Colonial Zacatecas, Mexico’s second-highest city at 2469 meters above sea level, offers a chance to take a trek back through history with stunning architecture that includes many civil and religious buildings from the colonial area.

The Cathedral dominates the center of Zacatecas City and is considered one of the most beautiful examples of Churrigueresque architecture in Mexico.

Best known as one of the clusters of old silver mining cities, Zacatecas has long been valued for its rich deposits of silver and other minerals. The city also hosts the famous Holy Week Cultural Festival which features more than 50 dancers and other performers.

This UNESCO-listed nature reserve is an outdoor lovers’ dream come true.

Located off the coast of Baja, California, it’s a must-see, with pristine turquoise bays, windswept sand dunes, fiery red cliffs, and rich marine life as part of one of the most unspoiled ecosystems in Baja.

In the surrounding waters, view gray whales, swim with manta rays and sea lions, and on land, you’ll find five species of mammals and reptiles that are unique to the island, including a ring-tailed cat and black jackrabbit.

Chiapas is unlike anything you probably envisioned Mexico to be.

Here you’ll find a land filled with lakes and waterfalls as well as magnificent ruins in the ancient Mayan city of Palenque, nestled within a rainforest along the northern border of the state.

The stunning structures here were built with remarkable artistry, while the onsite museum features stucco hieroglyphs, intricately carved panels and fantastical clay earns.

The incredible detail of the carvings and frescoes have revealed to archaeologists much of what they know about Mayan life today.

At nearby Agua Azul, you can take a dip in waters that appear so amazingly blue it’s hard to believe they’re real, but they’re actually the result of crystal clear water that runs over a smooth limestone riverbed, illuminated by the sun.

Puebla’s city center is also a UNESCO World Heritage site due to its magnificent monuments of Spanish colonial architecture and a colorful blend of cultures.

Stroll its central streets, passing buildings, facades, and gardens that reflect its history, and shop for intricately designed Talavera pottery. Nearby, you can view the world’s largest pyramid at Cholula, topped by a church.

After dark, head to the Plazuela de Los Sapos to enjoy the sounds of traditional mariachi.

This quiet fishing village hidden away on the Pacific coast in the state of Oaxaca has become an increasingly popular tourist destination, though it still remains a favorite budget-friendly destination in Mexico.

It’s also under the radar, with the exception of those who come here to surf. A beach break known as the Mexican Pipeline, putting Mexican surfing on the map, brings surfers from across the globe.

From May to July, waves can reach 30 feet or higher. Even if you don’t surf, the experience here is all about the beach, though you’ll also find an authentic Mexican culture and a bustling outdoor food market.

Huatulco is in one of the most bio-diverse regions of the country along the Pacific Coast, about 70 miles east of Puerto Escondido, and also in Oaxaca State.

It boasts a Green Globe Certification for sustainable tourism and features an abundance of eco-attractions and wildlife, along with nine pristine bays and 36 picturesque beaches connected by rocky cliffs that lead to lush rainforest-covered mountains.

Visit coffee plantations and explore pre-Hispanic ruins or enjoy endless snorkeling and diving among brilliant reefs – you’ll be stunned at how crystal clear the waters in Huatulco are.

This seaside village 40 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta in the state of Nayarit was a secluded surfing town and sleepy fishing village just a decade ago, but that’s changed in recent years, with travelers from across the globe discovering Sayulita’s charms.

Don’t wait too long to visit, while you can still enjoy a low-key, bohemian vibe, unspoiled beaches, and rustic seafood eateries on the sand. If you’re new to surfing, this is also a good place to learn.

While the experience will find plenty of challenges, the bay has a nice break that’s ideal for beginners, and you’ll also find lessons as well as board rentals of all types available.

Just an hour’s drive from Cabo San Lucas, Todos Santos is one of the most charming towns in Baja with its quirky mix of New Age spiritualists, surfers, artists, and fishermen.

It offers a world-class foodie scene too, though it’s managed to escape the rampant tourism of other towns in the region.

This unique, artsy desert oasis is tucked among ancient orchards of mango and palm while offering breathtaking views that overlook powdery white sands and the expanse of the dazzling Pacific.

Its rich history with centuries-old tradition and friendly hospitality combined with modern conveniences make it an ideal less-traveled destination.

Morelia is another one of Mexico’s most spectacular colonial cities, located in the state of Michoacan, home to the only indigenous people who were never conquered by the Aztecs.

The state capital of Morelia proudly displays its Indian roots among the majestic, pink quarry stone colonial buildings.

The cozy and picturesque town of Morelia It’s surrounded by villages devoted to the single crafts industry, including musical instruments, textiles, furniture, copper, and pottery.

Several of the most important monarch butterfly wintering sites on the planet are located in eastern Michoacan’s mountains.

The annual monarch migration is one of the greatest spectacles found in the nation when as many as 60 million to one billion of the orange-colored butterflies journey from eastern Canada to the forests of western central Mexico.

Cooper Canyon, located in the heart of the Tarahumara Mountains, is so enormous it could swallow the entire Grand Canyon.

Copper Canyon, formed by the confluence of six rivers, is lush and green with oak, fir, pine, and fig trees. Indigenous people have made the canyons their home for centuries, and living in this remote region, their way of life has largely been preserved.

You’ll need to venture deep into the canyon floor to meet the Tarahumara people. The best way to get there is via the Chihuahua al Pacifico Train which can be boarded at El Fuerte, a small colonial town on the El Fuerte River.

Ixtapan de la Sal is best known for its healing thermal springs. It’s a popular destination for Mexico City residents, located just a little over two hours southwest.

It’s also been an important source of salt since pre-Hispanic times, while its two rivers and the carbonated water of La Laguna Verde, a spring that erupts from the volcanic landscape, served as a public bath for indigenous people.

During the Aztec empire, it was said to be a sacred place for chiefs who took advantage of the warm waters for their healing and soothing properties.

