The city of Puebla is officially known as the City of Angels, due to a legend in which a nine tonne church bell was apparently hoisted into the cathedral overnight. Since its foundation in the 16th century, Puebla has been at the heart of Mexican history. Soldiers under the Mexican general Ignacio Zaragoza defeated a force of French invaders in 1862 and the forts where the battle took place are still standing. Puebla was designed in a classic, colonial style on grid lines and there are so many historic buildings that UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site in 1987. With more than 100 churches and cathedrals, there is plenty to look at. Food, however, is what Puebla is most famous for. The classic thick mole sauce was invented in Pueblo, as was the patriotic chiles en nogada with its colours aping the Mexican flag. Puebla is also the home of Talavera pottery, an intricate and eye-catching style of ceramic work.
Areas & Neighbourhoods in Puebla
Centro Historico — The state capital city of Puebla is famous for its artists and its indigenous population. In addition to the colonial history and independence-era architecture, you’ll see textiles, art museums and galleries and some fantastic street art. Nearby is the former capital of the Zapotec people who lived here 1,500 years ago.
El Parian — Around San Roque square you’ll find El Parian, quite simply the best place in the whole of the state to find traditional handcrafts. Whether you’re interested in Talavera, traditional clothes and indigenous materials, or some of the famous Poblano sweets like seed jamoncillos and peanut marzipan, you’ll find it in El Parian.
Chalchihuapan — Not far from the city centre is San Bernardino hill, which is popular with picnickers and hang-gliders who congregate in the afternoons to launch themselves off the summit. The views from the hilltop are pretty spectacular even if you don’t hang-glide, with the vista of the volcanoes spread out ahead.
Cuetzalan — For a different slant on Pueblan food, the small town of Cuetzalan on the outskirts of Puebla is the place to go. The indigenous cuisine centres on the local acamaya crustacean, similar to a lobster. You’ll be amazed at the different ways it can be cooked and the superb flavours the chefs evoke. Don’t forget to try the street snacks and local liqueurs either.
Things to See in Puebla
With the imposing twin volcanoes of Iztaccihuatl and Popocatepetl framing the city within the Puebla valley, the city of Puebla is among the most picturesque of Mexico’s main cities. The historical centre is based around the Zocalo plaza and the two church towers of the Cathedral are believed to be the tallest in Mexico. With 1,000 more buildings to see, there’s no space here to list them all, but highlights include the Casa de la Cultura, the Museo de la Revolución and the Iglesia de la Compañía. Also worth a visit are Los Fuertes at the top of the Cerro de Guadalupe where Zaragoza and his men stood against the French at the Battle of Puebla. The Palafoxian library is worthy of Hogwarts, and it’s also worth visiting Los Sapos for a look at some local art works.
Things to Do in Puebla
For anyone with even a passing interest in the history of Mexico, a walking tour of Puebla is a great introduction to the city and its past. You can also hop on a double decker bus to take in the best bits more quickly. For something more energetic, try hiking up the volcanoes or at least taking a four wheel drive tour. You’ll want to try the food of course. There plenty of restaurants of course, but if you fancy trying the best mole Poblano, chile en nogada and chalupas, then you should consider doing a Mexican cookery course or a gastronomic tour of Puebla. In addition there are some extraordinary food markets – the Mercado de Sabores Poblanos has acres of fresh produce and a food court to end all food courts.
