Puebla de Zaragoza or simply Puebla is the largest city in Mexico, 110 km southward of Mexico City. It is an important cultural, scientific and economic center of the country. It’s population is more than 1.54 million people. It is the fourth most populous city in the country after Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey. Puebla is located in the valley surrounded by four volcanoes: Orizaba Peak (5636 m), Popocatépetl (5426 m, permanently active), Iztaccihuatl (5230 m) and Malinche (4503 m). All four of the volcanos are the highest points in Mexico and ones of the highest in the North America.
Historical and cultural value of Puebla is one of the main reasons that it has been selected as a World Heritage of UNESCO. Different architectural styles such as Baroque, Classical and Renaissance are presented here in more than 5,000 buildings. Among the great variety of attractions in Puebla the defenses of of Fort Loreto (Fort Loreto) and Fort Guadalupe (Fort Guadalupe) have big historic importance. Today there is here a museum with an interesting exhibition of weapons, documents and other items related to the events of the different battles during the attacks of the English, French and Spanish.
Zocalo is the main square and the historic center of Puebla, surrounded by beautiful buildings of colonial architecture style.
Famous Cathedral was built between 1575 and 1640 years. The cause of such long time building of this temple was a combination of several architectural styles (Renaissance and early Baroque), which gives a special flavor to this majestic building. The facade is made in the late baroque style, cathedral interior design attracts attention by its decorations made of wood, ivory and onyx. Tower, crowning the cathedral, reaches 69 meters high and is considered to be the highest in Mexico.
Santo Domingo Church was built in the 17th century. Its main attraction is the chapel Capilla del Rosario, one of the most richly decorated chapels in Mexico. Its walls and dome are completely covered decorative sculptures, gold leaves, angels and cherubs.
Volcano Kuikskomate (Cuexcomate) is the smallest volcano in the world (not active) is situated in Puebla. Its height is 13 m and diameter is 23 m. You can go down the spiral staircase right in its crater.
Without exaggerations Puebla can be called a city of museums. Besides the fact that the whole central part of the city – is the richest open air museum, the tourists will be interested in visiting the Museum of the Revolution, the Gallery of Modern Art and Design, the Art Museum and the Museum Workshop Erasto Cortes Juarez.
Another remarkable thing of Puebla are sweets, there is a whole street of shops where you can buy sweets that are made only in Puebla. There is a huge selection of tasty sweets with fruit and nuts. You can even buy sugar skulls that Mexicans give each other on the Day of the Dead.