The town is typical of others in Mexico, with high tile roofs and cobblestone streets framed in the traditional surroundings of 16th-century buildings.

This UNESCO World Heritage site and one of central Mexico’s most picturesque and best-preserved colonial towns manages to be cosmopolitan and quaint at the same time.

With narrow cobblestone streets, stunning architecture, and idyllic weather, many feel it’s the prettiest town in the country.

Foreign retirees, artists, and writers, mainly from Canada and the U.S. are flocking here for its vibrant art scene featuring numerous studios and galleries with working artists and artisans along with a moderate cost of living.

There’s something interesting to be found around nearly every corner, with its parish church, Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, Jardin Park, and Mercado Ignacia Ramirez a few of the highlights.

The small state of Tlaxcala, located just two hours west of Mexico City offers something for almost everyone, including fascinating sites for history buffs and beautiful scenery for nature lovers.

At Cacaxtla, one of the most important ancient cities in central Mexico, perfectly preserved pre-Hispanic murals vividly depict battles and pyramids from the different stages of the Olmeca-Xicalanca culture.

Its compact capital is filled with colonial buildings painted in warm, colorful hues, all set in a verdant valley with soaring twin volcanoes as a backdrop.

It rivals the Yucatan for restored and ruined haciendas and is also home to over 1,000 archaeological sites. During the summer, visit the Firefly Sanctuary where you can witness countless fireflies lighting up the forest at night.

An ideal destination for wine enthusiasts, the oldest continuously operating winery in the Americas, Casa Madero, can be found in the town of Parras de la Fuente, located in Coahuila state in northern Baja California.

It was actually this very winery that exported the grapes that started the wine industry in Napa Valley, back when the Golden State was still a province of Spanish Mexico.

Its wines are still found alongside the finest in the region and among the winners of international competitions.

While the main attraction here is the vineyards, you can also visit a sacred volcano and the charming chapel, El Santo Madero, which sits atop it, keeping watch over the town.

By visiting the “cave of the bats,” located in the Hotel Antigua Hacienda de Perote, just before the sun goes down, you can see and hear thousands of bats pouring out into the sky as they get ready for a night of hunting.

La Paz was once set to become the next Acapulco – Baja’s unassuming capital remained a laid-back city with just a few tourists joining vacationing Mexicans.

But that’s starting to change, much to the dismay of some, with resorts popping up just outside of town aimed at travelers looking for luxuries that can be found in places like Cancun and Cabo.

For now, the essential nature of the city hasn’t changed.

You can still enjoy a provincial Mexico town atmosphere along with picture-postcard beaches, lively squares, and city streets nestled between coconut palms, old laurel trees, and date palms along with the ultimate seafood smorgasbord.

Heroic cities in Veracruz state:

• Alvarado
• Córdoba
• Cosamalopapan
• Coscomatepec
• Cosoleacaque
• Temapache
• Tlapacoyan
• Veracruz

Heroic cities in Sonora state:

• Caborca
• Cananea
• Guaymas
• Nogales
• Ures

Heroic cities in Oaxaca state:

• Taniche (?)
  
• Ejutla de Crespo
• Huajapan de León
• Juchitán
• Tlaxiaco

Heroic cities in Coahuila state:

• Candela
• Paredón
• Torreón

Heroic cities in Zacatecas state:

• Puente de Calderón (?)
  
• Jalpa (?)
• Nochistan
• Juchipila
• Zacatecas

Heroic cities in Tamaulipas state:

• Matamoros
• Tampico
• Camargo (?)
  

Heroic cities in Mexico state:

• Jocotitlán
• Tenango del Valle

Heroic cities in Michoacan state:

• Tacámbaro
• Zitácuaro

Heroic cities in Puebla state:

• Atlixco
• Puebla
• Tetela de Ocampo (?)

Heroic cities in Tabasco state:

• Cárdenas
• Teapa

Heroic cities in Sinaloa state:

• Concordia
• Culiacan (?)

Heroic cities in Tlaxcala state:

• Huamantla
• Calpulalpan (?)

Heroic cities in Chihuahua state:

• Ciudad Juárez

Heroic cities in Baja California state:

• Tijuana

Heroic cities in Baja California Sur state:

• Mulegé

Heroic cities in Campeche state:

• Campeche
• Champotón (?)
  

Heroic cities in Chiapas state:

• Chiapa de Corzo

Heroic cities in Hidalgo state:

• Huichapan

Heroic cities in Morelos state:

• Cuautla

Heroic cities in Yucatan state:

• Valladolid

The area of historical monuments subject to Federal Decree comprises an area of 6.99 sq km consisting of 391 blocks in which there are 2,619 buildings with historical value built in three centuries XVI and XIX and of which 61 were destined, at some time, to the religious worship

Among them, the convent groups of San Francisco, Santo Domingo, San Agustín, El Carmen, Santa Bárbara, San Antonio and the Society of Jesus, the convents of Nuns of Santa Teresa, Santa Clara, The Holy Trinity, Santa Rosa, Santa Inés and Santa Mónica, the temples of Guadalupe, San Pablo, San José, San Marcos, Santo Angel de Analco, de la Luz and de la Santa Cruz.

Among the aforementioned buildings, buildings have been destined for educational purposes and assistance services, as well as for the use of civil and military authorities and among them the hospitals of San Pedro, Belén, San Roque, San Juan de Letrán, San José, the Colleges of San Ildefonso and San Jerónimo, the Normal School of Teachers, the State Conservatory, the railway stations, the Penitentiary, the San Juan de Dios Prison, the Victory Market and the Forts of Loreto and Guadalupe.

The remaining 2,487 buildings are civil buildings for private use in which Mudejar’s influence is combined with Renaissance forms in various architectural elements, with manifestations of great personality emerging in the Baroque era, especially in the cladding of buildings and in ornamental details that define a true regional style.

