Mexico: Queretaro’s rich mosaic

The Church of San Francisco towers over the Jardín Zenea in Querétaro, a colonial city in Mexico’s central highlands that once was home to a lot of international drama. It’s mellowed a lot since then, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.  (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

The orange Church of San Francisco features a bell tower and an ornate entrance. The city’s historic center is full of colonial buildings.   (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

Families gather to watch folk dancers outside the church.  (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

A statue of an Indian towers over spectators gathered for the festivities outside the church.  (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

A clown entertains children of all ages in the Jardín Zenea.  (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

The narrow streets in central Querétaro hint at how the town grew in the 18th century. It later became a hotbed of intrigue and revolution.  (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

Worn plasterwork hints at the age of the city’s colonial center.  (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

The Alameda, with its leafy green canopy, is a popular place for a stroll with the family.  (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

Nearly every inch of La Casa de la Marquesa has been elaborately stenciled, tiled or festooned with blossoms.  (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

The centuries melt away at La Casa de la Marquesa, a hotel situated in a mansion that dates to 1756.  (Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)