Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Slovenia mushroom foraging
Slovenia • 6 days, 5 nights
Forest to Table in Alpine Slovenia
from
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Statue of the Buddha in the main temple
Gadaladeniya Viharaya
McClellan Falls
McClellan Falls
Kraken Habitat
Skye Textile Mill
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Caru' cu Bere
The sign declares this the number-one gumbo shop in town.
Gumbo Hut Shioya
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Inside the Rothko Chapel
These Monuments Showcase the Beauty of Brutalism
1 day ago
Aerial view of Pulau Tiga
The Original ‘Survivor’ Island Changed Television Forever
2 days ago
Obscura Day Summer 2025: Roaming among Assateague's feral island ponies
2 days ago
The main reading room of the Athenaeum.
Obscura Day Summer 2025: Literary Landmarks Across Providence
2 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Mexico Santiago de Querétaro Parroquia of Santiago Archive

Parroquia of Santiago Archive

A hidden room within the church displays an amazing collection of old choir books.

Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico

Added By
Mario Yair T.S.
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Apostol Santiago.   Mario Yair TS / Atlas Obscura User
Apostol Santiago.   Mario Yair TS / Atlas Obscura User
Archive.   Mario Yair TS / Atlas Obscura User
Parroquia de Santiago Archive.   Mario Yair TS / Atlas Obscura User
Detail of the chorus books.   Mario Yair TS / Atlas Obscura User
Details.   Mario Yair TS / Atlas Obscura User
Organ at the temple.   Mario Yair TS / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

At first glance, the Parish of Santiago Apostol may seem like any other church in Querétaro. But don't let its ordinary exterior fool you. Deep within the sanctuary is a tiny exhibition hall filled with musical wonders. 

The room is guarded at one end by a baroque quarry door and on the other side by a huge portrait of the convent's benefactors. In the center, showcases display part of the temple's collection of choir books, purposely opened to specific pages to that show off their fine decorations. You'll soon notice that the books are enormous—this is because they were once placed on a lectern in the center of the room so the whole choir could read from the same book. 

The creation of this exhibition space is just the first step that the church administration has taken to publicize its archive. The archive is, according to some, the oldest and most complete within Querétaro. It contains marriage, baptism, and other records that have been in place since 1580.

The church itself originally functioned as a Jesuit temple until 1767, when the congregation was expelled from Spanish territory. Thanks to the Jesuits, the detailed preservation of documents and other works of art that are not in sight remain in the building.

Related Tags

Churches Collections Music Sacred Spaces

Know Before You Go

The room opens at the usual church hours from 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Please do not visit during the religious mass. If you visit the temple, do not forget to ask in the building next door for the Baroque courtyard of the Autonomous University of Querétaro.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Yucatan: Astronomy, Pyramids & Mayan Legends

Mayan legends, ancient craters, lost cities, and stunning constellations.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Mario Yair TS

Published

October 28, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.diariodequeretaro.com.mx/local/parroquia-de-santiago-apostol-aloja-archivos-mas-antiguos-447827.html
Parroquia of Santiago Archive
56A Calle 16 de Septiembre
Santiago de Querétaro, 76000
Mexico
20.59503, -100.389383
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Santiago Carbonell Foundation-Museum

Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico

miles away

Zacatecana House Museum

Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico

miles away

Museo Bichos Querétaro (Querétaro Bugs Museum)

Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Santiago de Querétaro

Santiago de Querétaro

Mexico

Places 11

Nearby Places

Santiago Carbonell Foundation-Museum

Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico

miles away

Zacatecana House Museum

Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico

miles away

Museo Bichos Querétaro (Querétaro Bugs Museum)

Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Santiago de Querétaro

Santiago de Querétaro

Mexico

Places 11

Related Places

  • Nathaniel Dett Memorial Chapel

    Niagara Falls, Ontario

    Nathaniel Dett Memorial Chapel

    This 1836 church, constructed by formerly enslaved people, honors a leader in Afrocentric music.

  • Holden Wood Antiques

    Lancashire, England

    Holden Wood Antiques

    This antique shop and tea room reside inside a twice defunct church that was moved stone by stone to its current location.

  • Robert Johnson’s headstone at Little Zion Church.

    Greenwood, Mississippi

    Robert Johnson's Grave

    After decades of research and rumors, Little Zion Church was proven to be his final resting place.

  • The sign marking Payne Chapel in Quito, Mississippi.

    Quito, Mississippi

    Robert Johnson's Headstone at Payne Chapel

    Though Johnson is not actually buried here, an Atlanta-based band sponsored a headstone for him.

  • Robert Johnson’s cenotaph at Mt. Zion MB Church.

    Morgan City, Mississippi

    Robert Johnson's Cenotaph

    Contrary to popular belief, this memorial does not actually claim to mark the bluesman's grave.

  • Haarlem’s Big Church.

    Haarlem, Netherlands

    Grote Kerk

    This towering church is home to a world-famous organ and a treasure trove of medieval art.

  • St. Sophia, side view.

    Polotsk, Belarus

    St. Sophia's Cathedral

    Though it was heavily modified, fragments of the original medieval cathedral still survive.

  • One of the corridors.

    Zacatecas, Mexico

    Rafael Coronel Museum

    Mexico's largest collection of masks is found in the ruins of an abandoned convent.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.