These modalities were manifested until the end of the 19th century, integrating baroque and neoclassical elements with expressions of romanticism and the eclectic of the Porfirian era even though in many cases only colonial architectural structures were covered or adapted.

List of the most representative buildings, both religious and civil, of the different historical stages of the colonial architecture, of independent Mexico and prior to the Mexican Revolution that belong to the picture of the Historic Center of Puebla:

Civil Buildings

• Old Tocinery
• House of the China Poblana
• House of the Little Heads
• House of the Infants
• Velázco House
• House of the Presidio
• House that killed the animal
• Single house
• House of Dr. Francisco Marín or Mechor de Covarrubias
• Ex Convent of the Clean Conception (Hotel Camino Real)
• Inn of the Christ
• Prophetic House of Reading

Public Buildings

• Old Haro and Tamariz Maternity House
• Old Pond of Pescaditos
• Palafoxiana Library
• Aguayo House
• Agustín Arrieta House
• Yellow House
• La Palma House
• Queen’s House
• House of the Vaults
• House of the Arches
• House of the Canyons, Arronte Building
• Sheriff’s House
• House of Notaries of the State of Puebla
• House of the Marquis
• Portalillo del Alto House
• Munuera House
• Presno House
• Rabid House
• House of Obraje de Puig
• Conservatory of Music of the State of Puebla
• Protocol Building
• Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Building
• Carolino Building
• Puebla State Congress Building
• Former Cloister of the Convent of San Francisco
• Former College of San Francisco Javier
• Former College of San Ignacio
• Former College of San Ildefonso
• Former College of San Juan
• Former College of San Pantaleón
• Former College of San Pedro
• Former San Pedro College
• Former Seminary College of San Jerónimo
• Former Hospital and College of Children Expósito de San Cristóbal
• Former Episcopal Palace
• Washrooms of Almoloya
• La Victoria Market
• Alfeñique House
• Dean’s House
• José Luis Bello y Zetina Museum
• Amparo Museum
• Museum of Religious Art of the former Convent of Santa Monica
• San Pedro Museum of Art (formerly Royal Hospital of San Pedro)
• Museum of Nonintervention, Forts of Loreto and Guadalupe
• Museum of the Mexican Revolution, Casa de Aquiles Serdán
• Former Convent Museum of Santa Rosa
• National Museum of the Mexican Railways
• Regional Museum
• University Museum, House of the Count of Castelo, or House of the Dolls
• City Hall
• Patio de los Azulejos former Exercise House
• Main Theater

Historical Heritage Rescued by BUAP

The Benemérita Autonomous University of Puebla for more than 4 decades has made efforts to preserve buildings that integrate the wealth of the heritage of the historic center of Puebla.

From the first years of the seventies until 2002 the University had 23 buildings in the historic center and by 2013 it already had 34. Many were in ruins when it was acquired and currently used for its schools and administrative offices.

Religious buildings

• Basilica Cathedral of Puebla
• Chapel of the Rosary
• Chapel of San Ildefonso
• Chapel of the Metropolitan Tabernacle
• Convent of Santo Domingo de Guzmán
• San José Parish
• San Marcos Parish
• Guadalupe Shrine
• Conventual Temple of Our Lady of Carmen
• San Agustín Convent Temple
• San Francisco Convent Temple
• Temple of Clean Conception
• Holy Cross Temple
• Temple of Our Lady of Solitude
• San Cristobal Temple
• Temple of the Convent of the Holy Trinity
• Temple of the Holy Spirit The Company
• Temple of the Convent of Santa Rosa de Lima
• Temple of the Oratory of San Felipe Neri La Concordia
• Temple of the Holy Angel Custodian of Analco
• Temple and Convent of Santa Catalina de Siena

The Puebla Tunnels played a crucial role during the Battle of Puebla in 1862. This historical event marked an important moment in Mexican history, and these tunnels played a major role in the outcome.

In 1861, Mexico was going through a difficult and turbulent period.

The country struggled with foreign intervention, primarily from the French, who sought to gain a foothold in America. This led to the arrival of French troops in Mexico, determined to assert their dominance.

The Battle of Puebla, which took place on May 5, 1862, was a critical confrontation in this broader context. Mexican troops under the command of General Ignacio Zaragoza faced a superior French army.

The strategic location of the tunnels under the city of Puebla provided an invaluable advantage to the Mexican defenders.

During the battle, the tunnels served as hidden routes for Mexican troops and supplies. They allowed for covert and efficient movement, allowing Mexican troops to respond quickly and tactically to French advances.

The element of surprise and the ability to maneuver unnoticed through these underground passages gave the Mexican army a significant advantage.

The tunnels made it easier to transport essential resources such as ammunition and food to the front lines. This logistical advantage played a decisive role in the Mexican victory at the Battle of Puebla, which holds a special place in Mexican history and is celebrated annually as Cinco de Mayo.

The Mexican victory in this battle became a symbol of resistance and resilience against foreign interference, and the tunnels of Puebla, which were considered mere folklore, turned out to be an integral part of this heroic chapter.

The rediscovery of the Puebla tunnels in 2015 not only confirmed their existence but also shed new light on their historical significance. The tunnels remain a tangible link to the events of 1862 and the enduring spirit of Mexican independence.

This historical background highlights the tunnels’ role as a strategic asset at a critical moment in Mexican history and enhances our understanding of their significance in the broader context of the Battle of Puebla.

The geyser type is a calcitic chemical deposit.

• Height: 13 m
• Crater Diameter: 8 m
• Base Exterior Diameter: 23 m
• Weight: approx. 400 tons

Mode of formation: emanating geothermal waters with occasional high-pressured bursts

A description of Cuexcomate from the year 1585 says:

“at one league from this city, close to the bridge that they call Cholula, there is in a large grassland… in circular shape, a rock of 6 or 7 estados high, at the top of which there is a great mouth as if it were made to hold a waterwheel.

