Travel Guide PUEBLA Contents DISCOVER PUEBLA 01 PUEBLA PROFILE 03 PUEBLA ATTRACTIONS 04 PUEBLA DINING 12 PUEBLA SHOPPING 15 PUEBLA NIGHTLIFE 18 THINGS TO DO IN PUEBLA 20 DISCOVER PUEBLA The state capital of Puebla, officially called “Heroica Puebla de Zaragoza” (Heroic Puebla of Zaragoza), is one of the most typical and beautiful cities in Mexico, and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Visit the city and be dazzled by the architectural beauty of its countless museums, convents, and endless baroque constructions, as well as by the contrasting colors of the Talavera pottery, the mortar, and the grey stone. The exquisite cuisine, rich past, cultural legacy and the natural beauty of the Iztaccihuatl, Popocatepetl, and Malintzin volcanoes all form part of Puebla’s charm, ensuring there’s always something to see or do for the visitors who come to enjoy the fun tours of the city and its surroundings. And if all that wasn’t enough, the city also features excellent hotels and shopping malls, as well as the perfect infrastructure for meetings and conventions. This helps to make Puebla the perfect destination for those visiting on business, as well as for those who are looking to immerse themselves in the culture during an unforgettable vacation. HISTORIC DOWNTOWN AREA Puebla is one of the cities with the most historic monuments from the 16th to 18th centuries. The beauty of the architecture of its 2,619 viceregal buildings earned the city the title of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in 1987, and it has one of the most historic colonial downtown areas in Mexico. Highlights include the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, with its Renaissance-style facade and tall towers, the Palafoxiana Library, considered to be the first library in the Americas, which still features its original furnishings and shelves, and is home to over 45,000 books. There is also the Casa del Alfenique Regional Museum, a baroque-style building with artifacts that show the history and culture of Puebla, such as the Conquest, the Battle of Puebla, the China Poblana, and numerous oil paintings. 1 A BRIEF HISTORY Puebla, also known as “Angelopolis” or “Puebla of the Angels” (according to legend it was designed by angels), was founded on April 16, 1531, by and for Spanish immigrants. Strategically located in a valley called Cuetlaxcoapan, between Mexico City and the port city of Veracruz, it became the second city of New Spain. Between 1531 and 1535 the city’s first colonial buildings were built, as it became a prominent agricultural and commercial hub. Later on, during the 16th and 17th centuries the first neighborhoods were founded, which included Analco, San Juan del Rio and San Jose. Puebla has been the setting for important chapters in the history of Mexico. It is here that the plan for the Independence was created, the first Reform Laws were made here, and it was the setting for theBattle of Puebla, when the Mexicans defeated the French army on May 5th, 1862. Years later, during the 20th century, owing to the social inequality that predominated in the country, it was the birthplace of the first martyrs of the Mexican Revolution: the Serdan brothers. 2 PUEBLA PROFILE A colonial treasure with viceregal architecture A cultural melting pot with a rich historic past Renowned for its fine Talavera ceramics Famous for the Cholula archeological site The setting for the Battle of Puebla Home to fantastic museums and art galleries The home of some of Mexico’s best cuisine An excellent infrastructure for business and conventions Features restaurants and hotels classified as “Treasures of Mexico” by the government Ideal for family vacations Impressive educational facilities 3 PUEBLA ATTRACTIONS Puebla is an ideal city for a wonderful vacation, whether you’re a nature lover, a history buff, a culture addict, or you just want to rest and unwind. Among the natural wonders it possesses you’ll find beautiful rivers, lagoons, waterfalls, caves, volcanoes, and mountains. There are also lots of archeological sites to visit nearby, such as the Great Pyramid of Cholula. The city is made up of enchanting buildings that, even today, are impressive displays of the baroque style, featuring beautiful ornaments that turn the historic downtown area into a colorful place just begging to be explored, full of museums, convents, churches, and sanctuaries. CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Construction started on this colonial gem in November of 1575 by orders of King Felipe II, and was finished 300 years later on. It stands out for its Baroque interiors, its Renaissance facade, and its towers, which are among the tallest in the country. Here you can admire the Kings Altar, the Altar of Forgiveness, three antique organs, and the Chapel of the Holy Spirit. 