In a broad, high valley about 60 miles southeast of Mexico City or a two hour drive, is a city known by many names over the years: City of Angels, City of Tiles, Heroic City of Zaragoza. Today it is simply known as Puebla and is the fourth largest city in Mexico with 2.1 million inhabitants. Puebla is also famous for its traditional handcrafts; colourful Talavera ceramics, paintings on amate bark paper and richly embroidered cloth.
Established by the Spanish conquistadores on April 16th in 1531 on the main route between the port of Veracruz (the most important port in Mexico) and Mexico City, Puebla was the principal city of colonial Mexico. Puebla's appearance is the most European of all the colonial cities, because it was planned from the ground up by a Spanish city designer rather than being built within an existing Indian community. By 1539, Puebla had a university and was on its way to becoming well-known throughout Mexico for milling, textiles, exquisitely decorated pottery and tiles, and for the architectural beauty of its buildings.
La Purificadora, in the historic centre of Puebla, is a former nineteenth century water purification plant turned boutique hotel, all designed by Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta and his son. 'Purity' was their guiding principle in the hotel’s design. In this unique setting there are 26 rooms. The building actually sits on a UNESCO World Heritage site and the stone exterior dates from the 1800s. Inside, and Natural materials are used throughout, including stone from the original construction, recycled wood for the vaulted ceilings, indigenous onyx and traditional floor tiles are all employed in a modern way. More...
Camino Real Hotel is in a converted 16th century convent which is centrally located close to the historic centre and within easy walking distance of all the main sites. There are 84 beautifully decorated rooms and suites. More…
Extra info: The city’s main claim to fame is Cinco de Mayo, a festival commemorating the May 5, 1862 defeat of a French expeditionary army by Mexican general Ignacio Zaragoza. It was after this battle that the name of the city was changed to "Heróica Puebla de Zaragoza". The forts where the battle took place are a major attraction of the city and the site of an annual month-long carnival marking the anniversary of the battle.
Although modern Puebla is highly industrialised, its historic downtown remains a Spanish-colonial treasure filled with elegant 17th and 18th century European architecture and art. When you add a temperate climate year-around, friendly and courteous residents (called poblanos) and delicious regional cuisine, Puebla becomes the ideal place to visit for a day or two.