The which is very deep, and at the bottom of which there is foul smelling water, a very important thing to note: there they say that in the heathen days they threw in (indios) natives to be sacrificed to their idols”

Cuexcomate was formed, in an area that was to become the town of La Libertad, by hydrothermal circulation prior to the 1064 eruption of Popocatépetl. La Libertad was incorporated into the city of Puebla in 1943.

On November 27, 1970, a plaque was placed to commemorate the founding of La Libertad around the sides of the Cuexcomate geyser.

In ancient times, indigenous threw the bodies of suicide victims into the crater because they did not deserve to be mourned or buried. The people living around the geyser were said to be ‘children of the devil’ or ‘under the rule of the devil’.

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The municipality is located in the west-central region of the State of Puebla, bordering the municipalities of Santo Domingo Huehutlán, San Andrés Cholula, Teopantlán, Amozoc, Cuauthinchán, Tzicatlacoyan, Cuautlancingo, and Ocoyucan, and the State of Tlaxcala.

As municipal seat, the city of Puebla is the government for 482 other communities with a total area of 534.32km2. However, 94% of the municipality’s population of 1,485,941 lives in the city proper.

Environment

Most of the municipality has been deforested, including the lower portions of the Malinche volcano and all the Sierra de Amozoc, due to logging and seasonal farming.

The Sierra del Tentzon and higher elevations of Malinche volcano still conserve the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt pine-oak forests ecoregion – with forests of pine, holm oak and other tree species. In the pine forests, Montezuma Pine (Pinus montezumae) is generally predominant, with Hartweg’s Pine (Pinus hartwegii) and Pinus teocote in dry areas with shallow soils. Pine-fir forests are composed almost entirely of Hartweg’s Pine (Pinus hartwegii) and Sacred Fir (Abies religiosa).

Animal life consists mostly of small mammals such as rabbits and skunks, as well as birds such as owls, buzzards and wild waterfowl.

Puebla is located at the Valley of Puebla also known as the Valley of Cuetlaxcoapan, a large valley surrounded on four sides by the mountains and volcanoes of the Trans-Mexican volcanic belt. It is located 40 kilometres (25 miles) east of the Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl volcanoes, giving the residents a magnificent view of their snow-topped peaks. Due to the proximity to the Popocatépetl, Puebla is some times exposed to the ash and dust that emanate from the volcano during its active periods, the most recent occurring on 8 May 2013.

La Malinche dormant volcano is located to the north of the city, and the Pico de Orizaba to the east. Hydrologically, the city is part of the Atoyac river basin; the river runs through northern, eastern and southern portions of the municipality, and connects to the Lake of Valsequillo, where the Manuel Ávila Camacho dam has been built. Other rivers that cross the area are the Alseseca and San Francisco.

Climate

Under the Köppen climate classification (Köppen: Cwb), Puebla features a Subtropical highland climate. The climate is moderated by its high altitude of 2,200 m (7,217.85 ft). As a result, it rarely gets truly hot in Puebla, with an average of only three days seeing temperatures rise above 29 °C (84 °F). Night temperatures are cool at all times of the year, often requiring additional clothing. Puebla experiences a dry season from November through April and a rainy season from May–October. The valley has a temperate climate while the higher elevations have cold climates. Most rain falls in the summer and early fall.

The city was founded in 1531 in an area called Cuetlaxcoapan, which means “where serpents change their skin”.

According to legend, the bishop had a dream about where to build the city. In this dream, he saw a valley with woods and meadows crossed by a clear river and dotted with fresh-water springs on fertile land. While he was contemplating this scenery, he supposedly saw a group of angels descend from heaven and trace out the city. Convinced he had seen a divine vision, he celebrated Mass and took some of the brothers out in search of the place. Five leagues from the monastery he declared they had found the place shown in the dream. This legend is the source of Puebla’s original name, Puebla de Los Ángeles, and its current nickname Angelópolis (literally, City of Angels).

Coat of arms

The city’s coat of arms refers to a city (the castle with 5 towers) which is protected by angels one by side, the letters K. V. refer Karl V, Holy Roman Emperor A.K.A. Carlos I King of Spain, he accepted the construction between Mexico City and Veracruz, below are 7 rivers which cross the city.

Pre-Columbian era

Some historians consider that the area where the city is located nowadays was not inhabited in the Pre-Columbian era, except in the 15th century, when this valley was set aside for use for the so-called Flower Wars among the populations of Itzocan, Tepeaca, Huejotzingo, Texmelucan and Tlaxcala, with those soldiers captured being used as sacrifice victims.

The foundation of Puebla begins with a letter from the bishop of Tlaxcala in 1530, Julián Garcés, to the Spanish queen outlining the need for a Spanish settlement between Mexico City and the port of Veracruz.

Colonial era

The city was founded in 1531 the Valley of Cuetlaxcoapan as a Spanish city, not on the foundation of an existing indigenous city-state. The official date of foundation is 16 April 1531, however, this first attempt at settlement failed due to constant flooding of the site right next to the river. Several rivers flow through the Valley of Puebla, the San Francisco, Atoyac and the Alseseca. This valley was bordered by the indigenous city-states turned colonial towns of Cholula, Tlaxcala, Huejotzingo and Tepeaca, all of which had large indigenous populations. After the city’s foundation, this valley became the main route between Mexico City and Veracruz, the port on the Caribbean coast and the connection to Spain.

Puebla was an important city and region in the history of New Spain, since it was in the center region of Spanish settlement, midway between the main port and the capital, had a large indigenous population and drew many Spanish settlers. It supplied the capital with commercially grown agricultural products and became a center of local textile production. It was well connected to Mexico’s North, particularly the silver-mining region around Zacatecas.

