Puebla, officially Heroic Puebla de Zaragoza, is the capital of the state with the same name and the fourth largest city in Mexico. It is located in a valley surrounded by mountains and volcanoes, including Iztaccihuatl, Popocatepetl, La Malinche, and Pico de Orizaba and is crossed from north to south by the Atoyac River.

State: Puebla

Coordinates:
19°02'43"N 98°11'51"W

Altitude: 2147 meters above sea level

Area:
km²

Time Zone: Central Standard Time UTC-6

Population: 2,386,000 inhabitants (INEGI, 2010)

Area Code: 222

Puebla was founded in 1531 with the name of Puebla de los Angeles because of the angels that appeared in the dreams of its founder Bishop Julián Garcés which, in turn, has inspired the architectural jewels of baroque and neoclassical styles of the historic center of the city and made it an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

Recognized internationally for its beautiful and unique handicrafts in talavera, papel amate or bark paper, wool rugs and pieces of onyx, Puebla also boasts wonderful examples of colonial architecture that blend with the natural landscape of volcanoes that border the city as if they were guardians.

Puebla is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities of Mexico. Puebla held an important role and witnessed many heroic deeds whose outcomes were decisive for the future of the nation such as the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862 and the Siege of Puebla in 1863.

Today, Puebla is a city that combines tradition and modernity, and preserves many symbols of the Mexican culture such as mole, chiles en nogada, and the China Poblana costume with unique beauty and originality.

It is also the birthplace of one of the most typical dishes of Mexico: Mole Poblano which was made for the first time at the Convent of Santa Rosa; born from the mixture of indigenous ingredients. Puebla is also a city of delicious treats like jamoncillos, pine nuts, and camote.

Getting There

The city of Puebla is bordered on the north by the state of Tlaxcala, to the south with the cities of Santo Domingo Huehuetlán and Teopantlán, to the east with Amozoc, Cuautinchán, and Tzicatlacoyan, and to the west with Cuautlancingo, San Andrés Cholula, and Ocoyucan.

The city has the Hermanos Serdán International Airport as the air link with other cities in Mexico and abroad.

The highway that goes to Puebla is the Mexico-Puebla Highway, the Puebla-Oziaba Highway, and Federal No. 129.

Distances from Puebla to other destinations in Mexico

• Cholula, Puebla: 20 km.
• Mexico City, Federal District: 132 km.
• Pachuca, Hidalgo: 145 km.
• Cuernavaca, Morelos: 145 km.
• Veracruz, Veracruz: 281 km.
• Santiago de Querétaro, Querétaro: 331 km.
• Morelia, Michoacán: 420 km.
• Guanajuato, Guanajuato: 477 km.
• Acapulco, Guerrero: 432 km.
• Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes: 623 km.
• Guadalajara, Jalisco: 660 km.
• Manzanillo, Colima: 960 km.
• Monterrey, Nuevo Leon: 1010 km.

Climate

Puebla has a subtropical climate with an average maximum temperature of 36° C and a minimum temperature of 9° C.

In the winter, cold fronts cause freezing.

The rainy season is from May to October.

What to Pack

In the winter it is recommended to bring long pants, long-sleeved shirts, a light jacket, sweater, boots, and shoes.

Tourist Attractions

Historic Center of Puebla, Puebla Cathedral, San Francisco Church, Chapel of the Rosary, Santo Domingo Church, Parish of Santa Anita y del Señor de la Salud, Church of la Limpia Concepción de Nuestra Señora, Revolution Museum, José Mariano Bello y Acedo Museum, Amparo Museum, Virreinal Art Museum, University Museum.

Loreto and Guadalupe Forts.

Teatro Principal de Puebla (Theater), La Casa del Deán, La Casa del Alfeñique, Santa Rosa Cultural Center, Gallery of Contemporary Art and Design, , China Poblana Fountain, Calle Carolino, Los Sapos Alley, Paseo Bravo, Plaza de Guadalupe, Federal Palace, City Hall of Puebla.

Angelópolis Mall, El Parian Market. Cuauhtemoc Stadium. Paseo de San Francisco, Palafoxiana Library, Old College of San Pantaleon, Culture House, San Juan College, La Casa del Que Mató al Animal.

Analco neighborhood, the Artist Quarter.

Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl Volcanoes.

Pyramid of Cholula (Town of Cholula 20 kilometers away)

Festivities and Celebrations

February: Carnival of Puebla.

April: Barroquísimo Festival (Festival of Baroque Arts and Culture).

May 5: Commemoration of the Battle of Puebla.

June: Mole Poblano Festival.

July: Start of the chile en nogada season in city restaurants.

July 16: Feast of the Virgen del Carmen.

August 2: Feast of Saint Alfonso.

August: State Arts Festival of Indigenous Art and Cultures.

August 28: Feast of St. Augustín.

September: Meeting of Huapangueros Children and Youth.

October: International Festival of Pantomime, Circus and Clown.

October: State Show of Poetry in Motion Contemporary Dance.

November: Day of the Dead.

Festival in the city of Puebla, Puebla National Book Fair, Hector Azar International Festival of Puebla Theater.

December 12: Feast of the Virgen de Guadalupe.