This central Mexican city is the birthplace of Mexican cuisine and home to the Americas' first monastery, printing press, and university. Its baroque art museum is world-renowned.
Puebla, Mexico's fourth largest city, sits about 2 hours southeast of Mexico City. The historic city center, a UNESCO World Heritage site, contains over 2,600 colonial-era buildings from the 16th and 17th centuries. You'll see colorful Talavera tiles adorning many building facades and ornate Baroque churches punctuating the skyline. Visit the forts on Cerro de Guadalupe hill, where the famous Battle of Puebla took place in 1862. Taste local dishes like mole poblano and chiles en nogada in restaurants around the city.
Wandering Puebla's Historic Center
As you walk the grid-like streets of Puebla's old town, you'll see colonial buildings lining the roads. The zócalo (main square) forms the heart of the historic center, with the massive Puebla Cathedral dominating one side. Construction on the cathedral began in 1575 and finished in 1690. Its two towers reach 70 meters high, making them the tallest church towers in Mexico.
Near the zócalo, step inside the Church of Santo Domingo to see the Capilla del Rosario. Completed in 1690, this chapel exemplifies the New Spanish Baroque style. Gold leaf covers nearly every surface of the walls and ceiling. The chapel contains intricate plasterwork and paintings depicting religious scenes.
Tasting Puebla's Culinary Creations
Puebla is known for its distinctive cuisine. Local chefs created beloved dishes like mole poblano (a complex sauce with chocolate and chili) and chiles en nogada (stuffed poblano chilis in walnut sauce). You can sample these specialties at restaurants throughout the city. For a deeper dive into Poblano cuisine, consider taking a food tour or cooking class.
You'll find plenty of street food in Puebla. Try a cemita - a sesame seed roll filled with meat, cheese, avocado, and spicy chipotle peppers. Or snack on chalupas, which are small fried tortillas topped with salsa, meat, and onions. When you're craving something sweet, walk down the "Sweet Street" of Calle de los Dulces. Shops here sell traditional candies made from recipes dating back to colonial times.
Exploring Puebla's Museums
Several museums in Puebla display art and history. The International Museum of the Baroque, designed by Japanese architect Toyo Ito, opened in 2016. Its exhibits use technology to explain Baroque art and culture in an interactive way. The Amparo Museum, housed in two restored colonial buildings, contains an extensive collection of pre-Hispanic and colonial art.
For a unique experience, visit the Biblioteca Palafoxiana. Founded in 1646, it's considered the first public library in the Americas. The library holds over 45,000 books and manuscripts, with some dating back to the 15th century. The reading room itself is visually striking, with ornate wooden shelves and a painted ceiling.
Venturing Beyond Puebla
Several sites near Puebla make for worthwhile day trips. The town of Cholula, just 15 km away, contains the Great Pyramid of Cholula - the largest pyramid by volume in the world. Though it looks like a grassy hill from the outside, you can tour tunnels inside the pyramid. A church sits on top, offering wide views of the surrounding area.
You can visit Izta-Popo National Park to see two of Mexico's highest volcanoes. On clear days, you can spot the snow-capped peaks of Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl from Puebla. For a cultural excursion, travel to the town of Cuetzalan in the Sierra Norte mountains. Here you can experience indigenous Totonac and Nahua culture through markets, festivals, and traditional practices.
