Sierra Gorda's, Queretaro; Mexico.

Sierra Gorda's, Queretaro; Mexico.

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.

The Sierra Gorda Missions exhibit an important interchange of values in the process of evangelization of central and northern Mexico, and the western United States. 

Also, 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 evangelization in North America.