Coat of Arms Queretaro Official Mexico Symbol Logo Postcard

Querétaro (former formal name: Querétaro Arteaga) is a state in central México. Its capital is the city of Santiago de Querétaro, although in general parlance the name "Querétaro" is used for both the city and the state. The name is thought to come from a phrase in the Otomi language meaning "place of the ball game", or from a phrase in the P'urhépecha language translated as "place of the great city".[citation needed] Querétaro is bordered to the north by the state of San Luis Potosí, to the west by Guanajuato, to the east by Hidalgo, to the southeast by Mexico State, and to the southwest by Michoacán. The capital city of Santiago de Querétaro is located some 257 kilometres (160 miles) to the northwest of Mexico City. Other important cities include San Juan del Rio and El Pueblito.