Blogs from Querétaro, Mexico, North America - page 3

Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán is located at Pino Suárez & Guerrero. In addition to the church, dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul, there’s a beautiful chapel dedicated to the Virgin of the Rosary. This was the headquarters for the Dominican missionary operations in the Sierra Gorda. Saint Dominic (Spanish: Santo Domingo), aka Dominic de Guzmán and Domingo Félix de Guzmán (1170 – 1221), was a Spanish priest who founded the Dominican Order. Dominic is the patron saint of astronomers. More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Dominic Church video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WIbRR9lZW4... read more

The Church of San Francisco, completed at the beginning of the 18th century, was the most important church in town, serving as the cathedral until the 20th century. The church & the attached monastery is all that remains of a large complex that included several chapels & an orchard that extended for blocks to the east and south. The monastery is now the Regional Museum. The Regional Museum was established in 1936. Because Queretaro was the stage for some of the greatest events in Mexican history, this museum actually offers a window into Mexican history. The 1917 Constitution was signed here, events that accelerated the proclamation of Independence took place in its colonial buildings, and the city witnessed the downfall of Maxmillian, the pretender king. The16th-century Convent served as a fort during Maxmillian’s reign and as ... read more

AKA Adventure to Teotihuacan! Definitely the most fun trip I've taken so far, except the waking up at 4 am part, but it was worth it! The pyramids are beautiful and the ruins, once a city, are beautifully preserved, dating back to about 100 years BCE. The Teotihuacanos were a peaceful people, and their city was the biggest civilization of its time, coming well before the Aztecs and Maya. There is still a bunch of excavation going on, archaeologists keep finding new things that have been buried and lost. When we first arrived, we were greeted by the Platalpa dancers. They climb a giant stick will playing musical instruments and then fly through the air: it's amazing! (video coming soon) Then our guides led us through a ceremony similar to what the Teotihuacanos would have done ... read more

This album features TEMPLO CONGREGATION DE STA. MARIA DE GUADALUPE, which is the city's Guadalupe shrine, & TEMPLO SANTIAGO APOSTOL (St James the Apostle) and the adjoining Jesuit college which is now part of the Universidad Autonomo de Querétaro. TEMPLO CONGREGATION DE STA. MARIA DE GUADALUPE This unique church (templo), in simple Baroque style, is the only one with twin towers in the historic center of the city. It is centrally located on the corner of Pasteur and September 16th. The church was dedicated on May 12, 1680. The 1736 remodel included the dome. TEMPLO SANTIAGO APOSTOL (St James the Apostle) and the adjoining Jesuit college The Jesuits, who were early arrivals in Querétaro, founded two colleges with churches in 1625 - San Ignacio & this one - San Francisco Javier. This church & adjoining college ... read more

Historical Background, Capuchin order in Mexico. The Capuchin order was a branch of the Poor Clares (hence the church name Santa Clara) of the Primitive Observance which was founded in Naples Italy in 1538. They lived in poverty & their way of life was very austere. The first Capuchin nuns arrived in what is now Mexico City in 1665 & founded their first convent. They subsequently founded convents in Guadalajara & Puebla before founding their 4th convent, San José de Gracia (St Joseph of Grace) in Queretaro in 1721. Santa Clara Templo (church), located on Madero & adjacent to Guerrero Plaza, was completed in 1662. The construction of the large church/convent complex, which was completed in 1662, was paid for by Diego de Tapia, a descendent of the indigenous chieftain Conín who was one of the ... read more