Located in Mexico’s fertile Bajio region, Queretaro’s wealth of productive farmland once made it one of New Spain’s most important cities. Since it was founded in 1531, the city has figured in important political dramas. Despite Queretaro’s status as a major industrial player, its centre has baroque churches, historic buildings, and museums well worth exploring.

Less than an hour’s drive southeast of Queretaro, San Juan del Rio is a prosperous market town, known for its baskets, woodcarvings, palm furniture, and semiprecious gems, especially amethysts, Mexican opals, and topaz. Although the countryside between Queretaro and San Juan is productive farm and ranch land, the connecting highway is now lined with factories, and the main reason to visit it is to purchased cut and polished gemstone.