| Puebla was one of the first cities established by the | | | | located in the adjacent state of Tlaxcala. |
| Spaniards which was not built upon the ruins of | | | | Situated in the Trans-Mexican volcanic belt, the Puebla |
| conquered indigenous settlements making it the most | | | | Valley is the home of many intriguing geologic features. |
| European of all the colonial cities. This led to the rapid | | | | Four volcanoes, Popocatépetl standing at |
| development of the Spanish culture and traditions in | | | | 17,883 feet above sea level, Iztaccíhuatl |
| Mexico. The Spaniards elected an ideal location for | | | | standing at 17,338 feet above sea level, La Malinche |
| their new city, between one of Mexico's major port | | | | standing at 14,632 feet, and Citlaltépetl, also |
| cities, Veracruz, and the capital, Mexico City, which | | | | known as the Pico de Orizaba, standing at 18,855 feet |
| made Puebla one of the most important cities in the | | | | above sea level, surround the city of Puebla creating |
| colonial period. | | | | an impressive view. Popocatépetl is an active |
| The population of Puebla was 1,290,094 in 2000. Locals | | | | volcano, occasionally spouting water and ash from its |
| are called Poblanos. The indigenous language of the | | | | core. Snow-capped Popocatepetl and Ixtaccihuatl are |
| region, Náhuatl, is still spoken in some areas of | | | | located approximately 40 kilometers east of Puebla. |
| the Puebla Valley. The busy city of Puebla, Mexico lies | | | | La Malinche is situated north of the city and Citlaltepetl |
| approximately 129 km southeast of the country's | | | | is situated to the east. The Valley of Puebla is home to |
| capital, Mexico City and sits at approximately 2,149 | | | | three rivers, the Atoyac, the Alseseca, and the San |
| meters above sea level. Only 8 years after the city's | | | | Francisco River. The Atoyac River runs through the |
| founding, Puebla was well on its way to becoming an | | | | northern, eastern, and southern portions of the Puebla |
| important industrial, cultural, and educational center. | | | | Valley. The Atoyac River flows into the Lake of |
| Puebla is well-known for its characteristic colonial | | | | Valsequillo. |
| architecture, flavorful cuisine, exquisitely decorated | | | | El Centro Histórico, is comprised of |
| Talavera pottery, onyx figures, and unique textiles. | | | | approximately 100 blocks in the middle of the city, |
| PUEBLA'S NICKNAMES | | | | however, the majority of historic sites lie within a |
| Puebla has a diverse history as shown in its many | | | | four-block radius of El Zócalo, the central |
| nicknames, Angelopolis (City of Angels), City of Tiles, | | | | square. In the historic center of Puebla you can find |
| and Heroic City of Zaragoza. | | | | many Spanish colonial-style buildings. Several buildings |
| According to fable, a band of angels appeared before | | | | were severely damaged in the earthquake of 1999. |
| one of the founders of Puebla, Bishop Julian | | | | However, most of the historical buildings have been |
| Garcés, instructing him on where to locate the | | | | restored while only a few were left in unrepairable |
| new city. Consequently, Puebla has been known as | | | | condition. |
| Angelopolis or the City of Angels. | | | | LOCAL CUISINE |
| At the Battle of Puebla, only four decades after | | | | Two of Puebla's most popular dishes are mole sauce |
| Mexico's independence, General Ignacio Zaragoza's | | | | and camote. Mole, which is known as Mexico's national |
| army defeated the French expeditionary forces on | | | | dish, is a spicy cinnamon chocolate sauce served with |
| May 5, 1862. The much celebrated holiday, Cinco de | | | | turkey or chicken, and Camote is baked sweet |
| Mayo and Puebla's new nickname, Heroica Puebla de | | | | potatoes topped with crème. Other popular |
| Zaragoza, are results of the Battle of Puebla. The | | | | Poblano dishes include chiles en nogada, which is |
| citizens of Puebla sided with the French refusing to | | | | meat-stuffed chilies covered in a walnut sauce and |
| help the Mexican soldiers. This infuriated Ignacio | | | | pomegranate seeds, and tacos arabes, which is |
| Zaragoza to write a letter back to Mexico City | | | | seasoned pork served in puffy wheat tortillas. A |
| petitioning to burn down the city. The officials in Mexico | | | | traditional Poblano beverage is rompope, an egg and |
| City weren't quite as angry with the Poblanos for not | | | | rum based drink similar to eggnog drank in the United |
| helping the Mexican troops; and instead of having the | | | | States. The chalupa, a corn tortilla topped with salsa, |
| city torched, they decided to give the city a mockery | | | | onions, and meat is also very popular in Puebla. |
| nickname, Heroic City of Zaragoza, as punishment. | | | | EDUCATION |
| Talavera has been produced in the city since its | | | | Today, there are many options for students in Puebla, |
| foundation, and any visitor to Puebla will quickly notice | | | | with more than 20 universities located within the city. |
| the exquisite pottery that lines many of the churches | | | | Puebla and its surrounding metropolitan area is home |
| and streets of the city giving the city yet another | | | | to many top universities, including the state university, |
| nickname, the City of Tiles. This pottery is known as | | | | Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de |
| Talavera Poblana, named after the Spanish city, | | | | Puebla (BUAP), the Universidad de las |
| Talavera de la Reina. | | | | Américas, Puebla (UDLA), the Universidad |
| TOURISM | | | | Iberoamericana (UIA), Tecnológico de |
| Puebla is situated in a moderate climate with sunny | | | | Monterrey (ITESM), Universidad Anáhuac, |