Most of the population moved away from the west bank of the San Francisco River to a higher site. A few families remained behind and renamed the original settlement Alto de San Francisco. The Spanish Crown supported the founding of Puebla as a city without encomiendas, as this system was being abused and a number of Spaniards were finding themselves landless. Puebla received its coat-of-arms in 1538, and the titles “Noble y Leal” (Noble and Loyal) in 1558, “Muy Noble y Leal Ciudad” (Very Noble and Loyal City) in 1561 and “Muy Noble y Muy Leal Ciudad” (Very Noble and Very Loyal City) in 1576.

The layout of the city is of classic Spanish design, centered on the main plaza, today called the Zócalo. This main plaza originally was rectangular, but later made square because the earlier version was considered to be ugly. Another major feature of the city was the weekly markets (tianguis), in which indigenous sellers would come with their wares and foodstuffs to sell to the population. By the mid-16th century, water was brought in to the main plaza to a newly installed fountain. By the end of the century, the city occupied 120 blocks, much of which was under construction, with the new Cathedral begun in 1575. Its favorable climate and strategic location helped the city to prosper, quickly becoming the second most important city in New Spain. Juan Gutiérrez de Padilla, the preeminent 17th-century composer in the New World, spent most of his life at the Cathedral, from about 1620 to 1664.

The city council of Puebla, being made up of only Spaniards, had a certain amount of autonomy in the politics of the city and the land under its jurisdiction. This council annexed the towns of Amozoc, Totimehuacán, and Cuautinchán to its territory in 1755. By 1786, Puebla’s lands reached from what is now Veracruz to Guerrero states. The city continued to grow and be more regulated during the 17th and 18th centuries. A new city hall was built in 1714 and the tianguis in the main plaza was replaced by wood stalls by the 1770s. The streets were paved with stone between 1786 and 1811.

Commercial activity was dislodged from the main plaza completely by the early 19th century and placed in the San Francisco Parian market. Other plazas, such as the San Luis, San Antonio, El Carmen, La Concordia and Santa Inés were built. The main plaza underwent several transformations, adding statues and gardens. During the Mexican War of Independence, Puebla’s main role was the printing and distribution of the plan for independence. In 1827, after Independence, all Spaniards (peninsulares) were expelled from the city’s lands.

Early Republican era

In 1847, the city was taken by U.S. forces under General Winfield Scott, without a shot fired. The American garrison was besieged in the city from 14 September – 12 October 1847 by the irregular forces of General Joaquín Rea and later reinforced by Antonio López de Santa Anna. The siege was broken by the force of General Joseph Lane that fought its way from Veracruz into the city after defeating Santa Ana in the Battle of Huamantla on 9 October 1847. Puebla was then the base for General Lane’s campaign against General Rea and the other guerrillas that harassed the U. S. Army line of communications. These forces left in July 1848 after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was ratified.

During the French intervention in Mexico on 5 May 1862 in the Battle of Puebla, defending Mexican forces under Ignacio Zaragoza defeated the French army under Count de Lorencez, which was considered[by whom?] to be the most powerful in the world at the time. The city’s name was changed to Puebla de Zaragoza in 1862, by a decree issued by Benito Juárez and the holiday “5 de Mayo” (Cinco de Mayo) is a major annual event here. The city was attacked again by the French in 1863, who succeeded in taking it. French forces left in 1866 and reconstruction began in 1867.

During the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, Puebla remained important culturally and economically. It had a thriving textile industry at this time. Immigration from Europe was encouraged and people from Spain, Italy, Germany, France and Lebanon came to live in the city.

In what became a precursor to the Mexican Revolution, siblings Carmen, Máximo y Aquiles Serdán were behind one of the first conspiracies against the Porfirio Diaz government. Their plans were discovered and their house, located on 6 Oriente street was surrounded by federal troops. A gun battled ensued, killing both Serdán brothers on 18 November 1910. During the Mexican Revolution, the city was taken by forces under General Pablo Gonzalez Garza, then later was under Zapatista control.

Recent events

From 1931 until the end of the 20th century, growth of the city spurred the absorption of the municipalities of Ignacio Mariscal, San Felipe Hueyotlipan, Resurreccion, San Jeronimo Caleras, San Miguel Canoa and San Francisco Totimehuacán into the city. In 1950, by decree of the state congress, the city received the title of Heroica Puebla de Zaragoza. In 1977, the federal government declared the city a Zone of Historical Monuments. In 1987, the historic center of Puebla was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The City of Puebla submitted its candidacy to hold the headquarters of the Free Trade Area of the Americas, and briefly served as interim secretariat headquarters until negotiations were stopped in 2005.

The historical and cultural value of Puebla’s architecture is a major reason the city was chosen as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Various styles and techniques such as Baroque, Renaissance and Classic are represented here in over 5,000 buildings included in the catalogue. The historic center is filled with churches, monasteries, mansions and the like, mostly done in gray cantera stone, red brick and decorated with multicolored tiles. Puebla is also considered to be the “cradle of Mexican Baroque” both in architecture and in the decorative arts, and one of the five most important colonial cities in Mexico.

The main square (Zocalo)

In spite of the many shopping malls that exist in Puebla today, the Zócalo, the main square, remains the cultural, political and religious center of the city. It was the first block to be laid out, with the rest of the historic center traced out from it in the form of a checkerboard. This main plaza originally was rectangular, but later made square because the earlier version was considered to be ugly. Until the end of the 18th century, this was the main market for the town. For much of the colonial period, it was the main source of potable water via a fountain that had been installed in the center in the mid-16th century.

Many political and cultural events have been and continue to be held here. Bullfights were held in the main square from 1566 to 1722. Today, the Zocalo is a tree-filled plaza and contains a large number of sculptures, but the most noted is the one of the Archangel Michael that is in a fountain placed in the center in 1777.

Many notable buildings surround the Zocalo including City Hall, the Casa de los Muñecos and the Cathedral. Most of the streets in Puebla are named on a numbering system, which centers on the northwest corner of the Zocalo. El Parian is an arts and crafts market, within walking distance of the plaza. It consists mostly of permanent stalls but there is an area provided for vendors who visit and sell their wares on blankets spread on the ground.

