecture, as evidenced in the railings, arches,
chapel and mosaics. Currently, the edifice is
a hotel. Open daily from 9:00 to 5:00.
Plaza de Armas ? Located
on the corner of Andador 5 de Mayo and Pasteur. At the
beginning of the 17th century this was a market.
Today, it is a pleasant square
with sidewalk cafes and the
Marques de la Villa
del Villar del Aguila statue.
Beatario de Santa Rosa de Viterbo ? Located on the corner of Av. General Arteaga and
Ezequiel Montes. The exterior of
this church has two beautifully painted flying buttress arches and several bas-reliefs. Inside you?ll see a churrigueresque
fan with the image of Santa Rosa, a notable pulpit with ivory
inlays and gold-covered wooden
altarpieces. Open daily from 9:00 to 6:00.
Oratorio de San Felipe Neri (Cathedral) ? Located
on the corner of Av. Francisco
I. Madero and Melchor Ocampo. This church represents the transition from baroque architecture
to neoclassic, as evidenced in the façade, which blends
styles from the 17th and 18th
centuries. Notable features
are the columns and pink hewn
stone ridges, as well as the use of volcanic rock
on the façade.
Open daily from 8:00 to 7:00.
Real Convento de Santa Clara Asis
? Located at the corner of Allende and Andador Madero. The most
notable features are the main doors, the
choir?s forged steel gates and
the baroque-style interior. In addition, it has twin facades
and a beautiful cupola with Talavera tiles. Open daily from
9:00 to 7:00.
Templo de la Congregacion ? Located
on Av. 16 de Septiembre. This
is the city?s
second church built to honor the Virgin of
Guadalupe. The cupola and the tiled
towers have the colors of
the Mexican flag, while the
façade has a hewn stone Virgin figure. Inside you?ll see
an organ and the image
of the Virgin
of Guadalupe painted by
Miguel Cabrera. Open daily from 8:00 to 7:00.
Templo y Ex Convento
de la Santa Cruz ? Located
on the corner of Independencia and Manuel
Acuña. This church has a neoclassic façade and a large porch
that serves as a lobby. Inside you?ll see
what were the old kitchen,
the dining hall and a cellar. In the hallways you can see 17th- and 18th-century paintings. At the Ex-Convent?s
famous orchard you?ll find a tree
with thorns that grow in the
form of a cross. Open daily from
8:00 to 7:00.
Palacio de Gobierno
- Located on San Francisco Street,
in the downtown area. This is a two-story palatial construction with a series of windows and
balconies. This beautiful building was the headquarters
of the Casas Reales, then it was
a jail, and later it became
the Casa de la Corregidora, the home of Doña Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez, who played a key role during Mexico?s independence movement. Open Monday through
Friday from 9:00 to 9:00 and Saturday
and Sunday from 10:00 to 2:00.
