Querétaro
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Located in the heart of Mexico, Santiago de Querétaro—although both state and city are known simply as “Querétaro”—is noted for its crucial role in colonial history and its colorful opals. It is home to many churches, museums and historic monuments, as well as being an industrial center of nearly one and a half million people.

Founded in 1531, it was of strategic importance for connecting the rich mining regions of Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, and Zacatecas with Mexico City. It was also the departure point for Spanish expeditions aiming to conquer the north of the country and convert locals to Catholicism. Soon Querétaro became so important that it was named “the third city of the kingdom” (after Mexico City and Puebla) and was even proclaimed capital of Mexico in 1847, when American troops invaded Mexico City. The notorious Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed here in 1848, in which Mexico ceded much of its territory to the United States.

Tourists visiting the Hill of the Bells can view the site where Archduke Maximilian was held prisoner and later executed in the early 1700’s. The Plaza de Armas with its Spanish-style architecture and a 300-year-old aqueduct is also a popular tourist attraction.

The state is heavily mountainous, notably in the Sierra Gorda and the Sierra Queretana. The former is a biosphere reserve and home to five Franciscan Missions declared a World Heritage Site in 2003. This has spurred cultural and ecotourism in the area in the last two years with ecolodging and other environ-mental initiatives winning international awards. Built in the mid-18th century the missions were important for the evangelization and colonization of California, Arizona, and Texas.

Since being a host city for the 1986 World Cup, Querétaro has found its way back on to the map, attracting industry and foreign investment and offering employment. While not as strikingly quaint or beautiful as San Miguel de Allende or Guanajuato, it is a modern city with a low crime rate and a fairly high standard of living.