Coming into Queretaro: the aqueduct (Acueducto de Queretaro). It was built in the early 1700s and is 5.5 miles (8.8 km) long, with 74 arches, its arches some of the tallest in the world. It was built to bring fresh water into Queretaro, paid mostly by Don Juan Antonio de Urrutia, a nobleman, for his love of a nun named Clarissa.

Closer-up.

At the entrance to the historical area of Queretaro, an Aztec warrior.

The Spanish laid out Queretaro in a grid pattern. The Spanish colonial buildings remain, here with stores on their ground floors selling souvenirs.

More souvenir shops.

Very handsome buildings along the street.

We visited the Palacio de Gobierno Casa de la Corregidora (Government Building) to see murals representing Mexico's history. An eagle devouring a snake became a symbol of Mexico after its War of Independence from Spain. The Mexican golden eagle represents strength and courage.

The man in the middle of this mural is the priest Miguel Hidalgo who with his "Cry of Dolores" began the War of Independence against Spain in 1810. The Spanish had colonized Aztec culture in Mexico in 1519 and had colonized Mexico for 300 years. In the mural, Hidalgo is "breaking the chains; in his hands is a red liquid, symbolizing the blood shed by so many people during that war was tortuous."

This is a mural of Benito Juarez, of indigenous origin, who was president of Mexico from 1858 to 1872. After gaining independence from Spain, the French later invaded Mexico in 1862. Juarez shared power in Mexico with Emperor Maximilian who was appointed by Napoleon III.

Mural of Maxilian I and his empress, Carlota.

This mural represents the Mexican Revolution, 1910-1920.

Venustiano Carranza Garza, on the right middle, was one of main leaders of the revolution. He was the 37th president of Mexico. Francisco Sebastion Carvajal is to the left of him. He was the 36th president of Mexico, but only served a short time in 1914. The men on either side should be Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata, Mexican revolutionaries.

The train represents to coming of the railroad in Mexico in 1880.

The Day of the Dead altar in the Government Building.

In the Plaza de Armas, the main square in Queretaro, is a statue of the Marquis Don Juan Antonio de Urrutia y Arana, who was a main benefactor of Queretaro and who paid mostly for the aqueduct. This statue is from 1892. There were two previous statues of him--the first one was stolen and the second one was decapitated in 1867 by a grenade.

Dogs serve as gargoyles on the statue.

A church seen through the buildings.

Closer-up. There are numerous Catholic churches in Queretaro. About 83% of Mexicans are Catholics.

An intricate beautiful balcony along the street.

A Mexican doll wearing indigenous clothing along the street.

We visited the Nuestra Senora Guadalupe.

Inside the church.

Back on the street: Day of the Dead figures. I don't know the young man, but when he saw that I was taking a photo, he insisted on being in it.

The Monument of the Corregidora. Josefa Ortiz de Dominques, known as the Corregidora of Queretaro, was fundamental in gaining independence from Spain.

Back on the shopping street.

These are huge, brightly colored, Mexican candies.

The Templo of San Francisco, seen when leaving Queretaro.

More of Queretaro.

A Queretaro colonial building.