| day and cool nights. Daytime temperatures generally | | | | Universidad Madero(UMAD), Universidad del Valle de |
| range from 21.1 - 26.6 degrees Celsius cooling down to | | | | México (UVM), and the Universidad Popular |
| 4.4 - 10 degrees Celsius at night. From November to | | | | Autónoma del Estado de Puebla (UPAEP). |
| March rainfall is almost obsolete. However, from April | | | | HEALTH & SAFETY |
| through October afternoon rain showers are quite | | | | If you plan to visit Puebla, you should be aware of |
| common. | | | | some health and safety precautions so that you may |
| The city streets of Puebla are laid out systematically. | | | | enjoy your trip to the fullest. You should not consume |
| Streets running East or West are even-numbered | | | | tap water in Mexico. With that in mind, you should also |
| north of El Zocalo, the center square and | | | | be very cautious of home-made beverages, such as |
| odd-numbered to the south. Streets running North or | | | | horchata and jamaica, and water-based desserts, |
| South are even-numbered to the east of El | | | | such as ice-cream, snow-cones, gelatins, and popsicles |
| Zócalo and odd-numbered to the west. | | | | sold by street vendors. Also, you may want to request |
| There are numerous things to do in the city for | | | | your beverages without ice. If you are unsure of the |
| travelers and tourists. Tours through historic downtown | | | | beverage, it is best to get a bottled water or soda. |
| Puebla are given on double-decker busses letting | | | | You may consume fruits with skins or hulls such as |
| tourists enjoy the city's architecture, museums, and | | | | melons, oranges, peaches, and bananas. Strawberries |
| monuments without the trouble of finding those places | | | | should be avoided since they are grown on the ground |
| on their own. Some of the most popular sites to visit | | | | and cannot be peeled. |
| are the African Safari Zoo, the Amparo Museum, and | | | | You should carry Pepto-Bismol tablets, antacid tablets, |
| the pyramid of Cholula. The pyramid of Cholula is the | | | | a small bar of soap, and plenty of towelettes or tissue |
| largest by base-size and total volume in the New | | | | with you at all times. Many public restrooms do not |
| World. The National Museum of Mexican Railroads and | | | | provide tissue or soap; so you will want to keep these |
| the Chihuahua Pacific Railway are also two stops that | | | | two items handy. Toilet paper should be tossed in the |
| many visitors make while in Puebla. At the National | | | | waste basket and not in the toilet due to the out-dated |
| Museum of Mexican Railroads you can find old steam | | | | sewage system. |
| engines, passenger coaches, diesel engines, and | | | | CURRENCY |
| cabooses. The Automobile Museum is a must stop for | | | | The majority of stores only accept Mexican pesos as |
| anyone with love for rare and classic vintage cars. | | | | payment. Therefore, you should always carry plenty of |
| The Automobile Museum houses the Popemobile | | | | cash for shopping, taxis, buses, etc. Many stores will |
| which was used by John Paul II on one of his visits to | | | | not accept bills larger than $200 pesos which is |
| Mexico. El Barrio del Artista, located in downtown | | | | approximately $20 USD. You will want to carry around |
| Puebla, is exceptional for viewing and purchasing great | | | | $100 Mexican pesos in small change for buses, taxis, |
| works of art created by local artists. | | | | and tips. You may exchange your traveler's checks at |
| Built in a mixed neoclassical style, the Puebla Cathedral | | | | any large bank, but traveler's checks are not |
| is one of the most astonishing colonial structures in | | | | recommended due to extremely long waiting periods. |
| Puebla. Another impressive structure is the Capilla del | | | | The banks in Mexico always have extremely long lines |
| Rosario in the Iglesia de Santo Domingo. The Capilla | | | | due to the use of cash, instead of checks and cards |
| del Rosario, inlaid with gold, is a wonderful example of | | | | and the lack of people using internet banking and |
| Mexican baroque. The Biblioteca Palafoxiana, located in | | | | automatic check deposit. However, if you must go to |
| the Casa de la Cultura, is a baroque-style library. The | | | | the bank, you should draw your number, sit down, read, |
| library houses 42,000 volumes donated on September | | | | and wait your turn. It is not unusual to wait an hour and |
| 5, 1646 by Spanish bishop Juan de Palafox y | | | | even sometimes two hours before the clerks can |
| Mendoza. The volumes are beautifully displayed in a | | | | attend you. The line for the ATM is much shorter. It is |
| carved wood setting. | | | | advisable to withdraw only small amounts of money at |
| There are many fascinating archeological sites around | | | | a time. You may use your credit or debit card to make |
| the Puebla Valley. The Texcal Cave, near Lake | | | | withdrawals from an ATM. However, you should call |
| Valsequillo, became a home to humans around 7,000 | | | | your bank or credit card agency to inform them that |
| B.C. Another captivating site is the Tenapa Pyramid in | | | | you will be traveling out of the country so that they |
| Cholula, which is one of the largest pre-columbian | | | | can activate your card for other countries if needed. |
| structures in the Americas with a height of 1,315 feet. | | | | Puebla is an ideal place to vacation, to learn Spanish, or |
| Another archeological site worth visiting are the | | | | even to relocate with its moderate climate, great |
| polychrome murals at the fortress of Cacaxtla. The | | | | location, delicious cuisine, and friendly residents! |
| polychrome murals date from 600 - 1100 A.D. and are | | | | |