The Cathedral

The Cathedral took 300 years to complete, in part due to interruptions in its construction. The Cathedral was begun in 1575 under orders of Philip II of Spain by architects Francisco Becerra and Juan de Cigorondo. The building was consecrated in 1649 even though only half of the walls and much of the roof were missing and the towers not yet built. The north tower was added in 1678 and the south tower in 1768.

The shape of the cathedral is a Latin cross and contains five naves. The main altar is octagonal, with four others oriented to the cardinal directions The complex consists of fourteen chapels in various styles with numerous artistic works such as the main cupola and the main altar, both decorated by Cristóbal de Villalpando.

The façade is classified as late Baroque in transition to Neoclassical, with Doric and Corinthian columns. Its bell towers stand at just under 70 meters high, the tallest in Mexico. The seating in the choir is made of parquetry of fine woods, onyx and ivory of Moorish design.

The two organs were donated by Charles V. In the crypt under the Cathedral, numerous statues of saints and angels made of onyx can be seen.

The Church and ex Monastery of San Francisco is on Blvd Heroes del 5 de Mayo. Its elevated four-level tower stands out with its mouldings and Ionic and Doric pilasters. The main façade is done in gray cantera stone in which are sculpted large jars and flowers. The main portal is of Churrigueresque style, flanked by large panels of tilework surrounded by Plateresque decoration. Inside is a Plateresque choir, Neoclassic altarpieces and the mummified body of the beatified Sebastian de Aparicio.

The Church of Santo Domingo

The main portal is of pure classic style finished in gray cantera stone. It consists of three levels with paired Doric-like columns. The façade of the old monastery is highly decorated in Baroque style, in front of which is a large atrium.

Inside the ceiling consists of two large vaults and contains gilded altarpieces in Baroque, Salmonic and Churrigueresque styles.

The Chapel of the Rosario is located in the Church of Santo Domingo. The Chapel was built between 1650 and 1690 and was the first to be dedicated to the Our Lady of the Rosary.

The chapel is filled with symbolism, as it is filled with images and elements which are representative of the Baroque of New Spain. This symbolism is principally meant to aid with the evangelization process.

The chapel contains three themes important to the Church, the mysteries of the rosary, the virtues associated with it and the Virgin of the Rosary herself. The cupola is in the shape of the crown of the Virgin Mary. The chapel is decorated with sculpted plaster that has been gilded done by local artists.

There are also six paintings done by José Rodriguez Carnero as well as paintings by the altar depicting the life of the Virgin.

The Casa del Deán

The Casa del Deán is the oldest noble house in the city of Puebla, constructed by Tomás de la Plaza Goes, who was the deacon of the Cathedral of Puebla. It was finished in 1580. The building remained practically intact until 1953, when it was going to be demolished to construct a movie theater. Protests to save the building, due to its murals and façade, succeeded. The murals are frescos, which are the only surviving non-religious examples from the 16th century in their original place in Mexico. The gray stone façade is completely smooth to let the main portal, of Renaissance style, stand out. The portal contains and upper and lower portion with a crest.

Main Theater of Puebla

The Teatro Principal de Puebla (Main Theater of Puebla) was inaugurated in 1761 by Miguel de Santamaría. In 1902, the theater burned down, and was rebuilt in 1940, and again in 1998. The theater hosts cultural events and art shows featuring regional, national and international artists.

Municipal Palace

The Municipal Palace is located on Maximino Avila Camacho. The façade is made of gray cantera stone in Renaissance style, using Ionic columns and pediments, differing from the other buildings that border the main plaza. The portal has two levels topped by a central garret, in which there is a clock and towers on each side.

Fountain of the China Poblana

The Fountain of the China Poblana is located on Blvd Heroes de 5 de May. It is a monumental work done in cantera stone and Talavera tile, with a base of about thirty meters in diameter. In the center is a column that supports two large bowls and a sculpture of the China Pobalana which is over three meters high.

Amparo Museum

The Museo Amparo (Amparo Museum) is housed in two colonial-era buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries that were popularly known as El Hospitalito. One was the Hospital of San Juan de Letrán, which was converted into a college for women. The other is a mansion from the 18th century. It was joined to the hospital and then became the “Deposito de Mujeres Casadas” (Refuge of Married Women) This was established in 1606 for women whose husbands were gone for long periods of time. However, the idea was not popular with women and in 1609, it became the asylum for “lost women,” those obligated to be secluded for some reason. This facility was moved to another building and the building became part of the women’s college founded next door, then a convent. The museum has fourteen exhibition halls with pottery, steles and sculptures from the Zapotec, Huasteca, Maya, Olmec and Aztec cultures as well as fine furniture and religious objects from the colonial period and examples of contemporary art. These represent the three epochs of Mexican history, pre-Columbian, colonial-era and post-Independence. Seven of the halls are dedicated to pre-Columbian pieces.

Palafoxiana Library

The Biblioteca Palafoxiana (Palafoxiana Library) was established in 1646 by Juan de Palafox y Mendoza for the Seminary of Puebla. He donated his own collection of 5,000 books to the College of San Juan to start the collection. It was the first library in the Americas and is the only one to survive to the present day. The main room is in Baroque style and was constructed in 1773 by Bishop Francisco Fabian y Fuero who also named the institution after Palafox. Today the library contains over 42,000 books, 5,000 manuscripts and other items, which date from 1473 to 1910. The Library was named a Historic Monument of Mexico (Monumento Histórico de México) and UNESCO has made it part of Memory of the World.

