Mexico’s
colonial side doesn’t get much more charming than the city of Puebla, which
makes a great daytrip from Mexico City but can also stand on its own as a
destination. Tucked at the feet of the Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl volcanoes,
Puebla is a Unesco World Heritage Site and the fourth-largest city in Mexico.
The
city dates back to 1532 and holds an important place in Mexico’s trade history.
On their route toward Mexico City, the merchandise of ships arriving from the
Philippines would first go through Puebla, which has brought threads of Asian
artistry to the city. This can be seen on Talavera ceramic vases, pottery and
the tiles that decorate facades in churches, houses, fountains and patios.
Your
first reason for visiting Puebla is for its food, most notably mole, chiles en
nogada and chalupas.
Street
food in Puebla is the best way to experience the cultural flavors of the city.
Chalupas are a tortilla with green or red sauce, topped with onion, chicken or shredded
beef. Try the quesadillas with mushrooms, chorizo, pumpkin flower or
huitlacoche.
Cemitas
are also quite popular in Puebla. These are special sandwiches prepared with melanesa,
avocado, queso oaxaca and chipotles. And, of course, you can’t leave Puebla
without sampling mole poblano.
Street
food can be found everywhere, but worth a visit is the el Mercado de la
Acocota, a smorgasbord of traditional Puebla treats all under one roof.
While
visiting Puebla a trip to Cholula is extraordinary. Cholula was as impressive
an Aztec city as was Tenochtitlan, which is modern-day Mexico City. The city
stood at what appears to be a hill but is actually the largest pyramid ever
built, covering 46 acres and spanning more than 1,300 feet on each side. The
Great Pyramid can be explored via a labyrinth of interior tunnels, or above ground
by walking through excavations at the pyramid’s base. Take time to climb the
pyramid, where you will find the Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de los Remedios, a
church built at the top.
Other
highlights in Puebla include Los Fuertes, Spanish for the forts, which sit on
top of the Cerro de Guadalupe; this is
where the Battle of Puebla took place in 1862. The defense of the city by Gen.
Ignacio Zaragoza from invading French forces is celebrated every year
throughout the month of May, specifically on May 5; this historic event is what
Cinco de Mayo is actually commemorating.
The
Zocalo, or the city center, of Puebla has gorgeous colonial architecture. Stop
by Los Sapos, the art district, where painters offer their paintings and a flea
market is held every weekend.
Stay
at Casareyna (http://www.casareyna.com/en/),
a luxury boutique hotel with 10 suites, a poblana kitchen restaurant, a bar and
an art gallery. For something modern and chic, consider the design-forward La
Purificadora, a member of Grupo Habita (http://www.lapurificadora.com/main.html).
Located in the historical city center, La Purifacadora is housed in a 19th
century factory used to purify water. At Meson Sacristia de la Compania,
travelers will find more traditional Mexican decoration and style as well as a
restaurant (http://mesones-sacristia.com/espanol/english/index.php).
Traveling
to Puebla from Mexico City is very easy via bus. There are continual bus
services between the cities throughout the day and night, both from the TAPO
terminal and from Benito Juarez Airport. The journey is approximately two hours
but can vary depending on traffic leaving Mexico City. Travelers can also fly
into Hermanos Sernan Airport. Direct flights are available from Houston,
Dallas, Panama City and several cities within Mexico.