Following an earthquake in Puebla in September 2017, many of the city’s most famous attractions have gotten fixed up and are ready to host visitors again–which means that contributing to the city’s economy is more vital than ever.
What to know
The narrow streets of central Puebla are lined with colorful row houses.
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First things first: Puebla is the capital of Puebla state, and people from there are called poblanos. If you’re not up for driving, you can fly to Puebla directly from several US cities, including Dallas and Houston. Puebla’s previous governor sunk a lot of money into projects like new bridges, trains and hotels, many of which are now completed and ready to handle visitors.
Within Mexico, Puebla has a reputation for strong religious roots. The Spanish built the city at the intersection of two rivers and dubbed it their new Jerusalem, and there seems to be a stunning church on every corner. Locals will tell you there are 365 — one for every day of the year.
And while September 16, Mexican Independence Day, is a big deal throughout the country, it’s a particularly big one in Puebla, as the famous battle where the Spanish were defeated took place here. All that and Puebla’s city center is a UNESCO World Heritage site, too. Talk about crossing a lot off your list at once.
What to do
First, you’ll want to get started on a few of those 365 churches. While you could easily drive yourself crazy trying to see them all, you’re best off focusing on a few of the most celebrated.
Start at the central Church of Santo Domingo, which is most notable for its over-the-top Baroque-style Capilla del Rosario, which drips with so much gold you’ll wonder how it doesn’t come crashing down to the floor. Then stop into the Templo de San Francisco, a bright-yellow structure that pays homage to local hero Blessed Sebastian of Aparicio (who happens to be a step away from sainthood), and Puebla Cathedral, with its stunning black limestone front and stunning gold organ, which is the second-tallest church in the country.
Beyond art, history buffs will want to visit the Biblioteca Palafoxiana, a 17th-century book collection and reading room that is widely considered the first public library in Mexico.
Talavera pottery is one of Puebla’s proudest exports. The mud is baked, glazed, and hand-painted, most traditionally in blue and white patterns. It’s so strongly associated with Puebla that even the local Starbucks has Talavera-style decor.
Church of Santo Domingo, Avenida 5 de Mayo, Centro Histórico, 72000 Puebla
Templo de San Francisco, Avenida 14 Oriente 805, Barrio del Alto, 72290 Puebla, +52 222 235 1659
Puebla Cathedral, Calle 16 de Septiembre, Centro, 72000 Puebla, +52 222 232 3803
What to eat
Many restaurants in Puebla claim to have the world’s best mole, so you’ll just have to try them all.
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Some of Mexico’s most beloved foods have their origins in Puebla, most notably mole poblano. The spicy chocolate sauce was reportedly invented here by a woman who was trying to clean out everything in her pantry.
And if your sweet tooth still isn’t satisfied, head to Calle 6 Oriente, also known as Calle de Los Dulces — Candy Street. This street is lined with small, locally owned candy stores that sell some of Puebla’s most beloved sweets, including camotes (cigar-shaped rolls of colorful coconut), candied citrus rinds and the small round tortitas de Santa Clara. Most of these will be hard to find elsewhere in Mexico, so stock up — in particular, La Gran Fama will wrap your souvenirs up in white paper boxes tied with ribbon, making them perfect for gifts back home.
If you’re in town during the fall, Pueblan specialty chiles en nogada (peppers stuffed with ground meat, fruit and nuts all covered in a milky sauce) is a traditional thing to eat around Independence Day on September 16.
Time for a siesta
The Rosewood Puebla opened its doors in spring 2017.
Courtesy Rosewood
Puebla is having a bona fide hotel boom. The latest notable arrival in town is the Rosewood Puebla, an outpost of the posh hotel chain with thoughtful touches like Talavera tilework and hand-hammered silver that manages to still feel like a comfy guest house and not a museum. The brand also has outposts in Playa del Carmen and San Miguel de Allende, making it super-tempting to extend your Mexico travels.
Keep on going
Cholula is a perfect day trip from Puebla.
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Just a few miles from Puebla is the town of Cholula, which is known for having the largest pyramid in Latin America — yes, bigger than Giza and Chichen Itza, but with significantly fewer people. Much of the Pirámide Tepanapa is obscured beneath a hill, with the vivid yellow Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios (Church of Our Lady of Remedies), a popular pilgrimage site for people seeking cures for diseases or chronic ailments, at its peak. The church is beautiful, but you’ll want to make sure you turn your camera outward for panoramic shots of the countryside.
If you prefer more flexibility, you may be better off catching a local bus (there are direct buses from Puebla’s Plaza Pedrera throughout the day) or taking an Uber one or both ways.
Beyond the pyramid, there are quite a few fun things to see and do in Cholula. If Talavera is on your wish list, head to the Santa Caterina factory and shop, one of the official government license holders to sell the products. Their range is huge, from dishes to candleholders to jewelry and even decorative eggs a la Faberge.
When lunchtime rolls around, don’t park in a restaurant. Instead, walk through the meandering Mercado Municipal Cosme del Razo, a multi-street series of stalls where you can sample a local Cholula craft beer, custom-order tacos to be cooked in front of you, buy a traditional embroidered dress or shirt, and pick up handmade wooden toys and crafts as souvenirs — all in a single short stroll. Good news for a hot day: the market is mostly covered, so you’ll be able to avoid a sunburn.
Pirámide Tepanapa: Calle 8 Poniente 2, San Miguel, Centro, 72760 San Andrés Cholula, +52 228 194 5667
Mercado Municipal: Calle 5 Norte 109, 72760 San Pedro Cholula
