City history
Explore the historical and temporal journey of Queretaro, from its Otomi roots to its status as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Chapter one
Indigenous name
"Place of high stones"
The name is believed to originate from the Otomi language, though the exact linguistic translation remains a subject of historical debate among scholars.
Place of high stones
Associated with the Otomi and Chichimeca peoples prior to Spanish colonization.
Chapter two
Mexico officially abolished the use of daylight saving time, meaning Queretaro no longer shifts its clocks seasonally.
A period of synchronized daylight saving adjustments across the central Mexican states to align with national timekeeping.
Chapter three
The city was formally established during the Spanish colonial period as a strategic administrative center.
The establishment of significant religious and academic institutions that shaped the city's intellectual landscape.
A period of formalizing local academic structures and social institutions during the early republic.
The Historic Center of Queretaro was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site for its exceptional colonial architecture.