Travel Guide TLAXCALA Contents
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Travel Guide TLAXCALA Contents DISCOVER TLAXCALA 01 TLAXCALA PROFILE 03 TLAXCALA ATTRACTIONS 04 TLAXCALA DINING 10 TLAXCALA SHOPPING 12 TLAXCALA NIGHTLIFE 14 THINGS TO DO IN TLAXCALA 15 DISCOVER TLAXCALA Located in central Mexico, Tlaxcala is the capital of the smallest state in Mexico. This city offers visitors a picturesque landscape with colorfully-painted houses, as well as an interesting collection of well-preserved colonial buildings from the 16th century. The best way to see this charming town is by taking a walking tour or riding the tram, which used to be the main means of transport for citizens in the early 19th century. Tlaxcala is home to a lot of natural attractions, where you can see mountains, waterfalls, canyons and a clean, blue sky, characteristic of this region, it is the ideal place for extreme sports like rappelling or biking. 1 COLONIAL TLAXCALA As in every colonial city, the main square is the heart and center of activity in town. The Plaza de la Constitucion stands out for its bandstand from the 19th century and the fountain dedicated to the Holy Cross, built in 1646. On the north side is City Hall, built in 1545 with its original porch decorated with marigold flowers, Moorish arches and important murals depicting relevant events from the history of Tlaxcala. Also worthy of mention is Parroquia de San Jose, a church dedicated to St Joseph whose Baroque-style facade is made with mortar and Talavera tiles. It features two massive doorways called, Hidalgo Portal and Chico Portal, the former Franciscan Convent of Our Lady of the Assumption, as well as the Basilica and Shrine of Our lady of Ocotlan in pure Baroque style, considered one of the most important religious centers of the country. 2 TLAXCALA PROFILE Features a fantastic collection of colonial buildings Home to notable archeological sites from the Olmec Xicalanca culture Lots of museums to explore Offers great surroundings for ecotourism activities and extreme sports Known for a bullfighting tradition and ranches that breed fighting bulls Surrounded by lovely old haciendas Has fantastic local cuisine 3 TLAXCALA ATTRACTIONS Besides being surrounded by historic landmarks, art and tradition, Tlaxcala has important archeological sites, museums, a botanical garden, water parks, a zoo and a couple of bullrings. It is the ideal place for extreme sports enthusiasts, or for those seeking some peace and quiet away from the hustle and bustle of big cities. CACAXTLA Located about 12 miles from Tlaxcala, this site is one of the most impressive remains of the Olmec Xicalanca culture, valued for its amazing and well-preserved pre-Columbian murals. Here you can also see a unique collection of items, such as skulls with deformations, objects from burials, marine snails from the Gulf Coast of Mexico, as well as clay figures and sculptures. Within the archeological site is the Gran Basamento, shaped like a pyramid and divided into several sections, including the Palace, the Courtyard of Diamonds, the Courtyard of Altars, the Spiral Chamber and the Temple of Venus. 4 XOCHITENCATL ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE Located 15 miles from Tlaxcala, the site’s name means “Blossoming Hill” or “Flower Hill”. It was erected at the top of a hill and holds a Spiral building with a circular base, the Pyramid of the Serpent, the Pyramid of Flowers with a rectangular platform, considered the fourth largest structure in Mesoamerica, as well as the viewpoint Mirador de los Volcanes. TIZATLAN BOTANICAL GARDEN The Botanical Gardens feature almost 20 acres of forest with several species of trees, such as oaks, cordata trees, Mexican white pine, black cherry trees and pepper trees. You can also see the greenhouse, gardens, nursery, a herbarium, a library and a movie theater. It is located in Tizatlan, about 2 miles from downtown Tlaxcala. 5 THE HACIENDAS When the Viceroy of New Spain, Don Antonio de Mendoza took control of the territory and everything that belonged to the Tlaxcalteca people in 1542, Spain rewarded him and the first settlers with land to raise livestock and grow pastures. So they introduced wheat and livestock to the area and farming and agriculture became the first trades, giving rise to the hacienda system. Later, some of these haciendas became farms dedicated to rearing and training bulls for bullfighting. Nowadays, you can tour these magnificent landmark estates with beautiful architectural styles, where you can enjoy delicious, regional cuisine and traditional music, as well as hiking and other outdoor activities. CASA DE LAS ARTESANIAS This is one of the most visited museums in town, whose mission is to showcase the work of local artisans and preserve traditional hand crafting techniques in the state. You can watch potters, embroiderers, carv- ers and weavers as they carry on with their work using traditional techniques. The museum holds nine exhibit rooms, a shop, a concert hall, a quaint inn and a pulqueria or “pulque pub”, where local dishes are also served. XICOHTENCATL THEATER This building is an architectural treasure from the Porfirio Diaz era. It has an impressive neoclassic facade made of carved quarry stone. Inside, you’ll find a false ceiling with a painting depicting a typical Tlaxcala landscape with the muses of the arts from ancient Greek mythology. 