4 PALAFOXIANA LIBRARY Founded in 1646 and declared a “Historic Monument of Mexico” in 1981, by the federal government, this library takes its name from the Bishop of Puebla at the time, Don Juan de Palafox y Mendoza, who donated the 5,000 books that started it off. The collection of books gradually increased to over 41,000, making it the largest printed collection in Latin America. CASA DEL ALFENIQUE MUSEUM This museum owes its name to the delicate white mortar plastering on its exterior that resembles the famous sugar candies called “alfeniques” in Spanish. Its construction dates back to the 18th century and was financed by Don Juan Ignacio Morelos, who promised his wife a house that looked like almond nougat, which is where the idea for the ornamental decor came from. The design includes beautifully crafted iron balconies and an impressive main facade. The museum is home to documents that are very important to the history of the city’s design, including codices, plans, paintings and photographs. CAPILLA DEL ROSARIO (CHAPEL OF THE ROSARY) Built in the latter half of the 17th century, this chapel is a jewel of New Spain baroque-style architecture. It was considered in its time to be the eighth wonder of the New World and known as the “House of Gold”. Highlights of the interior include the representations of Faith, Hope, and Charity, its beautiful decorative ornaments, paintings, plaster tiles covered in 22 carat gold leaf, and Talavera mosaics, while the impressive construction also catches the eye. 5 THE REVOLUTION MUSEUM This was originally the residence of the Serdan family and is part of the history of the Mexican Revolution. It was here where the Serdan brothers started the Madero Revolution against Porfirio Diaz. In 1960 the property was purchased by the federal government to be restored and converted into a museum. During your visit you’ll see numerous personal effects of the brothers, as well as documents, weapons and photos that come from the period covering the Porfiriato era until the signing of the 1917 Constitution. THE LORETO AND GUADALUPE FORTRESSES These sites form an important part of the history of Mexico and Puebla, as they were the setting for the famous Battle of Puebla on May 5th, 1862, when a small Mexican army defeated the French army. Today the fortresses are part of the 5 de Mayo Civic Center and are located on the outskirts of the city. EL ZOCALO (MAIN SQUARE) Surrounded by beautiful colonial buildings, such as the Palacio de Gobierno (City Hall) and the impressive cathedral, this square is full of charming gardens and enormous trees. In days gone by it served as the setting for fabulous festivals that gave life to the city. You used to be able to see theater shows, parties, religious celebrations, and even bull runs among the “portales” (covered walkway with arches) and beautiful streets. Nowadays it is commonly used to host different cultural events and for entertainment. 6 TEATRO PRINCIPAL (MAIN THEATER) Inaugurated in 1706, this site originally had a capacity for up to 1,600 people. During the War of Independence it was used as an artillery vault, before being reopened for bullfights, which caused its decline. In 1820 it was rebuilt and received its current name, but in 1902 it caught fire, and a large part of its colonial architecture was lost. Years later it was refurbished and has been fully functioning since then. CASA DE LOS MUNECOS This famous mansion, which translates to “The House of Puppets”, is a fantastic example of 18th century baroque architecture. It stands out for its facade, which features colorful Talavera tiles that represent 16 Asian figures known as “The Puppets”. Currently it houses the Museum of the Autonomous University of Puebla, with an art gallery, as well as artifacts and furnishings from the old Fine Arts Academy and the College of the Holy Spirit. It also has colonial paintings, along with rooms for temporary displays. ESTRELLA DE PUEBLA This enormous Ferris wheel is part of a project known as Parque Lineal, in the Angelopolis area, offering incredible panoramic views of the city. It is 240 feet tall and has 54 passenger capsules, earning it recognition from the Guinness World Records as the largest Ferris wheel of its kind in Latin America. 7 PLANETARIUM The Planetarium was created to promote a culture of science and technology, encouraging imagination and creativity through historic and informative elements. It features interesting IMAX projections and numerous workshops covering robotics, physics, chemistry, and biology, as well as interactive games, a temporary exhibition hall, a reading club, and an astronomy club. HANDICRAFTS MUSEUM (FORMER SANTA ROSA CONVENT) The history of this site begins in 1683, when it was occupied by a group of Dominican monks. Later it was converted into the Santo Domingo religious convent, then a male hospital for the mentally ill, and finally, in 1968, it was renovated and converted into a museum.