Querétaro, Mexico

According to TOPB2BWEBSITES, Querétaro (formal name: Querétaro de Arteaga) is one of the smallest states in central Mexico. To the north, the state shares a border with San Luis Potosí, to the east with Guanajuato, to the west with Hidalgo, to the southeast with the state of Mexico, and to the southwest with Michoacán.

The state capital is the city of Santiago de Querétaro, often referred to as just “Querétaro”, and is located about 200 km southwest of Mexico City. It is known for its colonial architecture, and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996. The city, with its well-preserved Spanish post-baroque monuments from the 17th and 18th centuries, was divided into two; a straight-laced street plan for the Spanish settlers, and small winding streets to the natives’ quarters.

The most prominent feature of the city is the huge aqueduct, which consists of 75 arches, each of which is 20 meters wide at a total length of 1280 meters and average height of 23 meters. It was built by Juan Antonio de la Urrutia y Arana between 1726 and 1738, reportedly at the request of the nun Sister Marcele Nasturitium of the Santa Clara convent, so that water could be brought to the residents of the city from La Cañada. See picture here.

A large volcanic belt covers approx. half of the state in the center and to the south. The area is mostly volcanic rock with mountain peaks and table mountains, between 200-3000 meters and valleys between 1800-1900 meters deep. You can read a little about the Mexican volcanic legends here.

Sierra Gordo is an ecological region, centered on the northern third of Querétaro and extending into the neighboring states of Guanajuato, Hidlago and San luis Potosi.

Mexicans declared their independence in Querétaro for the first time. Today, the state’s major cities are home to industrial plants that produce metal goods, machinery, chemicals and processed foods. Farming and cattle breeding are the main occupations.

TIMELINE:

1000 BCE – The El Pueblito pyramid, located within the metropolitan area, is part of the archeological zone known as El Cerrito. The place had an important population prior to the Spanish conquest of Mexico. During the first millennium, there were several settlements in the Bajio area, and this is one of the most important ruins in the central part of Mexico.

o.1000 BCE – The ancient Huastec people, a branch of the Maya, lived in the La Huasteca area, concentrated along the Pánuco River and along the Gulf of Mexico. They built temples on stair pyramids, carved independent sculptures, and produced artfully painted pottery. They were admired for their musical abilities from other Mesoamerican peoples. It is believed that the Huastec people split from the Maya around the year 2000 BCE, and the only thing they have in common is the language.

900 – Very little prehistoric knowledge exists about the early development of the state, but historians believe that the first residents may have been the Otomi people, a sophisticated community that established the city of Tula in nearby Hidalgo at this time. The city is better known for the archeological site, Tula. Other ethnic groups that inhabited the area were; toltekerne, chichimecas, puépechas and mexicas.

1446 – The state becomes part of the Aztec Empire.

1529-1531 – The conquest and colonization of Querétaro began with the Spanish settlements in the cities of San Juan del Rio, Santiago de Querétaro and Huimilpan during this period.

1538 – One of the oldest settlements in the state is the town of Amealco, located 63 km from Santiago de Querétaro.

1642 – The city of Bernal, founded by San Sebastián Bernal, is located approx. 40 minutes drive from Santiago de Querétaro and two and a half hours from Mexico City. It is known for its view of the huge monolith of massive rocks, known as the Peña de Bernal, the third highest on the planet.

1848 – A treaty is signed giving half of Mexico to the United States.

1917 – Mexican Revolution: The Mexican Constitution is approved by the Constituent Assembly and signed.