6 MEMORY MUSEUM This museum is housed in an old beautiful estate from the 16th century. It offers an interactive experience that takes you on a fantastic journey through the history of Tlaxcala. It is the only one of its kind in the city. WATER PARKS There is no better way to enjoy the nice, warm Tlaxcala weather than to spend the day at one of the water parks, like Balneario Palo Huerfano, where you’ll find pools and wading pools for kids, all filled with spring water. There is also Santa Lucia, featuring lush gardens or Centro Vacacional La Trinidad, which has large swimming pools, gardens and all the services needed for a fun day out. ATLIHUETZIA WATERFALL This beautiful waterfall formed in the course of the Zahuapan River, is a unique natural wonder that is 98 feet high and forms a small lagoon which then overflows onto the floor of a nearby forest. It is located in the town of Santa Maria Atlihuetzia. TLAXCALA REGIONAL MUSEUM This massive building is located in the cloister of an old Franciscan Convent and features nine rooms that display objects from different periods of the history of Tlaxcala. It exhibits unique artifacts from Pre-Hispanic times, as well as furniture and books from the colonial era. 7 HUAMANTLA This charming town, located 26 miles from Tlaxcala, was originally inhabited by the Otomi people. It is best known for the carpets made of layers of colored sawdust, flowers and other materials laid on the ground as decoration to greet a religious procession in honor of Our Lady of Charity on August 14th. During this festivity, they hold the “huamantlada”, an event where bulls run through the streets while brave, young and daring men are chased by the animals. You should also see the Puppet Museum, the Bullfighting Museum, the City Museum, the Parish of San Juan Obispo, the Franciscan Convent and the Church of the Virgin of Charity here. ALTIPLANO ZOO The zoo is located in Apetatitlan, a few miles away from Tlaxcala. It offers 32 acres of lush forest and several species of animals, including some from other parts of central México. It has recreational facilities, a screen room and interactive displays. It features an aviary, a herpetarium, nocturnal animals, a playground and garden umbrellas. The animals are kept in habitats specially designed for each species. It also sponsors conservation programs for endangered animals. MUSEUM OF FOLK ART This museum is responsible for promoting the work of local artists and exhibits their beautiful crafts, as well as important customs and traditions from Tlaxcala. 8 ECOTOURISM Tlaxcala offers great scenery and natural surroundings where you can do extreme sports. You can go horse-back riding in the area of Cerro de Xalapaxco that has nine craters. You can explore the Matlalcueitl Volcano, known as “Malitzin” or “Malinche”, located in a national park that is home to a lush conifer forest, as well as to species like rabbits, armadillos, hares and birds. The area is also great for canyoning, hiking and rock climbing. Another fun thing to do here is to go on a hot air balloon tour to see the beauty of Huamantla from above. REGIONAL MUSEUM INAH The Regional Museum displays a collection of objects and paintings from the colonial period as well as interesting pre-Columbian pieces made by the Tlaxcala people. JORGE “EL RANCHERO AGUILAR” BULLRING Built in the 18th century entirely of volcanic rock and adobe, this bullring stands out for its beautiful architecture. The construction of this bullring gave rise to several cattle ranches in the area. The first “corridas” or bullfights ever held here date back to 1788. There is another bullring called “La Monumental”, located in the nearby town of Apizaco, which is the largest in the state. 9 TLAXCALA DINING A blend of both Spanish and indigenous recipes, Tlaxcala cuisine is delicious and colorful. Its origins date back to the times of Tlaxcallan, when corn was considered divine. During pre-Hispanic times the Tlaxcalteca Indians grew pumpkins, tomatillo, nopal and beans and hunted deer, ducks, opossums, rabbits, hares and doves. Over the years, the ingredients of both cuisines blended to create a rich and varied cuisine with a spicy taste and a wonderful aroma. The leaves of the maguey plant are used a lot in Tlaxcala cuisine. It is a key ingredient in barbacoa, mixiotes and chinicuiles, a dish made with maguey worms that are found in the roots of the plant.