Famed for its large aqueduct, Santiago de Queretaro is not only a business and economic hub but one of the fastest-growing cities in Mexico. Its historic centre has been World Heritage-listed by UNESCO, with Baroque churches, fascinating museums and a peaceful garden among its highlights.
Things to do in Santiago de Querétaro
Stroll through the historic heart of Queretaro, where geometrically planned streets laid out by the Spanish are juxtaposed against the meandering alleys of the Otomi people. It’s clustered with Baroque monuments dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries, including the domed Templo de Santa Rosa de Viterbo. The church’s interior houses gilded relics and sacred artwork, while nighttime light shows illuminate the fountain outside.
Occupying the atmospheric convent of the San Francisco Church is the Queretaro Regional Museum, where artefacts dating from pre-Hispanic times are exhibited. Browse the pre-Columbian furnishings, ceramics and paintings on display and learn about the region’s Indigenous peoples, then wander through the aptly-named Orange Tree Patio.
One of Santiago de Queretaro’s most impressive landmarks is its 18th-century stone aqueduct, which is one of the largest of its kind in Mexico. It features 74 arches that rise to 28 metres in height and has been designated as an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers. While admiring this incredible feat of engineering, learn about its role in providing water to Santiago de Queretaro since 1738.
Getting around Santiago de Querétaro
Santiago de Queretaro is around 40 minutes’ drive from Queretaro International Airport, which has flights to destinations across Mexico and the United States. Buses connect to towns and cities throughout Mexico and travel within Santiago de Queretaro. The historic centre of Santiago de Queretaro is ideally explored on foot.