Pinal de Amoles

Infobox Settlement
name = Pinal de Amoles
settlement_type = Municipality
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Mexico
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Querétaro
image_shield = EscudoPAM.jpg


map_caption = Location of Pinal de Amoles in Querétaro.
mapsize=200px
population_as_of=2005
population_total=25325
population_note=Data source: [http://www.inegi.gob.mx/est/contenidos/espanol/sistemas/conteo2005/localidad/iter/ INEGI]
population_density_km2=auto
area_total_km2= 705.4
leader_title = Municipal president
leader_name = Gustavo Bueno Vega
leader_party = PAN
subdivision_type2 = Municipal seat
subdivision_name2 = Pinal de Amoles
subdivision_type3 = Largest city
subdivision_name3 = Pinal de Amoles
blank_name = INEGI code
blank_info = 002
blank1_name = HDI (2000)
blank1_info = 0.6659
blank2_name = GDP (per capita) (2000)
blank2_info = USD 1,467
timezone = CST
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
latd = 21.135 | latNS = N
longd = 99.625 | longEW = W
website=es icon [http://www.pinaldeamoles.gob.mx/ Presidencia de Pinal de Amoles]
footnotes=Source: [http://www.e-local.gob.mx/work/templates/enciclo/queretaro/municipios/22002a.htm Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México]

Pinal de Amoles is a municipality in the Mexican state of Querétaro. "Pinal" means "place of pine trees" in Spanish, and "Amoles" comes from the Nahuatl word "amolli" which is a sort of tuber used by the Aztecs as a detergent, and that can be found in this region.

In 1559 mines were found in the area, and the town of Mineral de Escanelas (today called San Pedro Escanela) was founded. This brought Spanish attention to the region, and in 1606 the town of Mineral y Minas de San José (today Pinal de Amoles, the municipality seat) was founded. The municipality used to be an "Alcaldía mayor" by the name Real y Minas de Escanela, but when the mines were not productive enough it was absorbed by neighbouring Cadereyta.

The former convent of Bucareli was begun in 1896 by the Franciscan order. Its location amidst high canyons makes it an impressive monument. Maximilian of Habsburg's General Tomás Mejía is thought to have been born here.