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Franciscan Missions in the Sierra Gorda of Querétaro

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Mexico
Date of Inscription: 2003
Criteria: (ii)(iii)
Core zone: 103.699997 ha
State of Querétaro de Arteaga (Sierra Gorda region)
N21 12 15.8 W99 27 50.8 Multiple Locations
Ref: 1079

Brief Description

The five Franciscan missions of Sierra Gorda were built during the last phase of the conversion to Christianity of the interior of Mexico in the mid-18th century and became an important reference for the continuation of the evangelization of California, Arizona and Texas. The richly decorated church façades are of special interest as they represent an example of the joint creative efforts of the missionaries and the Indios. The rural settlements that grew around the missions have retained their vernacular character.

Justification for Inscription

Criterion ii: The Sierra Gorda Missions exhibit an important interchange of values in the process of evangelisation of central and northern Mexico, and the western United States. Criterion iii: The five Sierra Gorda missions bear witness to the cultural encounter of the European missions with the nomadic populations of central Mexico, remaining a significant testimony to this second phase of evangelisation in North America.