The state of Puebla is dominated by the city from which it gets its name, and by the Poblanos’ love of food. The city is a classic, colonial-era city laid out on a grid with hundreds of churches and cathedrals to discover. UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site in 1987 for its impressive range of architectural styles. The smaller city of Tehuacan is a centre for indigenous culture and Mexico’s central mountain ranges. Puebla was the site of one of Mexico’s most significant battles, when an invading French force was defeated in the 19th century. But it is food which is most important to Poblanos and their visitors, with the classic thick mole sauce hailing from here, as well as chiles en nogada which has the three colours of the Mexican flag. If you are not too full you can browse the wonderful Talavera pottery, which is hand-thrown and highly distinctive. There’s so much to see and do with a hotel in Puebla.
Where to Stay in Puebla
Puebla City — Book a hotel in the state capital city of Puebla, which is packed with churches – around 70 just in the centro historico, and dozens more elsewhere. The respect for heritage of Poblanos can be seen at a glance with more than 1,000 historical buildings still standing, each with the traditional azulejos ceramic tiles in place.
Tehuacan — Puebla’s second city is renowned as a centre for indigenous festivals and the Festival Internacional de Tehuacan attracts visitors from all over the world to discover the fascinating backgrounds of the people of Puebla. The Penafiel natural springs are also fascinating, as is the cactus botanic garden with 200 varieties of cactuses.
Cuetzalan — One of Mexico’s ‘magic towns’, Cuetzalan is famous for its remarkable food and visitors will love the indigenous heritage of its cuisine. The main event on most menus is the acamaya, a freshwater lobster-style crustacean which is cooked in all sorts of ways – with garlic, chile guajillo or with epazote. From your hotel here you can scoot along the cobbled streets and try the street snacks, artisanal sweets and amazing liqueurs
How to Make the Most of Your Hotel in Puebla
Within Puebla, the heart of the city is stacked with historic buildings. The Zocalo plaza and its surroundings were granted World Heritage status by UNESCO. The two church towers of the Cathedral are among the tallest in all Mexico and are testament to the craftsmanship of the 16th century builders who created them. The two forts at the top of the Cerro de Guadalupe still stand, with exhibitions about how Mexican soldiers managed to defeat French invaders there in 1862 at the Battle of Puebla. A trip to Tehuacan is worth it around festival time as well, and don’t miss the staggering natural beauty of the mountains of the Sierra Madre. The twin volcanoes of Iztaccihuatl and Popocatepetl are also stunning.
The festivals and traditions of Puebla dominate the state with the most famous being the Day of the Dead in Huaquechula and the Cinco de Mayo independence celebrations. A walking tour of the state capital is a perfect way to get to grips with the city’s historical past. But it’s the food that attracts people to Puebla, where you can find some of best Mexican cuisine around. Mole Poblano, chile en nogada and chalupas are unparalleled here – so take a gastronomic tour to discover the subtleties and flavours of all types of Poblano cooking. Naturally, there are some fantastic restaurants throughout the state and plenty of places to learn how to cook Mexican style. If you can still walk, try hiking to the top of the volcanoes and visit the Great Pyramid of Cholula.
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