Last week we ventured outside of Guadalajara to the city of Querétaro-a city of 750,000 people and a major industrial, agricultural and commercial center of Mexico; sometimes referred to as Little Mexico City.

In its early years, Querétaro played an important role in Mexico’s fight for independence. The city has over a thousand monuments throughout the historic center, most from the 1700s, and is recognized as one of Mexico’s 35 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Our Journey to Querétaro

Querétaro is located about 220 miles east of Guadalajara so we took a five-hour bus ride from Guadalajara to Querétaro. We were initially reluctant to take such a long bus trip, but the bus was very modern and comfortable. The seats were plush and could be reclined. Each seat had an entertainment unit with movies, television shows, and games. We were given water and a sandwich, and it had bathrooms onboard. It was much better than other buses in South America.

When we arrived, we took an Uber to our Airbnb apartment which we would call home for the next 2 ½ days.

Since we were only going to be in Querétaro for a short time, we hopped on a tour bus which took us around town and stopped at two important sites. It also provided us a lay of the land for future exploring. Even though the tour was entirely in Spanish, we managed to understand the highlights and the most important information like where and when to get off the bus and when the bus was leaving.

Cerro de Las Campanas 

Cerro de las Campanas (Hill of the Bells), on the outskirts of Querétaro, is a national park that played an important part in Mexico’s history. The hill gets its name from rocks that, according to legend, make bell sounds when struck together. The mountain was the place where Emperor Maximilian of Habsburg and two of his generals were executed, ending the French intervention in Mexico in 1867.

In 1900, the Maximilian Chapel was constructed on the site. The chapel was commissioned by Emperor Franz Joseph I in memory of his late brother.

On May 15, 1967, the centennial of the arrest of Maximilian, a portion of the mountain, including the east side and the summit, was designated a national park, the same day as the inauguration of a statue of Benito Juárez. The city of Querétaro operates a museum on the mountain with five permanent exhibit rooms.

Aqueduct of Love

The Querétaro Aqueduct is one of the most emblematic structures in the city. It was built in 1735 by the Marquis del Villa del Aquila. At the time he was the richest man in Querétaro. According to legend, while strolling through one of the many public plazas, he met and fell in love with Clarrisa, a nun from a local convent. However, her love was to God and the church and she could never marry the Marquis. So, Clarissa asked the Marquis to show his love for her by building a home where they could both live together in spirit. Taking that to heart, the Marquis built the most beautiful house in the city.

To access running water, he built the aqueduct of Querétaro, consisting of 74 arches, spanning over a mile from the nearby mountain to the house. He also shared the water with the townspeople by placing 12 fountains around the city so the local population of Querétaro could have access to clean drinking water. Today, the aqueduct, his house, and the fountains are a testament to his love.

Historic Central

There are many beautiful plazas throughout Queretaro’s historic center and the gardens and parks really add to the city’s charm. Quaint shops and restaurants line the plazas. We sat outside at one of the restaurants in Plaza de Armas to take in the beautiful setting.

Twice in its history, Querétaro became the capital of Mexico. In fact, at the Teatro de la Republica, the constitution was written and ratified in 1917. It was also where Emperor Maximilian I was sentenced to execution and where the Mexican National Anthem was first sung.

An Evening Out

Later in the day, we met up with a local guide who showed us the important buildings in the historic center while explaining the history and highlights of Querétaro.

After touring a few sites, we sat down with him at one of his favorite restaurants to sample the local dishes and wines of the area. It was a delightful evening, capping off our brief visit to Querétaro.