Puebla, Mexico

Puebla is both a state of the nation of Mexico and the capital city of that state. The city has a population of less than one and a half million, but the metropolitan area covers several other municipalities and the total population is over two million.

Puebla was founded 16 April, 1531 and is thus one of the oldest Spanish cities in North American not founded on older native settlements. "La Puebla de los Ángeles" was in a strategic location between Mexico City and Veracruz, which made it the second most important city in the colonial era. The city center has a distinctly Spanish/Moorish look and feel because of this.

The city center is a UNESCO World Heritage site due to the old Colonial Era buildings still standing. Many are still damaged from a 1999 earthquake, with some buildings restored and others net yet starting repairs. The Puebla Cathedral is the best-known example of the city’s buildings, but it is far from the only famous building found in Puebla.

On 5 May 1862 General Zaragoza defeated the French expeditionary force in the Battle of Puebla, and the name of the city was changed to "Heróica Puebla de Zaragoza." This had such an effect on Mexico that the fifth of May is still a primary national holiday. While the city fell to the French later, the heroic defense of the city is still a national inspiration.

The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the arrival of many European immigrants, largely German, Italian and Spanish. This created neighborhoods with distinct architecture, dialect or language and distinctive and common Mexican styles of dress and pottery were created in Puebla from the fusion of local and European tastes.

The city is located in the Valley of Puebla, also known as the Valley of Cuetlaxcoapan, and is surrounded on four sides by mountains and volcanoes. This creates a magnificent view of snow-covered peaks and is reportedly especially impressive at sunrise.

Puebla was the first city in what is now Mexico to industrialize, and is still an important textiles center. Volkswagen operates its only North American factory in Puebla, and several other European companies operate local subsidiaries to support the plant. This was the last factory building the famous VW Beetle.

Puebla also possesses an automobile museum, Museo Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Mexicanos “National Museum of Mexican Railroads,” a famous railroad museum, and the Biblioteca Palafoxiana, which is a baroque library of forty-two thousand volumes going back to 1646. The famous Amparo Museum is in the city, with one of the world’s best collections of Mexican art from pre-Columbian to contemporary. The city also has the Africam Safari Zoo, intended to create a safari style experience. The city is known for red double-decker buses. These run tours around the city. The Pyramid of Cholula is a small city within Puebla, possessing the largest known Aztec pyramid and enough churches to visit a different one each day of the year.

Puebla has more than twenty universities present, two professional soccer teams, two professional baseball teams and a food culture popular all over Mexico. There are over 70 churches to go with the cathedral. The cathedral is more than 207 feet high, the tallest in Mexico. The Casa de Cultural is next to the cathedral, occupies a whole block and contains the oldest library in the Americas.

Puebla has strong Spanish influences. To this day architectural characteristics going back to Spain and the Moors can be found all over the city and Puebla has a long relationship with Talavera. This is a type of strong and hardwearing ceramic that originally came from the Moors. It is primarily used on walls and floors, and while it isn’t cheap anywhere in Mexico, the prices are probably lowest in Puebla. It is very normal to see Talavera used in the buildings of the city.

Puebla has an international airport, is a two-hour bus ride from Mexico City and can be easily reached on major roads for those who desire to drive themselves. Once there, car rentals are available. Taxis are unmetered, so be certain to agree to price before you get into the vehicle. Puebla has year round spring type weather. The rainy season is from April to November, but these tend to be heavy showers in the late afternoons, leaving the evening cool and dry. Outside of that period, rain isn’t common. A sweater for the mornings, especially in the winter months, is a wise precaution.