Centro Cultural Santa Rosa

The Centro Cultural Santa Rosa is housed in a building that dates from the 17th century which originally was housing for Dominican nuns. Later, it became a convent named in honour of Saint Rose of Lima. This is where the story of the invention of mole poblano takes place. In 1869, it ceased being a convent and became a psychiatric hospital. In the 20th century the Ceramic Museum was founded in the building’s kitchen, with the rest of the building occupied as tenements for about 1500 people. In 1973, the Museo de Arte Cultural Poblano was founded and in 2000 the name was changed to the current one. The facility offers exhibitions, shows and art classes.

Museum of the Revolution

The Museo de la Revolución (Museum of the Revolution) was the home of Aquiles Serdán in the very early 20th century. He was politically active in the anti-reelection (of President Porfirio Diaz) movement of the time and was accused of distributing propaganda against Díaz. Police assaulted the building and Serdán and his family fought back, until Aquiles was killed. President Francisco I. Madero stayed at the home in honor of Serdán. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Mexico City and the building became tenements and stores. Decades later, the federal government acquired the building from the family to convert it into the museum that is here today.

Fort Loreto & Fort Guadalupe

Fort Loreto and Fort Guadalupe are located in the Centro Civico 5 de Mayo part of the city. Both were instrumental to the Battle of Puebla on 5 May 1862. The chapel of the Loreto fort contains a former chapel, which is now the Museo de la No Intervención (Museum of Non-Intervention). This is to commemorate a non-aggression pact signed by Mexico and Central American and two South American countries in the 1960s. The Museo de Guerra del Fuerte (Fort War Museum) de Loreto y Guadalupe is located in this fort as well. This museum contains cannons, shotguns, swords, documents and other objects related to this battle.

Gallery of Contemporary Art and Design

The Galería de Arte Contemporáneo y Diseño (Gallery of Contemporary Art and Design) is dedicated to visual arts such as painting, sculpture, ceramics, metal etching, photography, video, and others and belongs to the Secretary of Culture of the state of Puebla. It is housed in the old La Violeta textile factory, which dates back to 1908, and was one only many factories in this area at that time. This building was renovated between 1995 and 1998 for this museum.

José Mariano Bello y Acedo Museum

The Museo de José Mariano Bello y Acedo (José Mariano Bello y Acedo Museum) was initially founded with the private collection of the Bello family, along with works donated by friends. It originally began as a private museum or pinacotheca. Upon José Mariano’s death, the house and collection was bequeathed to the city.

Casa de Alfeñique

The Casa de Alfeñique is named for the intricate mortar work that covers its façade. Alfeñique is a kind of sugar and almond candy. It was constructed by Antonio Santamaría de Incháurregui for Juan Ignacio Morales, who was a master ironsmith. The façades also contain ironwork balconies, cornices and a crown. The house was left to the state by Alejandro Ruiz Olavarrieta in 1896. It was first used to house the first public museum in the city of Puebla. The collection contains more than 1,500 pieces of a historical nature.

Museum of Art

The Museo de Arte (Museum of Art) originally was constructed to be the Temple of San Pedro, founded in 1541 to be a church and a hospital.

Eventually, it was established as the Hospital of San Pedro y San Pablo under the direction of the Cathedral of Tlaxcala. It was functioning as a hospital by 1544, but it incurred major expenditures, forcing it to limit service to men only.

The arches of the main courtyard were completed in 1640, as well as its fountain and nursing units. In the first half of the 18th century, the hospital ceased to be under the direct control of the Cathedral, passing to the monks of the order of San Juan de Dios.

In the latter half of the century, it began to house soldiers in order to improve its finances. The hospital underwent major reforms in the early 19th century to improve medical care and began to receive medical students from the Medical-Surgical Academy of Puebla.

In 1867, the facility became the Hospital General del Estado.

In 1917, the hospital moved to new facilities in the city. Throughout most of the 20th century, the building was used for a wide variety of purposes.

In 1998, a project to restore the building for its use was the Puebla Museum of Viceregal Art.

In 2002, this museum was converted into the San Pedro Museum of Art, which exhibits works from various epochs.

Museum Workshop of Erasto Cortés Juárez

The Museum Workshop of Erasto Cortés Juárez was the home of one of the major figures in fine and graphic arts in Puebla in the 20th century. The museum was founded in 2000 and contains more than 400 pieces of both his work and personal effects. The museum also hosts temporary exhibits, workshops, and seminars.

Cholula was an important city of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, dating back to at least the 2nd century BCE, with settlement as a village going back at least some thousand years earlier.

The site of Cholula is just west of the modern city of Puebla and served as a trading outpost. Its immense pyramid is the largest such structure in the Americas and the largest pyramid structure by volume in the world.

Cuexcomate

Cuexcomate is a geyser cone thirteen meters tall with a diameter of 23 meters. The geyser is inactive and located in the La Libertad neighborhood of the city of Puebla. There is a spiral staircase going down into the crater itself.

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Legend of the China Poblana

According to legend, a young Indian woman named Mirra was kidnapped by Portuguese pirates and taken to Cochin (modern-day Kochi), in the south of India.

There, she escaped her kidnappers and took refuge in a Jesuit mission, where she was baptized with the name Catarina de San Juan.

Mirra was again kidnapped by the same pirates that had taken her from her birth parents, and in Manila, they delivered her to the merchant who later took her to New Spain. Once in Acapulco, she was sold to a Puebla merchant by the name of Miguel de Sosa.

Throughout her life, Catarina or Mirra continued to dress in a sari. It is possible that this gave rise to the “china dress” that became popular in Mexico in the 17th century.

A few years after her arrival in Mexico, Miguel de Sosa died, providing in his will for the manumission of his slave.

She was taken in by a convent, where it is said she began to have visions of the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus.

The “China Poblana” died on 5 January 1688 at the age of 82. In Puebla, she was venerated as a saint until 1691, when the Mexican Inquisition prohibited open devotion to her.

Today, the Templo de la Compañía, in Puebla, is known as La Tumba de la China Poblana because in its sacristy lie the remains of Catarina de San Juan.

The best-known mole is named after the city of Puebla, mole poblano. The origin of this sauce is disputed and there are two versions of the legend that are most often cited. The first states that 16th-century nuns from the Convent of Santa Rosa were worried because they had just found out that the archbishop was going to visit them and they had nothing to prepare for him except for an old turkey in the yard. Supposedly due to divine inspiration, they began to mix together many of the spices and flavorings they had on hand in the kitchen, including different types of chili peppers, other spices, day-old bread, chocolate and approximately twenty other ingredients. They let the sauce simmer for hours and poured it over the turkey meat. Fortunately, the archbishop was very pleased with the meal and the nuns were able to save face.

The other story states that the sauce is of pre-Hispanic times and this was served to Hernán Cortés and the other conquistadors by Moctezuma II. The Aztecs did have a preparation called “chilmulli,” which in Nahuatl means “chili pepper sauce.” However, there is no evidence that chocolate was ever used to flavor prepared foods or used in chilmulli. What has happened is that the sauce gained ingredients as it was reinterpreted over the colonial period. Many food writers and gourmets nowadays consider one particular dish, the famous turkey in mole poblano, which contains chocolate, to represent the pinnacle of the Mexican cooking tradition.

Another famous dish, chiles en nogada, was also supposedly invented here. The story begins with three sisters from Puebla who met officers from Agustin de Iturbide’s Army of the Three Guarantees in Mexico City and fell in love with them. Attempts were made to engage the couples but one problem was that none of the sisters knew how to cook. Upon returning to Puebla, their mother sent them to the Convent of Santa Monica to learn. The women decided they wanted to make an original dish to impress Iturbide and his officers when they were due to visit Puebla. The dish, chiles en nogada, represents the colors of the Mexican flag, green (parsley), white (the walnut sauce) and red (pomegranate seeds). The dish was served for the first time at a banquet for Iturbide with great success.

Another signature dish in Puebla is the “cemita,” which is a type of well-stuffed sandwich on a bun. The cemita is considered to be the sister of the Mexican torta, the first cousin of the pambazo, the distant cousin of the paste and the sandwich and the precursor to the giant tortas that are now sold in most parts of Mexico today. This large, meaty sandwich is named after the bread on which it is served, a cemita. This bread is based on a bread introduced by the French during the period of the French Intervention in Mexico (1863–1867), but since then has evolved to suit Mexican tastes, especially in Puebla state.

In the early 20th century, the bread began to be served sliced with a filling of leftovers, generally potatoes, beans, nopal, beef, chicken or pork. The Victoria Market in Puebla became famous for a version with beef hoof, onions and chili peppers with a vinaigrette sauce. Other markets and food stands soon created their own versions of the cemita with just about any kind of filling combination possible. During the same time period, it became traditional to sprinkle sesame seeds onto the cemita bread, often with designs of flowers, stars, animals and other things. While the dish started out as a lower-class meal, it is now enjoyed by people of all social classes in the city as a form of fast-food.

El Cinco de Mayo (The fifth of May)

Every year on 5 May, Puebla celebrates the defeat of invading French troops here in 1862. Celebrations include several days of concerts, lectures, and other cultural activities. On the 5th itself, there is a very large parade and a re-enactment of the battle.

The parade includes Mexican Army, Navy, Special Forces, and soldiers dressed in period uniform. The military displays tanks, Humvees, and armored personnel carriers. Civilian participation includes school bands, students, and floats, both from Mexico and from abroad.

Although celebrated in the United States, this holiday is not widely observed in other parts of Mexico.

Talavera pottery

Soon after its foundation, Puebla was well known for its fine ceramics, especially for the style that would be called Talavera. This has been due to the abundance of quality clay in the region, drawing some of the best artisans. Between 1550 and 1570, Spanish potters from Talavera de la Reina in Spain came to Puebla to teach the locals European techniques of using the potter’s wheel and tin-glazing. These new methods were mixed with native designs to give rise to what became known as Poblano Talavera.

The glazing technique was first used for the tiles that still decorate many of the buildings in this city. Later, it was used to make pots, plates, jars, religious figures, and other items. By the mid-17th century, the industry here had become well-established. Guilds were formed and ordinances were passed to ensure quality. Blue was used only on the most expensive pieces due to the cost of the mineral used to produce it. The period between 1650 and 1750 was known as the Golden Age.

In 1813, the constitution eradicated the potter’s guild and revoked the ordinances established in 1653 to standardize production. Now anybody could use this ceramic method in any style they wanted, and the lack of regulations led to a decline in technique and artistic quality. The Talavera market crashed.

Out of the 46 workshops in production since the 18th century, only seven remained. When Enrique Luis Ventosa, a 29-year-old Catalan, arrived in Puebla in 1897, there were just six workshops left. Ventosa was fascinated by the history and fine craftwork that had distinguished Puebla from the rest of Mexico. He became the leading force behind a renaissance in Talavera ware.

Another impetus to the rebirth of the Puebla tile was that collectors found out about it. In 1904 an American named Emily Johnston de Forest traveled to Mexico with her husband and discovered Talavera. She established contact with scholars, collectors, and dealers who assisted her in building her collection.

Eventually, her collection was given to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Other museums, like the Philadelphia Museum of Art, built their own collections. The Franz Mayer Museum in Mexico City has the largest collection of 726 pieces.

Puebla is served by Hermanos Serdán International Airport, which is part of the metropolitan airport group for the Mexican capital and an alternate airport for Mexico City. It provides domestic services and flights to the United States and Panama. The airport is also used as a place to manufacture goods and export and import due to its prime location.

In January 2013 the first line of the bus rapid transit system named RUTA was open to the public from Chachapa to Tlaxcalanzingo, in April 2014 the second line was open that goes on 11 Norte-Sur from Diagonal Defensores de la República to Calle Limones. Also, an eleven-mile light rail system was inaugurated in January 2017 connecting Puebla with Cholula in the western end of the city.